Parent Council

The Parent Council was formed in 2023 and is now a well-established group that provides a vital link between parents and the school.

What is the Parent Council?

The Parent Council is constituted in accordance with the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006.  It represents, and is accountable to, the Parent Forum (all the parents/carers of children at the school). 

What is the purpose of the Parent Council?

The Parent Council (PC) undertakes activities which support and advance the education and wellbeing of learners at Canaan Lane Primary School by providing and assisting the provision of facilities at the school that are not normally undertaken by the local authority.

The Parent Council aims to:

  • promote close co-operation and communication between parents and school staff, ensuring all parent voices have the opportunity to be heard and represented to:
    • The Parent Forum
    • The headteacher of the school
    • The education authority
    • Any other group(s) as required to meet the purpose of the Parent Council.
  • work in partnership with the school to promote equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • engage in activities that support and advance the education and wellbeing of learners attending the school.
  • promote and facilitate links between the school, parents, learners, nursery providers, secondary education providers, and the wider community.
  • oversee and account for monies raised and spent on behalf of the Parent Council.

Who are its members?

The membership of the Parent Council comprises parents, carers and guardians of the learners at Canaan Lane Primary School (CLPS) and Canaan Lane Early Learning and Childcare (CLELC).  The headteacher and other teacher representatives act as advisors to the Parent Council.

The Parent Council includes two types of membership – voting and non-voting.  The upper number of voting members is limited to 20 parents and at minimum includes one representative from each academic year group (including CLELC), each subgroup and, where appropriate, a representative for specific situations, e.g. Additional Support Needs (ASN), composite classes.  There is no limit on the number of non-voting members.

There are three office bearer positions, which may be shared: Chair; Treasurer; and Secretary. 

Much of the work of the PC is carried out by subgroups, e.g. Fundraising and Events or Clubs, which report back to the PC during its twice-termly meetings.

How often does it meet and where?

The Parent Council aims to meet 5–6 times a year (twice a term).  There is a mixture of in-person meetings (held in the school) and online meetings.  They are usually held on either a Tuesday or Wednesday evening at 18:30–19:45.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in September.

Subgroups hold separate meetings, arranged at the convenience of group members.

How can I get involved?

All parents and carers are welcome to attend the PC meetings.  Items can be tabled for discussion by contacting the Office Bearers (see email address below).

The PC is entirely run by volunteers, and we always welcome more support.  This can be on a short or long-term basis.  You can volunteer to be part of the PC and its subgroups or just help for a one-off project.  All involvement is welcome and you can be part of a subgroup without having to be a voting member.

There are currently three subgroups but we expect this to grow as the school expands and matures:

  • Fundraising and Events: Responsible for organising activities to raise money to support the school in delivering its aims and objectives.  Monies raised are used to support events/activities and purchase equipment that would otherwise not be funded by the local authority.  Money is also used to support the School’s and Parent Council’s commitment to equity, ensuring that learners have the opportunity to fully participate in school life irrespective of their financial circumstances.
  • Clubs: Responsible for organising a range of clubs for learners that typically run straight after school. This includes working with the club leaders, organising volunteers to support the running of the clubs and managing the associated policy, governance (accommodation, PVG, Health and Safety, etc.) and financial activities.
  • Accommodation and Travelling Safely: Responsible for supporting the school with issues relating to the school building and playgrounds, and wider road safety issues. This may include working with other parent councils and community groups.   

How can I contact the Parent Council?

If you would like to contact the Parent Council, please use our email address, message through Classlist or just find us in the playground at drop off or pick up.

Parent Council email address: canaanlaneparentcouncil@gmail.com