Who are we?

Friends of Solent Infant School (FSIS for short) is a registered charity whose purpose is raise funds and organise events to help provide extra equipment and facilities for the children at the school. We also aim to foster relationships between staff, parents and others associated with the school, as well as the local community. The FSIS is run by a committee consisting of members and four elected officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The committee meets two or three times a term, depending on what's being planned, and the meetings take place in the evening at different venues. These meetings are very informal (absolutely no pressure), with chocolate biscuits featuring prominently on the agenda.

Who can join?

All parents and guardians of children in the school are automatically members of the FSIS. Any parent or guardian is very welcome to join the committee and attend meetings at any time.

What do we do?

Over the years, we have purchased many items for the school and the children, e.g. the playground gazebo, interactive whiteboards, new home corner furniture and equipment for the Reception classes, updating the school’s library stock, musical instruments, robust tape recorder / CD players for each class, a musical sculpture for the PACT garden, wet play boxes and computer equipment.

Last year we contributed towards a number of activities, such as:
• Circus Skills Week where the children learnt performing arts each day which they then perform to the parents at the end of the week;
• Arts Week with dance and drama workshops, multicultural storytelling and the most fantastic drumming workshops that both staff and children love!
• Royal Wedding Celebrations where the children made crowns, wore them in a procession and ate ‘William and Kate’ biscuits which they had decorated with their friends. Each school child also took home a commemorative gift that was sponsored by us.
• Sports Week where the children experienced lots of sports coached by professionals and parents leading up to Sports Day itself. • Put on a Year 2 leavers party with fun and games provided by Mr Tall. This was so popular with leavers that we plan to do it again this year.
• The refreshment of school library books and class story books.

We are currently looking to raise an additional £10k towards the replacement and upgrading of the adventure playground equipment, in additional to our usual contributions towards Arts Week, Circus Skills Week and additional school books.

How do we do it?

We hold many fundraising events throughout the year. Last year, for example, we had a Christmas Cake Stall and Entrepreneurial Fair, a ‘My House’ drawing competition, a New Year Quiz night (in conjunction with the Junior School), an Easter Fair, a Summer Fair, a Yr2 Leavers Party and two Grand Raffles. We have also raised funds by selling jute bags and uniform items throughout the year, and the close relationship we have with Northwood has brought us in a large amount of revenue through their generous sponsorship and donations.

How can I become involved?

Why not come along to our next committee meeting? The dates are always posted on the notice boards. Please send us a message by clicking on the Contact Us link at the top of this page or leave a message together with your telephone number and a note of your child's class, at the office for Mr Eddie Manchip and we'll get straight back to you.