Building Strong Foundations: What Trustees Do
Understanding your role and responsibilities in a charity run early years setting
Strong trustees build strong foundations and strong foundations help children, families and staff to flourish.
Becoming a trustee in an early years setting is a big responsibility and for many people it's a role they never expected to take on.
Whether you're a parent volunteer, a long-standing committee member, or completely new to charity leadership, it's essential to understand what your role involves and how your decisions shape the future of your setting.
This workshop gives you a clear, confidence building introduction to what trustees do, why the role matters and how to carry out your responsibilities effectively.
Everything is explained in plain English, with real examples from my own experiences of nursery and pre-school life, so you can see how good trusteeship supports children, families and staff.
Workshops are suitable for those operating in England and Wales only
What we cover:
During the 2 hour live session we explore the key areas every trustee needs to understand:
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Your core trustee duties - what they mean in practice and how they apply to early years settings
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How trustees help create safe, high quality provision, including your role in safeguarding and oversight
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What Ofsted expects from committees and charity-run settings and how trustees contribute to meeting those expectations
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Legal responsibilities you must be aware of including GDPR, employment law, charity compliance and health and safety
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Working effectively with your setting manager including communication, boundaries and avoiding micromanagement
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Financial oversight - budgeting basics and what trustees need to monitor (without needing to be accountants)
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Risk, decision-making and accountability explained in a simple, practical way
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How to build a strong, we-run committee that supports the setting to thrive
Who this workshop is for
This session is designed for:
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new trustees who want clarity and confidence
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existing committee members who want to refresh their understanding
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parents stepping into a trustee role for the first time
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managers new to charity managed settings
What you'll leave with
By the end of this workshop, you'll be able to:
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Explain the core duties of a charity trustee and understand how these apply specifically to your early years setting.
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Describe the legal responsibilities trustees hold in areas such as safeguarding, GDPR, employment, charity governance and health & safety.
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Understand what Ofsted expects from committees and how trustees contribute to meeting the requirements of the EYFS.
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Recognise the difference between strategic oversight and operational management, and apply healthy boundaries when working with your manager and staff.
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Identify the key policies, processes and documents you must have in place to run a compliant, well-governed setting.
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Use practical tools to monitor quality, risk and financial sustainability without needing specialist expertise.
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Make informed, confident decisions that support the long-term stability and success of the charity.
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Work effectively as part of a committee, understanding roles, responsibilities and how to share tasks fairly.
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Spot early warning signs of issues in governance, finances or practice and know what steps to take.
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Understand how strong trusteeship directly impacts children's safety, wellbeing and learning, and why your role is essential to a thriving early years setting
