2024-07-31-accounts - Bathampton Playgroup

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Committee Chair Report 2023-24

Overview

It has been another successful year for the playgroup. We welcomed the new deputy manager, Sian, who has settled into her role with ease. We now have a stable team who continue to be ably led by Lisa. Having lost a senior long term member of staff the previous year, we couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.

Over the last year we have:

Overcome short staffing issues – hiring Sian and also keeping 2 additional members of bank staff to tide us over term 1 of 2023-24.
Launched a new website with a new logo and beautiful photographs.
Taken the children on a summer trip to Warleigh Lodge Farm. We also arranged a visit from Zoolab.
Purchased a promotional banner for outside of the village hall in keeping with the new branding.
Smaller posters were placed around the village although sadly some of them were defaced and have now been replaced, pending placement.
Received a larger grant than usual from the Parish Council enabling us to purchase a playgroup tablet to document observations and photos of the children.
Invited parents into Playgroup for a sing-along at Christmas and again in the summer term for a minibeast themed leavers celebration.
Continued with the parent helper rota
Raised a healthy sum through our fundraising initiatives which included new ideas from Kelly to include ticketed events to a Halloween party and a Christmas market.

Accepted the 3 year funding increase of 10% in September 2023 from £4.52 per hour to £4.97 per hour and then £5.27 from April

Ofsted/Safeguarding

Following an inspection in April 2023, we were delighted to receive a fantastic report with an overall ‘Good’ rating. A single area for development was highlighted – ‘Staff do not always help older children to consider problems and ways to manage risks for themselves’. Taking this onboard, we have acknowledged this feedback by implementing tasks for the older children, encouraging them to solve problems themselves – but within reason and do help them when they need help for their safety.

Policies & Procedures

Our Policies & Procedures were reviewed and updated as necessary.

We continue to hold £35k in reserve funds to protect the playgroup from any unforeseen financial emergencies or closure.

We kept the Terms & Conditions the same to say that we now require children to attend a minimum of 2 sessions per week on two separate days.

Parents

We have welcomed more parents on to the committee – Kerrie Clark in particular who has agreed to follow the process to join the committee officially and also Louise Davies who joined in April 2024. Another male parent also agreed to act as Father Christmas to the childrens delight!

Staff

Lisa continues as the Playgroup Leader, managing the teaching staff and day to day running of the setting. She is now supported by Sian, who joined the team as Deputy Playgroup Leader and SENCO lead in November 2023. Rebecca Sheibani continues to work alongside Lisa and Sian as an

Early Years Practitioner.

Chloe, Karen and Cara and occasionally Doogie continue to work as supply staff.

As ever, the staff have worked incredibly hard to create a stimulating and nurturing environment for the children this year and we are hugely grateful for their efforts.

Committee

The committee has worked hard to support Playgroup this year. I am particularly grateful to:

Becks Pearson for managing our finances (staff payroll, invoices & the funding provision). She has done an amazing job of Treasurer and has kindly agreed to remain in the role for 2024-25. It has not been an easy task to produce our financial forecasts during this years political and financial uncertainty and challenges. We are grateful to Becks for her efforts.

An extra special thank you to Kelly who took on the Secretary role and contributed an enormous amount of time and effort to fundraising and events including a Halloween Party, Christmas Market and the Easter Party. Kelly has broken all previous fundraising records and although has now stood down from the secretary role, she has committed to organising the 2024 Bathampton Christmas Market as her swan song, with all proceeds going towards the playgroup for the 24-25 year. Also thank you to Kellys family who have helped at every event as well as in the village hall garden.

Helen has been so helpful managing the quarterly Bags2school collections and more than tripling our fundraising using Vinted. She has also arranged tip runs with Susana to get rid of broken equipment which has been a huge help to Lisa.

Susana has also continued to support and is always on hand to whip up cakes or a craft at short notice. She has also agreed to be the back up signatory for the Barclays account. We are grateful to have her and Helen to stay on for her final year. Thank you also to Susanas partner, Luis, who has made a sizeable donation to the playgroup through his company.

Emma McGuiness, former playgroup deputy leader, is joining our committee and it’s a pleasure to have her back with us, albeit in a non children facing role!

Louise Davies agreed to take on the role of Chair although after second thoughts, resigned in July. She continues to remain on the committee in a generic role, helping with events, fundraising and has also managed to obtain free tickets for the entire playgroup to visit the theatre royal in December 2024 by applying to the theatres ‘Wonderfund’ on our behalf. Louise has also agreed to manage the Ofsted registration for the playgroup.

Moving forward we also have Justine joining the committee in a co-chair position with Susana. I will offer my support to them throughout the transitional period.

Intake and recruitment

New signs have been placed around the local area to include refreshed branding and a new logo. We have also updated the banner in front of the village hall.

As we look to the year ahead, our intentions include:

To update the website termly with playgroup news and events.
Print some more flyers for distribution at events / toddler groups etc
Ask Cara to make a new film to promote Playgroup in Spring 2025.
Change the colour schemes to neutral to create a calmer environment aligned with nature.

Village Hall/Garden

We have worked closely with the Village Hall committee again this year and Lisa kindly represented Playgroup at their committee meetings.

Aims for 2024-25

To provide a safe and stimulating learning environment for our children.
To maintain our strong and well-earned reputation in the local community.
To commission a new film from Cara to promote Playgroup.
To build stronger links with the primary school
We acknowledge the ongoing financial challenges to the Early Years sector and will work to
remain financially viable into the future.

