PTA

PTA Terms of Reference - St John’s Primary School

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is an organisation of parents and staff. Its role is to encourage closer links between home and school. PTAs are best known for their fundraising work, but they have a useful social function too. Fundraising events provide an opportunity for parents, staff and pupils to get together.

AIMS OF THE PTA

1. To enhance the education and wellbeing of the pupils of St John’s by providing or supporting provision of facilities and resources through fundraising

2. To promote close cooperation and communication between parents, staff and the wider St John’s community

3. To provide activities and events to support and enhance school provision

HOW THE ST JOHN’S PTA IS ORGANISED

All parents/carers and staff are automatically members of the PTA and are welcome to all general committee meetings.

In September each year a committee is elected to run the PTA consisting of a Chair/Co-Chair, treasurer, secretary and year group leads. The PTA terms of reference will be reviewed annually at this meeting.

The PTA committee meet at least once a term and set up smaller working groups to organise individual events as required.

An appointed member of the school staff team shall attend all or part of committee meetings.

Guests may be invited by members of the PTA committee and/or by the school to attend all or part of any meeting.

Decision making

The PTA operates by majority vote and a minimum of five members should be in attendance. In the case of equal votes, the Chair or one of the Co-Chairs (if applicable) of the PTA shall be entitled to an additional vote.

Smaller working groups will be led by a year group lead parent to oversee planning and they will be entitled to an additional vote, in the case of equal votes.

Communication and Confidentiality

PTA minutes shall be made available to all parents via the PA Connect App, as will any communications about PTA led events. The PTA has an email address that can be used to by parents and staff to communicate with the PTA committee.

Year group leads will also communicate PTA news using year group WhatsApp groups that are already in existence. The PTA committee members communicate through a separate PTA WhatsApp group and through email, using personal email addresses where permission is given by the committee members.

The PTA committee will keep the Headteacher and Governors informed of their activities and key decisions through meetings between the PTA Chair/Co-Chairs, Headteacher and the Chair of Governors.

WHAT THE PTA DON’T DO

It is not the purpose of PTA to raise or discuss individual pupil or parent concerns, which can be dealt with through the appropriate channels following school guidelines. School management/operational procedures, curriculum or timetabling, staff selection and appointment, school hours or holidays and management of budget all fall outside the remit of PTA.