Ideally most PTAs hold an annual general meeting in September, at the start of the school year. At this meeting a committee is elected to run the PTA – usually consisting of a chair, a vice-chair, a treasurer, a secretary and ordinary committee members. These ordinary members include at least one, and often two, parents from each class as 'class reps'. Their job is to pass on information from the PTA to other parents in their child’s class.

PTA committees usually meet once a term and set up smaller working groups to organise individual events.

Funds raised by the PTA are intended to provide ‘extras’ not already provided by the school's main income – often 'fun things' that make learning more interesting and exciting.

The PTA committee and the headteacher decide how to spend PTA funds. Common items include computers, playground equipment and smaller purchases such as presents for Father Christmas to distribute.

There are many different ways you can help with the PTA, whether you have lots of time to offer or not. Some of the roles are time-consuming, although also rewarding. If you can’t commit to a big job, look out for things you can do less frequently (eg running a stall at a fair, baking for a cake sale). And you can always support PTA events by simply turning up.