I was asked to help a nursery setting that’s a charity, by being a chair of the committee. I have some experience of committees but mainly business focused. I’ve never worked in a childcare setting or had any dealings with Ofsted. My one DC only attended for a short time and it was in this time I was asked rather urgently to take it on as the admin/chair (a mum) could no longer do it due to personal reasons (don’t know why).
I didn’t realise how much work is involved! I keep getting emails saying I’m head of this and that and a Ofsted nominated person now?! The admin mum said she’d continue to do the admin and that I just have to sign things off but I keep finding discrepancies and errors that I think could have the potential to be quite serious so don’t feel happy if my name is on the line.
The finances are a mess, staff are so lovely, but there’s no ‘business’ organisation/admin and other committee members have said they want to leave as their kids no longer attend too (although no one has officially said that yet, just in person to me). I’m so tempted to officially quit before anyone else does.
I could turn it all around with a lot of work and time but there’s no real benefit to me to do that, and I feel bad to let them down but it isn’t what I thought it would be, and I’m not being paid unlike the mum who does the admin. I did one meeting and someone commented saying I’m in charge now and everyone groaned as I did the meeting quite business like as in my experience that’s how committee meetings are ran? The admin mum doesn’t like it if I question things which I get is annoying as I think she wanted me to replace her name but leave her to it.
How do I quit without upsetting people as it seems I can’t do wrong for right? We live in a small community so I see these families a lot.