Governance
Our structure
We are a national, educational charity, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.
As the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England, we represent the interests of over 14,000 member settings who deliver care and learning to over 800,000 families every year. We also directly manage a range of children’s services - mainly in deprived areas.
The board of trustees is the governing body of the Alliance and the majority of the trustees are elected from the charity’s membership.
Other trustees are appointed externally and are selected by virtue of their background, knowledge and experience.
The board of trustees appoints the chief executive who is accountable to the trustees for day-to-day management of the charity and implementation of policy and the strategic plan as approved by the trustees.
The Alliance is a charitable company, limited by guarantee. It is subject to company law, as well as charity law. Its governing documents are set out below.
Trustee's Annual Reports and Accounts
Each year the charity’s trustees prepare an annual report that sets out the Alliance’s achievements and performance. The annual report and accounts must be submitted to the Charity Commission and Companies House and are available to the public through both organisations’ websites.
The most recent reports are available here
Our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement
We are committed to implementing effective systems to combat slavery and human trafficking.
Our supply chain and policy
Our supply chains are primarily limited to the UK and the EEA. Our anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains or our business.
Due diligence
As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk, we regularly perform appropriate risk based due diligence on all our internal processes, business partners, consortia members and providers of goods and services.
Our systems:
• Identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains
• Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains
• Monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains
• Protect whistle blowers
Zero tolerance
We have a zero tolerance policy on slavery and human trafficking. All our contractors and suppliers must comply with our values. We have a rigorous compliance adherence programme in place to ensure that all contracts have warranties of compliance and appropriate due diligence processes. Our in-house compliance team consists of representatives from Legal Services and Human Resources teams who monitor systems to ensure adherence.
On-going training and guidance
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and business, we provide training and guidance to Alliance employees on a regular basis.
Review
On an annual basis, we regularly review the implementation of activities outlined above and our effectiveness in preventing breaches of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 2017. This statement has been approved by the organisation's Board of Directors.
Our safeguarding statement &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
The Early Years Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment and follow the policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safety. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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The Alliance has four key commitments that provide a consistent and coherent strategy for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults in all services provided by or affiliated to the Alliance. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
The Alliance commits to: &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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empower children, young people, and vulnerable adults, promoting their right to be strong, resilient, actively listened to, and heard. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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uphold a culture of safety in which children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its curriculum and service delivery. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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prevent harm and respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur, working with statutory agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child, young person, or vulnerable adult. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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increase safeguarding confidence, knowledge and good practice throughout its training and learning programmes for adults, advocating support and representation for those in greatest need. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
 What is safeguarding and child protection? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Safeguarding is the steps we take to keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe on a day-to-day basis and the actions we take when we are worried about a person or the conduct of a colleague.
Child protection is the protection put in place for a child who is, or is likely to, suffer significant harm. Significant harm is defined in Section 47 of the Children Act. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
How we keep children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Safeguarding is of paramount importance within the Alliance and is embedded in our leadership structure, led by our Safeguarding Champion, and overseen by our Safeguarding Policy Group. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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We actively listen to and observe babies and children and through our curriculum promote their right to be strong, resilient, listened to and heard. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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We increase children’s understanding of how to stay safe and support parents to increase their knowledge by sharing information and resources. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There are clear policies and procedures in place for reporting, recording, and managing any concerns about children, young people, or vulnerable adults. All of which adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements and relevant legislation. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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All staff are trained in and understand their safeguarding responsibilities. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Every service has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsible for safeguarding and child protection. This includes ensuring that staff, volunteers, agency workers and students know the signs of abuse, are trained, understand, and follow Alliance policy and procedures. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There are procedures in place for working in partnership with agencies involving a child, young person, or vulnerable adult. These procedures also take account of working with families with a ‘child in need’ and with families in need of early help. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There is a robust Health and Safety Policy supported by clear procedures. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Staff and volunteers are recruited following the Alliance’s Safer Recruitment Policy. This includes robust recruitment checks, designated staff and volunteers having a DBS and six-month probationary period. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There are procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against a member of staff, or any other person undertaking work whether paid or unpaid for the organisation. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Families are encouraged to raise concerns through a clear complaints policy and procedure. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There are robust whistleblowing procedures in place for all staff, volunteers, and students. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Safeguarding incidents are reviewed and reflected upon so that learning can be shared across the organisation. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Safeguarding Champion: Paul Donaldson Director of People and Technology  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
 Whistle Blowing Nominated Person: Estella Massiah Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2023
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2022
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2021
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2020
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2018
The Early Years Alliance Gender Pay Gap Report 2017
