Minutes of meeting 6^th May

The meeting began with some singing. Songs for the May Festival (18^th May, Beeley) are The Cuckoo and the Donkey, Spring is Coming, Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush (with various different words).

Apologies: Ursula, Stuart, Erica and Darren, Sophia, Jenny

1. Summer Fair: The date of July 4^th was confirmed. So far we have silk dying and spinning demonstrations from Helen Neale, the National Trust, probably Freeman College, some music, drumming and circus skills, a slack line, and a toy / craft stall (with things made by parents) planned. We will ask Ursula if she could possibly design a poster so that we can publicise the event. From 8^th June, we will run a Monday afternoon craft group at Kath’s house to make crafts to sell at the fair. If you would like to come, bring some food to share; Kath has a large garden where the children can play whilst we work.

2. Kindergarten news: the Hathersage group have unexpectedly been offered the opportunity to take over the local pre-school. The current owner is leaving, and would like to hand it over to someone in the village who has a passion for play based early years education. She is happy for it to become a Steiner inspired Kindergarten and will support us through Ofsted etc for the first year. The pre-school takes 24 children, has a waiting list and is running at a profit. The space is not ideal as it is owned by the after-school club, and there are incumbent staff, but it was decided that this would be too good an opportunity to turn down. Kath will manage the administration and development side, and we will advertise for a Steiner qualified teacher. The kindy will open in September, offering 4 hr morning sessions mon-fri (with state-funded places for 3 and 4 yr olds)

3. Alys and Kath were asked to attend a meeting with Freeman College (Helen Kippax and Bonnie) last Thursday (30^th April). They were very supportive (we had potentially been offered the Hathersage Pre-school on the evening of the 29^th). They have £2500 of funding for a kindergarten for us, and offered their continuing support in working towards a Steiner Kindy in Hathersage. We requested that we be loaned the Merlin Kindergarten toys for another year; they agreed, but asked that the toys be re-inventoried and another contract drawn up for the loan. It was decided to inventory the toys on the afternoon of Monday 18^th May, after the Spring festival, then to sort and allocate them for the various P&C groups and the new Kindy.

4. We have received Early Years policies from Janni Nichol at the Fellowship. Alys and Kath will attend the National Early Years conference in London on 1^st June.

5. Progress in Sheffield :

a. We are maintaining contact with Sharrow Community Forum, looking at the potential of setting up a Kindergarten with crèche places for their adult education in the future (this is a 2yr plan).

b. Common Ground (off London Road ) is a potential Kindergarten/school site in about 1 year’s time when they have sorted out the fire regulations and the kitchen space.

c. Alys and Kath visited the Eccleshall Woods site, but for various reasons it is not suitable for our use.

d. Freeman college are moving out of the Merlin Theatre by September 2009 to allow 2 yrs of renovation work to commence. They will be renting a space for that time (as yet they don’t know where), but will offer us at least a room there if at all possible.

Alys and Kath have another meeting with Helen and Bonnie on Friday 22^nd May.

6. It was agreed that Nikki and Kath would produce a parents pack and an information sheet for P&C groups and the new Kindy.

7. It was agreed that we should aim to set up a small Kindy group for June, running from the Scout Hut in Hathersage, to manage a transition to the full time Kindy in September.

8. Nikki is planning a visit to Leeds Kindy, and (along with Sophia) has applied to UCAS for a place on the Plymouth Early Years course.

9. It was agreed that full minutes of meetings should be sent to all attendees, and anyone who sends apologies, and a brief update email summarising important news sent to the main email list. It was also agreed that full minutes should not be posted on the website, as these should not be accessible to the general public.