Acorn Early Years Foundation
Strategic Away Day
Agenda

Date: Friday 29th June 2018

Time: 9:30am-3:30pm

Location: Tap Room, Navigation Inn, Cosgrove, MK19 7EB

Trustees Attending:

• Ruth Stone (Chair)
• Carolyn Norfolk
• Hannah Evans (Chair of audit committee)
• Katy Boyd (Safeguarding trustee)
• Giles Chilton
• Eva Lloyd (newly appointed)
• Narendra Laljani (potential trustee)

SMT Attending:

• Zoe Raven (CEO)
• Alex Hunter (Head of Programmes, inc QA/Social Impact)
  Morning/Lunch only:
• Andy Grout (Operations Director)
• Kieran Glackin (HR Manager)
• Gabbie Brandon (Marketing & Comms Manager)
• Laura Andrews (Early Years Manager)
• Teresa Gardner (Finance Manager – lunch only)

Suggested Objectives for the Day:

• For trustees to get to know each other, and members of the SMT
• For trustees (and SMT) to gain a fuller understanding of the current vision/values/pedagogy/social impact/theory of change
• To discuss and agree a Theory of Change framework and the measures for trustees to monitor the organisation’s performance and social impact
• For trustees to gain a fuller understanding of their role and potential contribution

 

9.30-10.00 – Introductions:
Please bring an object or picture to represent your best contribution to Acorn, either as a trustee or as staff member

 

10.00-10.30 – Appointment of Eva & Agree Objectives/Plan for the Day/Introduction to Theory of Change:
Official appointment of Eva, and agree objectives for the day, amending the plan if necessary.  Alex’s PPT to introduce ToC

 

10.30-10.50 – Coffee Break (and select lunch from menu)

 

10.50-13.00 – Social Impact/Theory of Change:
Discussion of the Social Impact Report, Values & Ethos (including Pedagogy), and Theory of Change.  Papers for these discussions will be sent out on Friday 22^nd June:

• Social Impact report, collating the feedback from Parents, Staff, Trustees and Children. (NB Please complete the attached survey by next Thursday!)
• Values & Ethos as it is understood currently (including pedagogy)
• Theory of Change – a fact sheet explaining what it is, not the draft format, which might pre-empt a free discussion

  

13.00-14.00 – Lunch!

 

2.00-3.30 – Implications for Governance:
The trustee role in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of organisational performance and social impact.  This discussion may include a review of the skills audit, terms of office and will contribute to the internal governance review/self-evaluation

 

3.30 – Close:
Feedback to be sent by email afterwards, and a review of the day will be included in the July meeting agenda