The Playbox Management Committee

News from Playbox Management Committee December 2025

We have had a very busy but successful term at Playbox. We have welcomed lots of new children who have settled very well and are enjoying all that is on offer in the setting. Our thanks for this is to the staff led by Mrs Hillman.

We are delighted that we were able to fund the extension to the outside area and that it was completed during the summer holidays all ready for the children in September. The staff have done an amazing job at making our outside area a fun place to be, full of different experiences and learning.

We have had 2 committee meetings, a finance meeting and an AGM this term, all of which enable us to support the staff in the development of Playbox, and ensure that we are getting the very best value for money.

Mrs Mansfield was due to retire at the end of this term but due to some difficulties in appointing a new administrator she will be back in January (hurray!), but only for a short while – hopefully!

We are all looking forward to the end of term Christmas celebrations, especially the Nativity play which I know is in full rehearsal .

We are happy to be approached at any time if you have any questions or queries. Your parent representative on the committee is Kirsty Hingston and I believe there is another member of the parent body joining us next term once OFSTED have completed their checks to ensure they are a suitable person for this position.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you in 2026

Please never hesitate to contact me via email theplayboxchair@outlook.com if you have any worries or problems or to give us positive feedback about your experiences of Playbox.

Jane Sharp Chair of The Playbox management committee

Playbox is currently run by committee and has a code of conduct.

Code of Conduct for the Management Committee

This code of conduct sets out the expectations on, and the commitment required from, members of the management committee in order for it to carry out its work within Playbox Nursery.

Once approved it will apply to all members of the management committee.

The management committee has the following strategic functions:

Establishing the strategic direction, by:

Setting and ensuring the clarity of vision, values and objectives for the nursery
Agreeing the nursery improvement strategy with priorities and targets
Meeting statutory duties

Ensuring accountability, by:

Appointing the Nursey Leader
Monitoring the educational performance of the nursery
Performance managing the Nursery Leader
Engaging the stakeholders
Contributing to nursery self-evaluation

Overseeing financial performance, by:

Monitoring the nursery finances
Monitoring spending against the finances
Ensuring the finances are well spent and value for money is obtained
Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed

As individuals on the management committee we agree the following:

Roles and Responsibilities

We understand the purpose of the management committee
We accept that we have no legal authority to act individually, except when the management committee has given us delegated authority to do so, and therefore we will only speak on behalf of the management committee when we have been given specific authority to do so
We accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the management committee or its delegated agents. This means we will not speak against majority decisions outside the management committee meetings.
We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and as far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer
We will encourage open governance and will act appropriately
We will consider carefully how our decisions may affect the community
We will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of Playbox. Our actions within Playbox and the local community will reflect this.
In making or responding to criticism or complaints we will follow our established procedure.
We will actively support and challenge the nursery staff.
We will accept and respect the difference in roles between the management committee

members and the staff ensuring that we work collectively for the benefit of the organisation.

We will respect the nursery staff team and their responsibility for the day to day running of the Nursery and avoid any actions that might undermine such arrangements
We agree to adhere to the nursery’s rules and policies and the procedures of the management committees as set out in relevant governing documents and the law.
When formally speaking or writing in our governance role we will ensure that our comments
reflect current organisational policy even if they might be different to our personal views.
When communicating in our private capacity (including on social media) we will be mindful of, and strive to uphold, the reputation of the organisation.

Commitment

We acknowledge that accepting office as a management committee member involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.
We each involve ourselves actively in the work of the management committee and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including servicing committees or working groups.
We will make full efforts to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance why we are unable to attend.
We will get to know the nursery well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in
nursery activities.
We will visit the nursery, with all visits arranged in advance with the manager and undertake visits within our established framework.
We will consider seriously our individual needs for induction, training and development, and will undertake relevant training.
We accept that in the interests of open governance, our full names and roles on the management committee will be published on the nursery web site.

Relationships

We will strive to work as a team where active working relationships are promoted.
We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with other member of the management committee and nursery staff both in and out of meetings.
We will support the chair in their role of ensuring appropriate conduct at all times.
We are prepared to answer queries from other committee members in relation to delegated functions and take into account any concerns expressed, and we will acknowledge the time,

effort and skills that have been committed to a delegated function by those involved.

We will seek to develop effective working relationships with nursery staff and parents and other relevant agencies and the community.

Confidentiality

We will observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential or where they concern specific members of staff or children inside or outside nursery.
We will exercise the greatest prudence at all times when discussions regarding nursery business arise outside of management committee meeting.
We will not reveal the details of any management committee vote.
We will ensure that any confidential papers are held and disposed of appropriately.

Conflicts of interest

We will record any pecuniary or other business interests, including those related to people we are connected with, that we have in connection with management committee business at the start of each meeting which will be minuted. If any such conflict of interest arises in a meeting we will offer to leave the meeting for the appropriate length of time.
We will declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the situation arise.
We will act in the best interests of the nursery as a whole and not as a representative of any group.

Ceasing to be a member of the management committee

We understand that the requirements relating to confidentiality will continue to apply after a member of the management committee leaves office.

Changes in a committee member’s circumstance

In the event of a change in our personal circumstances, that may see us as unfit or unable to remain a committee member, we will notify the Chair of Management Committee in the first instance. Each case will be looked at individually and advice sought if necessary .

Breach of this code of conduct

If we believe this code of conduct has been breached we will raise the issue with the chair who will investigate. The management committee will only use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.
Should it be the chair that we believed has breached the code, another management committee member, such as the vice chair, will investigate.

Adopted by the Playbox Management Committee on 24/11/2025

This code of conduct will be reviewed annually.

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