As a charity-run preschool, we are overseen by a voluntary Management Committee made up of parents and community members. The committee acts as the “governing body” of the preschool, making sure we are run legally, fairly, and in the best interests of the children, families, and staff. While the Manager, Wendy Cross, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the setting, the committee supports by overseeing finances, policies, safeguarding, and long-term planning. They also play an important role in making sure our preschool continues to thrive as part of the local community.
The Wendy House Committee Chairperson
Sarah Clarke
sarahe.clarke@hotmail.com
The Chair of the Committee leads the committee and works closely with the Manager. Their role includes supporting the Manager, overseeing finances and compliance, guiding the committee’s decisions, and helping set long-term goals for the setting. The Chair also represents the preschool in the community and, importantly, makes sure staff voices are heard at committee level so that your work and wellbeing are supported and valued.
There may be occasion when staff feel need to escalate an issue beyond the manager. Staff may wish to contact the chairperson of the committee to:
- Raise unresolved concerns – If the manager hasn’t addressed an issue (e.g., staff grievances, safety concerns, or mismanagement), the chair can intervene or investigate.
- Report conflicts of interest – if the manager is involved in the issue, staff may need a neutral party higher up.
- Ensure safeguarding compliance – if a safeguarding issue is not properly acted upon, escalation is essential for child protection and legal duty.
- Request support or mediation – the chair can offer impartial support, mediate, or bring matters to the full committee.
- Address breaches of policy or governance – the co-chair helps uphold the charity’s standards and legal obligations.