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.
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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.
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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.
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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, well-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
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anyone who has thought........
I'm not sure what I'm meant to be doing"
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
