Bobtails Playgroup & Teddy Club is run by an elected committee of pre-school parents. Being a volunteer committee member is a responsible role but, also a very rewarding one. By becoming involved you are using your valuable time to help sustain and develop a wonderful community asset: your local Pre-school.

Some information regarding the roles and responsibilities of a committee member is detailed below and a committee members handover pack is also available on request.

A committee (members can be referred to as Trustees) is a group of people who ensure that an organisation fulfils all its legal obligations and operates efficiently and according to their constitution. As a governing body, they will need to have a shared vision of what the organisation is about and what its end goals might be.
The committee is responsible for the overall management and organisation of the setting.

Most committees have a core group of people who have specific roles and responsibilities in addition to those of a general committee member.

Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

Our committee meets not less than six times a year and when making decisions we ensure we meet our quorum, (this refers to the minimum number of committee members needed at a meeting, usually four members, or one third of the total committee members). We also hold an Annual General Meeting every June.

The committee has the power to create and adapt aims and objectives for the group, and to make policy decisions designed to assist with achieving these aims. If the aims and objectives have already been established, then each committee member must know what they are and understand what they mean.

Committee members work with the Manager / Leader to develop a good working relationship to ensure that the legal requirements and childcare arrangements have suitable aims and objectives.

The committee is responsible for recruitment, staff training, development, paying salaries and managing contracts of employment.

The committee can delegate certain responsibilities to staff and should allow them to undertake these delegated duties without over interference. However, it is the responsibility of the committee to support, guide and lead the staff team.

The committee creates fair personnel and employment policies that meet legal requirements; these protect the organisation and those that work within it. The committee is responsible for monitoring activities to ensure that policies reflect practice.

Statutory and common law obligations, which exist in law, must be met by all organisations; it is the committee’s responsibility as the employer to keep up to date with any changes in legislation, as you are not formally informed.

• Contracts of employment and employment legislation
• Equal opportunities legislation
• Income tax, national insurance, VAT and /or other taxes
• Lease, license or tenancy agreements for premises
• Health and safety legislation (including Environmental Health)
• Insurance requirements
• Financial record keeping and information, fund raising, grants and awards, bank accounts, loans and overdrafts
• Service agreements or contracts for work undertaken
• Data protection legislation (2007)
• Charity law (if relevant)
• Companies Acts (if registered)
• Flexible Working rights (2009)
• Corporate Manslaughter Bill (2007)
• Equality and human rights (2007)
• Minimum statutory holiday entitlement increases (2007)
• Ban on Smoking in the workplace (2007)
• Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations (2007)
• Maternity leave increases (2007)
• Statutory sickness pay (2009)
• Data (in addition to the Pupil registration regulations 2006)