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Preschool education

No committee - does this mean no pre school?

16 replies

littlerach · 04/04/2007 13:31

I am currently joint chair of a pre school and will finish in July. As will the other joint chair.
The vice has no interest in stepping up, and will leave. the Treasurer and Secretary both want to stop.
There are no immediate successors on the committee.
What happens if no one steps up to take on these positions?
Would the pre school close?

We are attached to a school but run separately. the Head doesn' want to take it on.

We were once approached by a businessman wanting to buy the preschool and run it privately. Is this possible as we are a charituy??


Help!!!

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RedLorryYellowLorry · 04/04/2007 13:39

As I understand it if you are a committee run pre-school then you can't function without one so in effect you will have to close. I don't know about buying out a charity status pre-school - perhaps you need to speak to a solicitor on this.

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LizP · 04/04/2007 17:06

littlerach - I'm pretty sure if the pre-school stops running everything goes to the PLA or an equivalent pre-school - even the school couldn't take over the assets without their agreement. I'm stepping down as chair this year - and no one wants to come forward. We are trying to recruit a retired person or someone no longer associated with the pre school to take over.

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littlerach · 04/04/2007 17:40

Yes, we are hoping to be able to look to the local community but am having a little panic!!
Thanks for yor answers.

So any left over funds or assets such as play equipment would go to another setting?

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littlerach · 04/04/2007 20:33

Any other ideas?

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RedLorryYellowLorry · 04/04/2007 20:38

Are none of the other parents interested or prospective new parents. I'd let them know the problem i.e no committee no pre-school and see if anyone comes forward.

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daftasabrush · 04/04/2007 20:54

Every year we have to send out a note to the parents telling them if we don't get any volunteers, the pre-school will no longer run. That usually produces enough people to carry on for another year.

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NorksBride · 04/04/2007 21:19

Speak to the PLA as soon as possible. You can change your constitution so that only a percentage of the committee need to be parents with children attending. So you can cast your net wider and ask all the teachers, parents of older school children, the vicars wife, the bakers mother-in-law etc.

As daft says, spell it out to the parents - they won't want to lose their pre-school.

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Flamesparrow · 04/04/2007 21:23

Our preschool roped us in by hosting the agm & parents evening all combined.

You turn up to what you think is a parents evening, meet teachers etc (so more parents come) and get the talk about no committee=no preschool at the start - people are more likely to join up in that set up.

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Bucketsofdynomite · 21/04/2007 19:46

We had an AGM in October and the invitation explained the importance and had a tear-off slip where people said they were coming or not and also whether they wanted to go on the committee or not. Prior to the event, the volunteers were phoned and pressganged until the spaces were filled (became treasurer myself). Then sworn in at the AGM (with a required quorum attendant).
My point is that you don't need to panic yet, I assume you'll have a whole new cohort of kids and parents starting in September. If they want a pre-school they will have to work for it - could mention it in acceptance letters or welcome packs. Any current kids not starting Reception then? Talk to their parents too.

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Bucketsofdynomite · 21/04/2007 19:47

Oh yes, we had wine, raffle and quiz at our AGM too to attract more parents.

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littlerach · 21/04/2007 20:00

We are holging an extraordinary general meeting this week as no one has come forward yet.
I don't want to risk leaving ituntil the AGm in Sept as then if no one ocemes foraward I can see me having to do it for another year, and I really don't want to.
We have sent out letters to all parenmts, and have so far had 5 responses that wuill come. i am hopeful that a few of these will step frward.

We have the usual wine and cheese and raffle at AGM. Just seem to have very uninterested parenst at the moment.

We also have a member of the PLA coming to help support us.
Thanks for posting.

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Bucketsofdynomite · 22/04/2007 13:59

That's the problem though, everyone is disinterested by the summer term, thinking about school and moving on. You need to grab the newbies, full of enthusiasm, change burning a hole in their pocket for fundraising activities. Also more likely to be impressed by the fact that pre-school will shut as they would have to find alternative places for the year.

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geogteach · 25/04/2007 14:14

I am chair of pre school and we have just had lunch today and invited all the parents who will have kids with us in September. Worked well I have all major posts taken and parents have had a chance to mee tthe current committee to see what the job involves.
For our AGM in July we invite the reception teacher from the school most of the kids go onto to come and talk about preparing the kids for school. That tends to get lots of parents along and ensures that we are quorate.

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glassslipper · 04/05/2007 18:51

hmm i have just agreed to be on a committee next year. am i mad?

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Orinoco · 04/05/2007 19:19

Message withdrawn

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Orinoco · 04/05/2007 19:20

Message withdrawn

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