Pre school set for possible closure

[Jenhoposc]

Dear All

Urgent advice sought.

We are on the verge of closing our preschool - due to not enough willing members on the committee (parents) and various staff issues.

We only become a committee run centre last Spetember (before my time) and this is apparently the way we need to go back to. The talk is we need to close for 6 months thn reopen in a different name. How can we get around that timescale? Any help/advice is hugely appreciated.

Not sure I understand really, are you a committee now or do you need to go back to committee run?

Also not sure why you would need to close for 6 months then re-open with a different name, who advised that and why?

We are a committee now, the talk is apparently it was much better run before, rather then having all the committee issues.

ITs our local council that has told us we would have to close for 6 months and reopen as a one manager led unit.

Thanks

Ok I kind of agree committee run groups need a lot of co working. I don't see why you would need to close for 6 months. I have never seen anything in the registration documents that suggest this.

It can take up to 26 weeks for registration from Ofsted, however I am presuming that the site you are using is already registered, the process then if you are setting up a new entity, as in company and changing name, would be to complete the relevent forms detailing the new name, you would then under the present framework receive a suitable person interview for the named person (manager). Ofsted are very helpful I would give them a call and see what they suggest, you may also be able to apply for new registration alongside the current committee run setting, therefore ensuring a smooth change over.

I have known pre-schools to close and re-open within a very short time (1 locally was a week) under a different name / manager.

There are a lot of resources and guides to registration on the ofsted site, have you posted in childminders, their are some very knowledgeable and x ofstedie people who could help I'm sure.

I believe it is something to do with the PLA requiring 6 months, does that make sense to you?

thanks so much for your help

Whats the PLA?

Where is your'e group located?

Its the Preschool learning alliance

Kent

Ok but the PLA is an alliance, I presume you are a member? and therefore are a committee run non for profit organisation with charitable status.

I am not very familiar with the PLA however I am a member of associations and they seem similar in that they offer support, advice, and cheap insurance packages. All very nice and handy should you need it, but not necessary for Ofsted registration.

You do not need to be a member of the PLA to operate as a committee run charitable group.

As far as I can ascertain from the registration process, and I have looked at it a lot for varying reasons, the process is generally similar regardless of your operating status.

I bought a nursery a few years ago and it went like this.

Because I purchased the company (an existing entity, retained the name and company number) I did not need to be re-inspected and could remain open throughout process, I was required to have a suitable person interview but operated as manager whilst awaiting this.

If I had bought the company and changed the name and / or company number I would have been required to re-register and have another full inspection, however as the building was registered could have operated whilst awaiting inspection.

From the rules on Committee run groups ofsted carry out checks on each committee member, and when one resign, ofsted are notified, when another is appointed again ofsted carry out another suitable person check. If all members resign at the same time which may happen at the agm or if the group closes the ofsted deem that the provision is closed, therefore not operating. What I am not sure about is how many members are needed on the committee, I am presuming that it would be more than 1, but have not found a definitive number for operating. I would suggest that if you want to remain a committee that you check with the PLA they should have specific info as it's their field iyswim.

the factsheet is here www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-committee-run-registered-childcare-provision

If you are a member of the committee already then if other members resign (as sounds the case as you say you have staffing issues) I suggest that you find another member to form a committee with.

Ultimately I think the advice your LA has given would be the best bet, if you are a member of the committee currently then I would suggest that as you already have a premises registered and as you have already had a suitable person check as per the committee registration procedures their may be a case for you setting up a new name as the named person without a gap in the changeover, and running the pre-school as a business or charity if you prefer without being a PLA member (although I still don't know where the 6 months comes from, I understood the ethos of PLA was for accesible care for all with this in mind I doubt they would advocate a 6 month gap)

If you want to set up as childcare on non-domestic premises the fact sheet is here
www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/guide-registration-early-years-register-childcare-provider-domestic-or-non-domestic-premises.

It might be worth asking this on Foundation stage forum There are very knowledgeable people on there who could help.

Hi

Thanks again for your help,

We work with the PLA Constitution that is what sets out 6 months.

Rather confusing

It may be to do with transferring staff under TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of employment). If new management takes over immediately, then all staff have to be taken on their existing T & C, but if staff are made redundant and there is a reasonable length of time before the new organisation starts, then TUPE may not apply.

HTH