To maximise opportunities for outdoor learning by fully utilising the space and amenities available to us.
To spend the money from councillor Sarah Warren who gave us a large sum to purchase new tables.
We will continue to support staff on their training plans throughout the year.
We aim to maintain our good standards following the EYFS requirements and to continue with the community vision that was created.
To maximise our use of social media to maintain awareness of Playgroup and support recruitment of new families in the area.
To foster a sense of community amongst parents and carers with regular social activities.

I very much enjoy working with Lisa and her team and I’m confident we will be in a strong position for 2024-25.

As I step down from committee after 4 years, I wish every success to the playgroup in the coming years.

Here’s to another successful year at Playgroup!

Jo Hill, Chair Bathampton Playgroup

30[th] November 2024

Mike Denning Accountancy and Bookkeeping Services 26. Orchard Way. North Bradley, Trowbridge. Ixfiltshire. BAI 4 OSU Tel. and fax101225) 774371 Emall . mikedenning61 @gmail.com ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BATHAMPTON PLAYGROUP CHARITY NUMBER 1018967 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st JULY 2024 Bathampton Playgroup Charity No. 101B967

Mike Denning Accountancy and Bookkeeping SeThices 26. Orchard Way. North Bradley. Trowbrldge. Kwiltshire, BA14 OSU Tel. and fax1012251774371 Email . mikedenning61 @gmaAI.corn REPORT OF THE ACCOUNTANT In accordance wlth Instructlons glven, I have carrled out an Independent examlnatlon of the accountlng rocords shown to me and can conflrm that an accurate record of the flnanclal actlvlty of the Playgroup has been malntalnod. From the records, and other Infomiatlon supplied, I have prepared accounts for the year ended 31st July 2024 which are a true and recelpts and payments basls whlch, due to the level of Income, are acceptable to the Charlty Commission. Although a balance sheet Is shown with these accounts, thls Is not a requlrement of the Charlty Commlsslon. It Is Included to show the funds accumulated by the Playgroup and where they are held. The followlng are amounts owed to and by the Playgroup as at 31st July 2024. Th880 are not shown In the accounts due to the recelpts and payments basls u80d - Monles owed to the Pla rou 1) F••s - £168.00 Mon188 owed b the Pla rou 1) Accountancy £130.00 21 PAYE tax and Natlonal Insurance for July 2024 - £529.20 3) Penslon contrlbutlons for July- £350.62 Other matt rs that have arlsen durin the ear Restricted use grants of £169 from Bathampton Parfsh Councll and £400 from BANES w•r• received during the year and these were to be used for the purchase of a tablet and tables respoctlvely. the latter of whlch Is Btlll to be purchased There aro no other matters arising during the year. Bathampton Playgroup Charity No. 1018967

Date... IqlI,ILol* Signed . IAICHAEL F DENNING Theso accounts wor• approved by the commlttee and slgned on thelr behalf by Slgned . Po8ltlon (........................................ Date..................................... 8athampton Playgroup Charity No. 1018967

BATHAMPTON PLAYGROUP INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st JULY 2024 Notes 2024 2023 INCOME Fees LEA funding Voluntary contributions Fundralslng Donations Grants Restrlcted use donatlon8 I grants Bank Interest 8476 40571 9904 2626 26385 36765 5787 2316 371 100 669 633 62679 70724 LESS XPENDITURE Salarles and wages Employer penslon contrlbutlons Rent Mllk costs Consumables Equlpment 53977 1421 4333 16 1480 62988 1263 4839 1753 1332 É,11 Fundralslng cost• Glfts Training Insurance I Compllance l Otsted Advertlslng and w6bslte costs Trips and educational visits Accountancy and payroll costs Sundry expenses 186 280 227 1278 246 213 231 1458 536 292 355 1324 1103 66638 66813 NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR -2959 3911 Bathampton Playgroup Chow No. 1018967

BATHAMPTON PLAYGROUP BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st JULY 2024 Note8 2023 CURRENT ASSETS Barclays current account Barclays pr•mlum account Petty Cash 12696 35973 137 16187 36340 137 ACCUMULATED FUNDS 48706 61664 REPRESENTED BY Accumulated funds brought forward Net Incom• for the ar 51664 47753 3911 48705 61664 Bathamplon Playgroup Charity No. 1018967

BATHAMPTON PLAYGROUP NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st JULY 2024 2024 2023 EXPENDITURE 1 Consumables Resources - art and craft materials. food ingredients, plantinglseeds etc Postage Printer ink and stationery Telephone costs Janitorial, PPE and first aid supplies Snack costs and staff vlfare 962 1004 27 137 60 107 196 13 160 20 166 402 1480 1763 2 Equlpment Cookie cutter set Chopping board and tray Lanyards Tablet Sand timers Sensory cards and toys Camping lantern Christmas lights Magnetic tiles Butterfy garden & caterpillars Various toys Padbck Books Book and craft trolley Sumup machine Smart phone Rugs Chopping boards Thermometer Mud kitchen Plug covers 11 16 187 17 213 30 12 50 37 26 21 165 766 30 199 92 24 1332 Bathampton Pl8ygroup Charity No. 1018967

3 Insurance I Compliance l Ofsted Insurance PLA membership ICO dats tyoteckn fee Otsted DBS check Gambling licence 1080 232 35 50 122 20 60 61 227 4 Trlps and educational visits Zoolab Theatre Royal PottkS Pigs 246 292 6 Accountancy and payroll costs Accountancy Payroll costs 130 314 120 235 365 6 Sundry expenses Gardening services Occupational therapist Computer antivirus Inclusion expenses 180 1000 610 130 144 1103 1324 Bathampton Playgroup Charity No. 1018967