For parents in search of childcare, the early years sector offers a wide range of providers. They might choose a home-based option, such as a childminder or nanny, a maintained nursery - if there is one in the local area - or a private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector provider. In PVI, there are literally thousands of voluntary-run playgroups and pre-schools, often operating out of a village hall or church. These settings are usually constituted as charities, and many were first formed 40 or 50 years ago.
PROVIDING DIVERSITY
It was at an emergency meeting for parents that I got co-opted on to the management committee of my local pre-school, the Stanton Drew and Pensford Pre-School near Bristol. The message was, 'If you won't do it, we'll have to close'.
My daughter was attending the pre-school, I knew about education, and so I agreed to be chair of the committee. Andrea Green, chair of Immanuel Pre-school Playgroup in Birmingham for the past five years, points out that voluntary-run settings often have to 'drag' people on to the committee - 'but only for them to leave as soon as their child starts school and for us to start the whole cycle again.'
There are many benefits in parents and carers helping to run their local early years setting. A voluntary-run setting is a key part of its community, with close links to local primaries, and typically a strong family feel.
Working as a volunteer encourages parents to take a close interest in their children's early learning and development. It is not unusual for our volunteers to get a taste for the sector, and to end up training to work in childcare. This is how our setting leader began her journey to becoming an Early Years Professional.
Voluntary-run settings help create diversity within the sector. Chris Holly, who was chair of Laurel Pre-school in Tottington near Bury for over a decade, points out that some parents want 'a less full-time, more play-based environment than a full-day nursery or school nursery might offer'. Because parents help to run the setting, they have a say in how the funding is spent. Our staff team and committee members all believe strongly in the value of high adult to child ratios, and this is what we strive to achieve.
FACING THE CHALLENGES
In the four years since I became chair, there have been substantial changes within the early years sector. The introduction of Government funding has helped ensure our financial sustainability, but the demands on volunteers have increased exponentially. Previously, our charity was kept afloat by fundraising events, but increasingly we must focus far more on the business side of running the setting. In a maintained or privately run setting, there would be paid staff to set budgets, run cashflow, organise publicity, update policies, hold staff appraisals and so on. In voluntary-run pre-schools, these jobs fall to volunteers.
Leoarna Mathias, an expert and writer on the early years, says she became chair of Merry Go Round Pre-school in Devon two years ago because she recognised it was desperate for support. 'I could not stand back while others struggled along with what I know is an extremely tough and sometimes thankless task,' she says.
Although superficially a pre-school, our management committee is similar to a school governing body, and we also take on many of the jobs that a head teacher, bursar or business manager would do.
The committee members form the 'Responsible Body' for the setting and as chair I had to undergo an Ofsted suitable person interview. We are legally liable in the event of any problems and we must ensure our setting complies with charity, employment and pensions law.
To be frank, it is a big ask for parent volunteers. As Chris Holly points out, 'The role of chair is too big for a volunteer to take on for one or two years; it needs consistency and someone who knows the history of the group.'
A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE?
Those of us who work in this part of the sector increasingly feel that the Government does not value (or indeed, understand) us. Ministers talk of 'businesses' and 'state-run nurseries', failing to acknowledge the vital role played by the large number of voluntary-run settings.
Earlier this year, I spent hours on the phone with Ofsted, after it announced that it was no longer to class members of pre-school committees as 'volunteers' and that we would have to pay for our CRBs. Thankfully, under pressure from many quarters, Ofsted caved in.
Ironically, voluntary-run pre-schools operate in a similar way to Michael Gove's new (and controversial) free schools. We are set up and run by volunteers, the financial management of the setting is up to us, the local authority would not 'step in' to save us if we were about to fail.
With all the current changes to the sector, many worry about what the future might hold. The recent announcement from the Chair of Ofsted about moving two-year-old children into schools is very worrying on many levels.
If we are to create a sustainable business model for this part of the sector, we should help these settings become community interest organisations or companies, if those running them so wish. We are truly the finest example of the 'Big Society': a local service, run by local parents, for local children. Surely the Government should celebrate, support, and properly value the hidden world of the voluntary-run pre-school.
Sue Cowley is an educational author and trainer, www.suecowley.co.uk
Reducing red tape for voluntary settings
The recent launch in the summer of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has been designed to reduce red tape for voluntary settings.
Charities could not exist without the dedication and hard work of the individuals that volunteer as trustees to manage them, but many people are discouraged by the potential for personal liability that comes with the role.
While the option to become a charitable company has reduced the risk of personal liability, childcare charities with relatively small assets and liabilities continue to find certain Companies House requirements burdensome.
But now the CIO makes life a lot more straightforward. As a corporate body with its own legal identity, the CIO structure provides greater protection from personal liability for the trustees, and as registration is only required with the Charity Commission, it is less onerous.
To support voluntary settings to register with the COI, the Pre-school Learning Alliance has produced an electronic guide.
Developed for both new charities wishing to register as a CIO, and existing charities wishing to change their status to a CIO, it contains the Pre-school Learning Alliance Model CIO Constitution for Childcare Providers 2013, which has been pre-registered with the Charity Commission to speed up the process of applying to become a CIO.
The e-guide advises on the key features of a CIO, provides step-by-step directions for completing the registration form, tips on the additional steps that need to be taken to wind up existing charities; as well as the requirements relating to the keeping of records and filing of accounts. Templates are also provided for the meetings, records and letters needed throughout the process.
- Order at www.pre-school.org.uk.
