Approved Constitution
Ladeside Parent Council
Constitution
This is the constitution of Parents at Ladeside School – P.A.L.S.
Reference to a parent in this document means a parent or carer.
Objectives
The objectives of P.A.L.S. are:
1.To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents
2.To promote partnership between the school, its pupils and all its parents
3.To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils
4.To identify and represent the views of the parents on the education provided by the school and other
matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.
Membership
The membership will include a minimum of three parents of children attending the school. Any parent can volunteer to become a member of the P.A.L.S. if they wish and there is no maximum number of parents with children at the school who can be involved. If the size of P.A.L.S. becomes unmanageable, as deemed by P.A.L.S. members, P.A.L.S. will consult with the Parent Forum to set an upper limit for number of parent members.
The parent members of P.A.L.S. can volunteer for a period of two years, after which they may continue if they wish. Parent volunteers will be asked to come forward at the Annual Meeting each year or they may volunteer to join the Parent Council at any time. Any parent has the opportunity to be part of any sub-groups set up by P.A.L.S.
P.A.L.S. may co-opt other additional members where relevant to assist it with carrying out its functions. These additional members may be drawn from the school teaching staff, the Pupil Council, the PTA or the wider local community. A co-opted member will be invited to serve for a period of one year, after which time P.A.L.S. will review and consider requirements for co-opted membership. The number of parent members on P.A.L.S. must always be greater than co-opted members.
The headteacher also has a right and duty to attend P.A.L.S. meetings as the principal advisor.
A standing invitation to attend P.A.L.S. meetings will be sent to the relevant local councillor(s).
Office Bearers
The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of P.A.L.S. will be appointed by P.A.L.S. members immediately following its formation. Office bearers will be elected by being proposed and seconded by other P.A.L.S. members. Office bearers will normally serve for two years. If an office bearer position becomes vacant, it will be filled at the next P.A.L.S. meeting or at the Annual Meeting.
P.A.L.S. will be chaired by a parent of a child attending Ladeside Primary School. If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting.
P.A.L.S. is accountable to the Parent Forum at Ladeside Primary School and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities on behalf of all parents.
Contact details of office bearers will be sent to Falkirk Council Education Services.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting will be held in September of each year. A notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least two weeks in advance. The meeting will include:
•A report on the work of P.A.L.S. and its committee(s)
•Selection of any new P.A.L.S. members
•Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise
•Approval of the accounts and appointment of the auditor
General Meetings
P.A.L.S. will meet at least once every school term unless additional meetings are required to discuss specific topics. A notice of when the meetings are to take place will be included in the school newsletter and posted on a notice board at the school.
Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
Any two parent members of P.A.L.S. can request that an additional meeting be held, and all members of the P.A.L.S. will be given at least one week’s notice of date, time and place of the meeting.
If a P.A.L.S. member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of P.A.L.S., their membership of P.A.L.S. shall be terminated if the majority of parent members agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the member.
Minutes of Meetings
The Chair and the Secretary will produce the agenda, in agreement with the headteacher, and it will be circulated to all members of P.A.L.S. at least one week before the meeting takes place.
Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Ladeside Primary School and to all staff at the school. Copies will be available from the Secretary to the Parent Council and from the school office.
A copy of the agreed minutes will be sent to Falkirk Council Education Services.
Meetings of P.A.L.S. shall be open to the public, unless P.A.L.S. is discussing an issue which it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis. In such circumstances, only members of P.A.L.S. and the Headteacher, or his or her representative, can attend.
Finances
The Treasurer will open a bank or building society account in the name of P.A.L.S. for all P.A.L.S. funds. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and one other member of P.A.L.S.
The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure, and will provide a summary of this for each P.A.L.S. meeting and a full account for the Annual Meeting.
The P.A.L.S. accounts will be audited externally and P.A.L.S. shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of P.A.L.S.
Should P.A.L.S. cease to exist any remaining funds will be passed to the education authority to be used for the benefit of the school (or schools), where this continues.
Changes to the Constitution
P.A.L.S. may change its constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal.
