Discos have always been a popular PTA fundraiser, but what should you consider when planning your next one?


D


iscos are a classic PTA event as they can be adapted to suit children, families and adults alike. Whether you’re


planning your fi rst one or hold several each year, here are some helpful tips to inspire you...


Who? Family discos are great as it means


everyone can come, so there’s no issues with parents with two children having to pick up and drop off children for different time slots, plus they allow the whole school community to get together. Children’s discos offer the prospect


of a few hours’ childcare to parents, although consider whether parents will be allowed to stay if desired. If you do this, limit it to one parent per family for the sake of numbers. For an adults-only disco, bear in


mind that more considerations need to be made before anyone can commit to coming – parents will need to arrange childcare, for one. Survey parents to see if this type of disco would be appealing and when would be best to hold it.


Where? The obvious place to hold your event


is in your school hall, but if you don’t have the facilities, how about hiring a local hall? Ask your council for advice on suitable venues, and try to negotiate a discount on hire fees. If you’re a small school, consider teaming up with other local PTAs and putting on a joint family disco in the local village hall.


48 SPRING 2019 pta.co.uk


When? Many PTAs run one disco per term,


either to coincide with seasonal celebrations such as Valentine’s or Easter or to mark the end of term. Always consider which other fundraisers you’re offering in the same time period so you don’t exhaust parents’ pockets.


How? Depending on the size of your school


and the age range that attends, it may be appropriate to hold multiple discos for each year or key stage. A disco for younger children may


need to be shorter than for older pupils to prevent children getting too tired. Our research shows that PTA discos typically range from 45 to 90 minutes. Consider offering a party instead for younger pupils, who may be intimidated by the noise and lighting of a full-on disco.


Theme Giving your event a theme can help


create a buzz of excitement! Popular ideas include crazy hair, shorts and shades, and monsters’ bash (for Halloween). For older children, how about a roller disco? Appeal to adults with an 80s or 90s night. Be inventive with how you tie the


theme into the event - food, music, clothing and decorations can all add to the fun.


Music If hiring a professional DJ, you’ll


need to book them early, especially at busy times, such as the run up to


Christmas or wedding season. Ask for recommendations from parents. If you’re unfamiliar with the DJ, enquire about the playlist – after all, songs need to be suitable for the age group. If you’re not using a DJ, check that any equipment you need is in full working order.


Licensing If featuring any form of live or


recorded music, a PRS for Music and a PPL licence are required. Your school may have this already, so it’s worth checking. You only need a TEN if you’re planning to serve alcohol. If this is the case, be sure to apply to your local council at least ten days before the event.


Accommodating SEN


To ensure that all children feel safe to attend the event we recommend you take the following steps: ● Provide parents with bullet points of what will happen at the event so they can go through this with their child. ● Consider noise levels and lighting when planning the music, DJ and decor. ● Have a refreshments room where parents can stay – this can double as a quiet area in which children can unwind. ● If you have the facilities, have two disco rooms, one of which is quieter with subtler lighting, and allow children to fl ow freely between the two.


Let’s dance!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60