Welcome to the PTA Page!

All About Parent Teacher Association

What is Parent Teacher Association (PTA)?

PTA is a group of parents and teachers working together to think of ideas that are feasible to organise events to raise funds for the school. The funds raised could be used to buy extra equipment for the children or to organise social events or trips for the children and parents. It is a forum that gives opportunity for parents to know each other better and to become more involved with the school.

Why does PTA exist?

The role of PTA is to bring parents, carers, teachers and other well-wishers together to strengthened and build relationship towards a common goal which is aligned with the school policies. The PTA exists, to bridge the communication gap between parents and school for the sole purpose of the children’s well-being which will enhance their quality of learning.

PTA Purpose:

· Mediator: Provide a link between parents/ carers, teachers and children as well as develop a strong link between home and school with respect to learning and our well being

· Fund raiser: Help to organise events to raise funds for the school which is allocated to school trips and other activities for the children

· Event Management: Organisers of social events to build relationship amongst all irrespective of age, gender, race, sex and religion

Our Strength and Weaknesses

Our strength:

· Promote and build relationship between home and school in a multi ethnical environment

· Listening ears to parents and spokesperson for parents

· Fund raisers to enhance and support activities for better learning

· Role model to the school community

· Social responsibility by volunteering our expertise/skills to promote team building and enhance parent’s confidence

Our weaknesses:

· Due to time constraint it is difficult to get all parents involvement especially for those working

· Difficulty to satisfy all but we try our best to listen to parents complaints and solve it in line with school policy

· Punctuality: due to everyone inflexible schedule brings about lateness to meetings/events and absenteeism.

To mitigate against such risk we always give some extra minutes before the meeting starts, recruits extra hands to help during events and constantly send parents reminder of activities and duties to be carried out.

How do you become involved?

There are various ways to get involved:

· Firstly, every parent is a member of the PTA

· Be a committee member: Chair, Treasurer or Secretary

· Volunteer to help organise and execute events and attend meetings regularly

· Be present and get involve in events and donate in kind through your actions or any other method suitable to you

‘Winton School as a PTA and YOU are a member of Winton School PTA’

The Duties of “The Committee”

The committee is the heart of the PTA, they are self-motivated group of parents who offered to be on the committee through election by PTA members. They must attend meetings regularly and relate it outcome to other members not present. To be a committee member it requires commitment and ability to communicate to members effectively. This is crucial for effective running of affairs which requires proper accountability and organisational skills to perform optimally.

However, if any member is interested they are welcomed and if not please at your spare time we would appreciate your occasional support. We will be pleased to hear from you.

The Beauty of PTA

Harmonizing with one another is natural, the beauty of parents and teachers talking together for a purpose to improve the school and designing a strategy to achieve each set objectives to achieve the overall school goal is very vital. Through their strengths and ability to transform their weaknesses to their strength helps them to organise events to raise funds as well as decide on how to allocate the funds to what they think is best for the school. Their joint efforts/collaboration brings about synergy and opportunity to know one another as well as having fun with the children.

BENEFITS as a PTA member to the school

The passionate fact about Winton PTA is that everyone is recognise and given equal opportunity to contribute to what is beneficial for the improvement of the school and how resources are allocated. We brainstorm by asking questions such as:

· What events can we plan to raise funds for school activities without having to make a loss?

· How do we weigh the cost of events to realise profit to cover our expenditure?

· What is the main objective for raising this fund?

· How do we allocate the money realised to activities planned?

· How do we execute the events to involve children, parents, teachers and the community to enjoy and benefit from it?

· How do we recruit, organise and manage resources to execute our plan as well as designate members/volunteers to various tasks?

· Opportunity to volunteer and work in a team, to gain experience, improve and develop your skills, build your self-confidence and be a role model in the community, socialise and intrinsically fulfil your needs and expectation.

“If you want to have your say, be active and bring to the PTA table your quota”

Who decides how to raise and spend money?

Decision making: The PTA committee at a PTA meeting together with any members attending.

Questions/suggestions: As regards equal opportunity and fairness members/interested persons are welcomed to contribute and suggest the best way to raise and allocate funds for school activities.

Management of funds: It is the responsibility of the committee to account for funds realised and expended by regularly updating their records which must align with the statement of accounts from the bank.

It is their responsible to keep all records and if any member is concerned there is transparency in its financial activities.

Strategy: To raise money we need volunteers as such all feasible ideas on the best way to raise money at low cost is key and welcomed. In addition: the most prudent and strategic manner to allocate and maximise all resources available.

“We welcome ideas on how you want us to allocate funds raised for the school. Please leave your ideas, leave your contact details because your help is fundamental to our progress”

To find out about PTA and its activities

· Please kindly ask at the school office or leave your suggestion and contact details and we will get back to you a.s.a.p.

· Talk to someone on the committee:

- Chair

- Treasurer

- Secretary

- Committee members

· Speak to parents who have helped with the PTA

‘You are already a member of PTA and for us to succeed we need people to contribute their effort, will appreciate if you can communicate in other languages to Parents as well as help us translate our work ‘

· The next PTA meeting will be held on:

How to be active in PTA and source for information on its activities

· Attend meeting regularly

· Go for P any PTA event and ask the organisers

· Volunteer in PTA events organised for your child’s class

· Look on the notice board in the paly ground

· Speak to parents who have helped with the PTA

· Talk to other interested parents

‘We need YOU, please JOIN THE WINTON PTA!’

OUR ACTIVITIES

What we do to raise funds:

- Cake sales includes pancake, samosa, spring rolls etc.

- Book sales

- Summer fair

- International evening

- Festivities events Christmas and Eid party)’Your ideas are welcomed’

- Jumble sales

Allocation of funds raised

- Activities and prizes at summer fair

- School activities

‘What would you spend it on?’