Support for a full day care setting operating on a school site
The Local Authority funded membership of Early Years Wales for the setting so they would have access to their governance support. A meeting was set up with the childcare staff, Early Years Wales and the Deputy head of the school.
We discussed all areas of business support – Care Inspectorate Wales, qualifications, finances, grant applications, Self-Assessment of Service Statement, business plan, Disclosure and Barring Service requirements, Responsible Individual and Person In Charge requirements plus much more, offering support in all areas so as to support the setting to move forward.
The setting disclosed that they had been issued with a large HMRC tax fine and had no money to pay it. Staff had not been paid their full wages and one ex-member of staff had approached her union representative and ACAS in order to sue for wages owed. It also came to light that the manager had signed over her car to the HMRC bailiff on his last visit (they had received 3 visits from the HMRC bailiff, costing hundreds of pounds).
Early Years Wales provided support for the setting including advising staff to speak to HMRC to clarify the liabilities they had as some of the figures were not a liability, they had responsibility for and to request a payment plan for their own PAYE debts.
We provided a business plan template which we helped them to complete and worked with the deputy and head teacher on various grant applications securing £9,000, allowing them to settle underpaid salary liabilities and cancelling legal claims for all wages owed.
The school decided to be more involved with the setting and has worked on policies and procedures with Early Years Wales. The school also worked with Early Years Wales on recruitment as there was some staff changes recently.
They have now registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and recently recruited a qualified manager and support staff who are all working hard to continue to improve practice and compliance in partnership with Early Years Wales and completing their CIW reregistration.
Really appreciate the work that you do, they have asked for their thanks to be passed on to you; Clare cried! (Deputy Head Teacher)
Some of the FEEDBACK received in relation to our governance support.
ALL WALES CHARITY CONFERENCE 2020
Helen Stephenson CBE, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission..
I would like to highlight some of the specific work we have done in Wales over the course of last year. Our registration and customer service team have worked with Early Years Wales and they have agreed approved governing documents including CIO constitutions and put in place a process where the necessary approvals to transfer assets and liabilities to any new CIO are given through that umbrella body and that is an example of just making it easier for small charities to operate and something that I am very keen to continue to do