What is a committee

By becoming part of the committee, members will be able to ensure that the children in the setting are happy and cared for in a safe high quality learning environment. A committee is a legal requirement for all charitable settings. Without a committee a setting registered as a charity would not be able to operate.

The committee can be compared to a board of directors in that it is a managerial group. It is responsible for ensuring that the setting is meeting all of its legal obligations and is always providing a high quality service.

Committees are crucial to help settings run as charitable organisation to provide the best possible start for children. Committees can contribute to the care and well-being of the children and to ensure that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Committees are supported to gain the skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in relation to the setting.

Being part of a committee can be both enjoyable and rewarding.  Individuals bring with them various skills, talents, expertise, and ideas which can be used to enhance the setting.  

  There are many personal benefits to becoming a committee member. These include:

• Being involved in your child's education from an early age
• Being part of an organisation that helps children get the best start
• Developing new skills and strengthening existing ones which can be transferred into other environments such as the workplace
• Working with a wide range of people from a variety of backgrounds
• Using skills to help the local community

Some of the terminology used in the toolkit is below:-

Setting - An early years childcare provision. This could be a nursery, playgroup, pre-school, after school club.

Committee/Trustee - A group of volunteers responsible for the leadership and management of the setting

Charitable Organisation - an organisation that exists not to make money but to provide services for the public benefit. e.g., the advancement of education

Constitution - The governing document of the setting which gives information about how the setting is run. It is a legal requirement that all charitable organisation have a constitution

Manager - The childcare qualified person in charge of the day to day running of the setting. Also known as the supervisor or lead practitioner

NCC- Norfolk County Council

IDW- Improvement and Development Worker

ACAS The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

DBS- Disclosure and Barring Service

EY2 - is a check that is completed through Ofsted to ensure suitability

EY3- is a form used to inform Ofsted of new committee members joining and members leaving

CPD is the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience gained formally and informally during work. It is a record of what is experienced, learned and applied.

ICO The Information Commissioners Office

Ofsted Office of Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills.

Support available:

Norfolk County Council has a range of advice and guidance for setting up out of school care:

• Early Years advice line
• Family information
• Portal
• Newsletters
• Early Years alerts
• Training
• Leaders and manager's briefings
• Finance briefings
• Toolkits
• Early Years website
• IDW

Early Years advice line

For all concerns or queries please contact the advice line on earlyyearsadvicechildcare@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 222300.

Family information/community directory

Newly registered settings can email Family Information at fis@norfolk.gov.uk to obtain an ID number to access the Portal.

The Portal

The Portal is a gateway to Norfolk County Councils systems for registering and recording setting details for settings to be able to access training, advice and guidance as outlines above.

Newsletters

Early Years Newsletters are produced fortnightly to help keep providers up to date with national and local announcements. Follow the link to subscribe:- www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/early-learning-and-childcare/enewsletters.

Training

Norfolk County Council offers a range of training for all providers, to access the full list please contact visit www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/early-learning-and-childcare/early-years-training  or email the advice line. Please be advertised to book a place you will need to do so via your Early Years portal.

Leaders and managers/finance briefings

Termly briefings will offer national and local updates and information on finance. They are also an opportunity to network with peers. The dates for briefings will be sent to providers via email to earlyyearsandchildcare@norfolk.gov.uk.

Toolkits/Padlets

Norfolk County Council has produced a range of informative padlets and toolkits across a number of subjects to provide further in-depth information. Once you have completed the Portal registration please contact the advice line.

Early Years website

Norfolk County Council has a wide range of information on the schools' website at www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/early-learning-and-childcare.

IDW

IDWs work in clusters and therefore each setting and childminder is allocated an IDW. They are available to offer you support and guidance on a range of topics so please contact yours. If you don't know who it is call the advice line to enquire.