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Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

Preschool education

Anybody else joining a pre-school committee for the first time this year?

18 replies

Birdly · 31/08/2007 13:56

I've put my name down but am starting to panic slightly!

Anyone else in the same boat?

OP posts:

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HairyIrene · 07/11/2007 21:28

sleepycat..i have been to one committee meeting at previous ds nursery..and snuck out sharply without joining
..new nursery is great place and just weirdly wondered what is expected?
now wishing i didnt mention it to them..
meant to start sort out work for next year...

Orinoco · 07/11/2007 21:28

Message withdrawn

sleepycat · 07/11/2007 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HairyIrene · 07/11/2007 21:16

was interested to see this thread!
is this the same as parent governer type thing?

can anyone give me an outline of what it is that you do?
time limits sound sensible..what would you offer??

Eddas · 19/10/2007 08:00

birdly, i was disappointed at our turn out to. a few parents turned up but only me and my freind volunteered, although some others had valid excuses(one lady has 2 under 3 and expecting again in dec so 3 very very close to all under 3, another lady her dd is leaving in Jan) and there were VERY few others TBH.

I'm going to make it my mission to talk to the other mums when i'm standing about waiting to pick dd up even if it's to get them to come along to the fundraising events! I was at how few people turned up to the bingo one last term but I don't think the committee were pushing it enough, maybe. I'm there everyday so will be asking EVERYONE if they are coming and if not why not, encourage them to brign mums/dads/aunts/friends etc.

Maybe i'm just being a little naive but it can't hurt. and i'll try to do it in a friendly non pushy way

expect me to be starting some threads on committees

Eddas · 19/10/2007 07:53

yes! joined up last night, hoping it'll be fun

Birdly · 17/10/2007 14:08

It would be really sad if your pre-school closed, Ripeberry.

I'm on our pre-school committee for the first time this year, and although we've got chair, treasurer and secretary, no-one else has volunteered any help, which leaves us with a huge workload each.

If more people were willing to help, there wouldn't be so much pressure on the three key committee members, and maybe the job would be a little more appealing.

Am going to have to start performing flying tackles on the other parents and not letting go until they sign up to do something!!!

OP posts:

Ripeberry · 17/10/2007 09:59

I've just been to our AGM at our pre-school last night and the only people to turn up were the original committee members.
We were hoping some of the other 12 parents would make an effort to turn up but NO.
Our pre-school has been running for over 20yrs with dedicated staff and some committee members have stayed on even when they did not have a child at the pre-school, just to stop it from closing.
But now we will have to have and EGM meeting and our secretary has sent out letter to all the parents, stating the hard fact that if they DO NOT attend this next meeting then the pre-school WILL CLOSE and it may even affect the out-of school club which uses the same building as they can't afford to run it by themselves.
This has really upset me as my DD1 went to that pre-school and really enjoyed it and i was hoping that DD2 would follow, she has just started going there 3 weeks ago.
I'm just pi**ed off with the apathy that people have about committees and ready the previous comments on here you lot must be our parents..
Rant over
AB

gringottsgoblin · 14/09/2007 20:53

we are setting up a committee for our playgroup, its terrifying! when you talk about the policies do you mean the consitution you have to have? i have downloaded one from the preschool alliance website so hoping that will be good enough

what happens if you dont have all the paperwork right?

Hobnobfanatic · 14/09/2007 20:50

The Preschool Learning Alliance (or PATA in Glos) will do courses for new committee members, I think. PATA does for Glos - I'm sure the PLA will.

I'm a newbie, but it's amazing how quickly you can pick things up, and you have the rest of the committee as support. It's great to be involved in the community - and have a say in your kids' education.

Yes there's a lot of bureaucracy and meetings can go on and on and on, but it's great for making friends (and yes, maybe testing a few friendships!), and also for the CV!

lljkk · 11/09/2007 14:33

Maybe so, Bouquet, but it's a huge amount to learn about, just knowing what things you should have written policies about is a headache in itself. And all policies are expected to be reviewed and if necessary, revised, at least annually. The rules and "best practice" guidelines will change with NO ONE informing you about the changes beforehand. Plus to cover your butts the policies have to be written in goble-gook that no normal human being can understand -- either that, or in language doesn't seem to be saying anything at all.

Sorry -- can you tell I'm a bit jaded today?! I think it's selfish not to join the management committee and help out at least a little, but boy is it a lot of bureaucracy some days.

Bouquetsofdynomite · 11/09/2007 14:21

You don't have to know anything about policy in advance, the Pre-school Learning Alliance provides samples and guidance, you can just cut and paste them to suit your group.

lljkk · 11/09/2007 14:04

I think it helps if you go in with a strong picture in your mind bout how much your prepared to do (time-wise, especially). Stick to it no matter what, you can always change your mind and do more later.
Everyone on the committee is supposed to have a copy of the National Standards in Preschool Education ... the officers are expected to know the Standards by heart.

quigsliz · 06/09/2007 22:05

sorry, but just got back from rather bitchy committee meeting - these peolpe were all my friends before we got involved in deciding playgroup policies - just wish i had stuck to a council run one where you just drop the kids off and don't get involved

quigsliz · 06/09/2007 22:03

might be worth going to a meeting first before committing - if there are very overpowering people on it you will just end up doing the donkey work, whilst any one sticking up for themselves/their child is completely vilified as a pain in the a*

eleanorsmum · 31/08/2007 16:43

don't know yet just offered to join. have degree in education so hope i'll be able to have some effect on things that need affecting! DD is goin 5 afternoon sessions so hope i will feel part of a team again.

Birdly · 31/08/2007 14:42

That sounds like a good plan! Which post are you up for?

I'm really hoping I can help, but as I understand it the committee manages the staff - and I know next to nothing about educational policies. Still, I think it's the same for most of the other parents so I'm sure we'll get by.

Good luck!

OP posts:

eleanorsmum · 31/08/2007 14:07

yup! but quite looking forwards to making new friends. we've just moved towns and i don't know anyone!

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