Committee run pre-school - nominated person

[Guest]

I'm chair of a committee run pre-school, running as a CIO.

 

I am going to be stepping down in the next few months, and while I know the committee can run without a chair I'm not sure about nominated person. Right now that is me, but what happens if we don't find someone to replace me as nominated person? Can the manager do it?

[diesel10]

I'm the manager and the nominated person.

 

I hadn't thought about running without a chairperson. I suppose it maybe ok if the constitution allows and there is enough named committee but who would lead the committee if there was a problem?

[Fredbear]

I'm also the nominated person of our committee run preschool and manager.

[Guest]

I'm the manager and the nominated person.

 

I hadn't thought about running without a chairperson. I suppose it maybe ok if the constitution allows and there is enough named committee but who would lead the committee if there was a problem?

 

I'm also the nominated person of our committee run preschool and manager.

 

That's good to know!

 

A chair would obviously be needed to lead the committee, but under our old constitution there had to be a chair in place at all times or we'd have to close; under the new constitution we only need a committee, with no 'roles' as such just as long as there are people in place who can make the decisions as a group.

 

We will be searching for a new chair as well as new members, but finding someone who will take that on as well as being nominated person has always been a huge concern - if we can find someone who is willing to be both then it would be fantastic, but if we can't then there needs to be a backup plan for one part of that role.

 

Can I ask, does Ofsted look unfavourably upon committee run pre-schools who don't have a member of the committee as nominated person?

Edited October 8, 2015 by cvdbout

[Mouseketeer]

I've always been the nominated person of a committee run setting, I'm not sure ofsted allow you to not have a chair though regardless of whether they are the nominated person or not, sure this became an issue for a setting in our area.

[Fredbear]

Look very carefully at your governing document. Either a constitution or a memorandum of articles of association.

It should clearly state these things.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Fredbear

[Fredbear]

Do check your governing documents. Either a constitution or a memorandum of articles of association, it should clearly state the terms to which you must run.

[Fredbear]

Oops sorry folks don't know what I've done there.

[Guest]

We are clear on the constitution side - only a chair is needed for meetings, and they can be voted in meeting by meeting.

 

It would have been a major problem if we still ran as an unincorporated association as they legally need officers as voted for at a general meeting. Under a CIO (our model at least) there is no such requirement stated. Things obviously run smoothly though with clearly defined roles, so we still have our secretary and our admin assistant does the finances, and chair to lead the committee.

[Mouseketeer]

interesting, I thought ClO may be different but hadn't realised it changed ofsted's expectation of having a named chair of the committee.

 

I'd hate to not be the nominated person and have to wait for committee to sort out anything Ofsted.

[Guest]

interesting, I thought ClO may be different but hadn't realised it changed ofsted's expectation of having a named chair of the committee.

 

I'd hate to not be the nominated person and have to wait for committee to sort out anything Ofsted.

I don't know if it does or doesn't, Ofsted only know me as nominated person, not the chair of committee (unless its been a tick box somewhere on the forms with EY2/DBS...)

[diesel10]

Not been a problem for us with me being the nominated person. Although gives me a bit of scope to put my foot down if things aren't going my way with the committee. It's a lot easier to say you will step down as the nominated person than I will resign as manager!

[eyfs1966]

I too am a manager/nominated person, not a committee memberr/trustee. I queried if ok with Ofsted. They said nominated person should normally be a committee member/trustee, but that the role could be delegated to me with approval of the committee/trustees. The issue Ofsted had is that the nominated person could in effect tell Ofsted to withdraw registration...and that should normally be a committee decision....however, Ofsted opinion was that the committee needed to decide if that was a risk or not!

[lsp]

I am also manager and nominated person. At last inspection the inspector said it's not ideal as I am not part of the registered body (possible conflicts of interests) but understood why groups make this decision - continuety, knowledge of EYFS, level of responsibility etc.

[zigzag]

I am nominated person and manager. Would be a nightmare having anyone else.

[thumperrabbit]

Have Ofsted started taking more of an interest in committee 'stuff'?

 

In my last 3 inspections Ofsted haven't actually checked anything ref committee, she did speak to my Chair last time but that was because she just happened to be in that day and as a teacher made herself known to her.

[Mouseketeer]

Our last inspector was very focused on committee understanding and carrying out their roles and responsibilities and not just saying 'the manager does that/knows that etc...I had a fab committee that year as well and chair was contacted and spoken to on a one to one longer than me....who's know what would have happened if she'd been the inspector during some of my not so great committee inspections :-/