What is the PTA? What do they do?
The PTA is a team of parent and teacher volunteers who run events in conjunction with the school to raise much needed funds that help to purchase items that the school budget cannot stretch to. We try to make the children’s school experience extra special and fun!
The PTA is a registered charity, with registration no: 1042060
How can I join the PTA?
All parents that have a child at the school are automatically members of the Beaudesert Lower School PTA.
If you would like to be an active member, you can join us at any point during the school year, even if you can’t attend any meetings, there is so much you can do at home or at the events. It is a great way to get involved with making your child’s school experience more fulfilled.
We support the school in so many ways. Any help is always gratefully received whether it is making teas and coffees, helping to lay out chairs or just giving fresh ideas! We are always looking for new ideas and any parents who have skills or contacts that we can utilize!
Don’t be put off if you feel you can’t give your time, haven’t been asked or are unsure what’s involved….
If you can’t give your time, please sign up for our money raising scheme (YourSchool lottery) that allows us to raise money with very little effort and at the same time you can win up to a 25k jackpot and a different prize every month.
When do you meet and who attends the meetings?
We try to meet once a month or at least twice every term. At the moment meetings are on Monday evening at 6:30pm in the staff room at school. However, this may change. Always check our calendar for the latest update on any event. Remember, you can add it to your google calendar so you don’t have to add the events individually. Just click on the link below:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=cHRhYmVhdWRlc2VydEBnbWFpbC5jb20
It is usually the committee members, a few regular volunteers, Mrs. Pearce and Mrs. White who attend the meetings and anyone is welcome to join us!
How can I contact the PTA?
You can email us (ptabeaudesert@gmail.com) or send us a Facebook message through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Beaudesert-Lower-School-PTA-529206763888349/
I don’t have time to volunteer, how can I support the PTA?
Your School Lottery – It’s simple, choose 6 numbers between 0-9 and if they match the weekly lottery draw, you win great prizes. One of our players will win a cash prize every week, maybe even the £25k jackpot! Tickets cost just £1 per week and the proceeds are donated to Beaudesert Lower School. Every Saturday at 8pm the numbers are drawn and posted online. Winners are notified by email and winnings paid into the account of your choice. The easiest way to join our lottery is online at YourSchoolLottery by direct debit or debit card.
Treasure Map Trails
We’ll get 30% of all sales and customers get 10% discount on any purchase with cupon code ptabeaudesert. They make great presents!
https://treasuremaptrails.com/?ref=ptabeaudesert
Bag2school
Bag 2 School specialises in the reuse and recycling of good quality second hand clothing and we have arranged to make a collection from our school. All the bags will be weighed and the PTA will be paid for the total weight collected (40p per Kg at the time of writing).
Please use your own bag or bags (there is no limit). Plastic bags will be sent for recycling afterwards. We are collecting good quality items for RE-USE: Mens, ladies & childrens clothing, paired shoes, handbags, belts & accessories. (No uniforms, workwear, pillows, duvets or pieces of fabric please)
https://bag2school.com/what-we-collect
Our next collection is on: 9th October 2024 Please leave your bags under the playground shelter before 9am.
Stamptastic
The PTA gets a commission for every purchase through this link. Get a stamp with your child’s name on and fabric ink to mark clothes and other things. Much more durable that stickers and easier to apply!
Where does the money go?
The money raised goes into our charity bank account, which is separate from any school funds. Then the PTA decides how to spend the money. The headteacher attends all PTA meetings and informs us of current and future projects that may need funding, then the PTA decides whether to contribute or not and how much. We also make suggestions to the school and find enriching activities for the children to enjoy such as a theatre company visiting the school, a magic show or a part-funded trip to the theatre.
Throughout the last 5 years, the PTA has raised more than £15,000! The last four years haven’t been our best due to the pandemic and many events being canceled, then the struggle to find volunteers, however, we still managed to raise a fair amount that was used for a few things, including:
- Contribution towards the new Early Years outdoor area.
- Coach transport for swimming lessons for Year 3 and Year 4.
- Christmas Panto paid for the whole school in 2022
- Santa visit and Presents for Santa during their Christmas Parties
- Meet the Author on World Book Day
- Weatherproof outdoor maps and shop posters decorating the walls outside of Y2 and Y3 classes.
- School disco
- Year 4 leavers hoodies
- Easter eggs for all children
This year (2023-2024), so far, we have paid for some garden equipment to be used by all the children in the gardening area during break times, including a shed to keep all the equipment safe and in good condition. We have also paid towards an outdoor library and outdoor bean bags so children can choose to pick a book to read if they want.
In the current climate it might be a challenge to fundraise but we are still looking at activities that can run to raise money for the school so the children can have better equipment and enjoy enriching activities. These are some of the fundraising activities we organised last year:
- Rainbow day and other Non-Uniform days
- Christmas Fair and raffle
- Great Beaudesert Bake Off
- MyChildArt – Products with children’s artwork to purchase
- Bingo night
- Quiz night
- Virtual Hot air balloon race
- School disco
- Bag2school
- Ice cream sales
- Preloved uniform sales
- Summer fair
- YourSchoolLottery
The PTA are very conscious of the well-being and financial effects on both children and parents across the school due to the cost of living crisis. Therefore, our aim is to find a balance between the need to fundraise and ensuring the children have fun. We really appreciate your continued support.We need more volunteers to continue the work that we do. If you think you can help, please join our next meeting or let us know via the Facebook Page. It doesn’t have to be a big commitment! Or if you have any ideas for fundraising, comments or feedback we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch!