2024-07-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024

Charity name: Harrietsham Playgroup Association

Charity registration number: 1021287

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	The aims of the Pre-school are to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by: (a) offering appropriate play, education and care facilities, family learning and extended hours groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means or ability; (b) encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local areas; (c) instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objects of the Pre school Learning Alliance.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Harrietsham Preschool provides funded and self-funded childcare for families in the area for ages 2-4, preparing children for entry into primary school. It also undertakes fundraising activities in order to help facilitate this provision and improve the learning experience of the children in attendance.

Achievements and Performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.

During the financial year 2023-24, Harrietsham Preschool provided high quality care to 37 local families. The children are educated using the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework which supports their development in seven different areas: communication and language; personal, social and emotional development; physical development; literacy; mathematics; expressive arts and design; understanding the world. Through these areas, the children are being prepared for school life as well and forming new friendships with children that they will continue their educational journey with throughout their childhood. We have a very good working relationship with Harrietsham Primary School and therefore the transition of the preschool leavers into Reception has been smooth and greatly beneficial to the children. The children have been involved in several community events across the year including Harvest, the Christmas fayre and Easter. We have supported numerous children with additional needs and now have a qualified SENCO to signpost parents to local support centres and ensure the children are receiving the best possible care and start in education.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	This financial year Harrietsham Preschool has met our budget targets, ending the year with a small profit of £3,435. This profit will be invested back into the charitable purposes of the Preschool including resources for the children, and will help the Preschool to meet increases in running and staffing costs forecasted for 2024-25
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	We hold reserves to ensure that the Preschool can operate within our charitable purposes, and to ensure in worst case scenarios such as redundancy we can provide the required packages for our colleagues. We also hold enough reserves to keep the preschool running for three months without income.
Amount of reserves held	£40,253
Explanation of any uncertainties about the	Coming into the new financial year, our key concern is the additional increase for staffing costs due to national minimum wage changes, as well as changes to

charity continuing as a going concern	government funding which currently remains unclarified at time of writing. We are reviewing whether we require to move premises during this financial year. We currently do not know how this will affect the Preschool financially. We will however continue to ensure that we are looking at ways to reduce other overheads to mitigate any negative impact to our financial position.

Additional information (optional)

A description of the principal risks facing the charity	The principal risk facing the Preschool is financial, as described above.
Contribution made by volunteers	We have been lucky enough to have a member of the church community come and complete a music lesson for the children each week. Furthermore, we regularly have visitors from different professions come and talk to the children about their roles in society. At Easter we welcome a local farmer with chicks for the children to hold.
Other	The preschool is currently looking for new accommodation because our current set up at St John the Baptist Parish Church is no longer operationally tenable for the operations of the church and poses a number of limitations to the operation of the preschool. We are in early discussions with Harrietsham Primary School about the possibility of moving onto their school site and conversations continue with the Head Teacher and Board of Governers.

Structure, Governance and Management

Structure, Governance	and Management
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Pre-school Learning Alliance Model Pre-school Constitution 2011
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Unincorporated Charity
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Election by Harrietsham Preschool Committee

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Harrietsham Playgroup Association
Other name the charity uses	“Harrietsham Preschool”

Registered charitynumber	1021287
Charity’s principal address	St John the Baptist Church, Marley Rd, Harrietsham, Maidstone ME17 1AX

List of Trustees

1 2 3 4 5 6	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **
	Michael Johnson	Chair
	Sophie Arthurs	Treasurer
	Suzanna Gamwell	Secretary
	Willow Burford
	Charlee Birkby
	Chloe Hannon		1stMay2024

Other optional information

The committee has been taking steps to move from an Unicorporated Charity to a CIO model and is disappointed that this transition did not complete within the financial year due to delays in re-inspection by Ofsted. We anticipates that this transition will be completed in early 2024-5.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Suzanna Gamwell Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc) Date 31 May 2025

APPENDIX A: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS Ch¥lty Numbw 1021287 rounts atywend 315tJuty 2024 INCOME FF2 EYE SENIF 25C8.92 34.38l.24 o.&) 10,729.15 180.n 105.fy) 55.83 47.961.86 2,958.12 ,rn.35 o.c 5.978.45 53LKJ.10 35176.26 0.0) 3AQI.41 10,76&14 83,027.85 Parent Fee5 Fundrai51n8 Other IAdmln Inteie5ton Deposit 20.3Cg.01 746.92 140.C 215.91 115579.11 35.tr) 122.$4 45JC6.59 37.54 22310.66 EXPENDMIRE Staff Costs Subscription5 StaJonery Computer Expenses Premlses Expensts Ueanln8 Food & Drlnk Yoysl Books eank Char8es Rent Phone ertisingl Reuullment Training 371yJ2.73 17192 21788.22 12&94 201.70 IS5.2B 277.34 187.13 29.497.99 128.94 166.83 65S.47 89378.94 429.80 837.42 810.75 365.72 322.43 93.33 538.32 92.21 125CIJ.78 48.38 33.47 36.37 16S30 35.C 4.130.28 55.(K) 101.83 48.07 51.85 28.0) 4064.01 127.20 321.17 29.21 43IS.49 I￿24 342.61 612. 229.40 342.61 1ffj3.80 324.Q) 441.C 39.C Clothin8 / Uniform kccuntant Insufance Waste Equlpment Events Mlscellaneous 450. I,(Y42A5 98.L)) 72.LYJ 576.0) Im2.85 3M.45 207.20 3￿.9$ 39.25 416.gj 1,883.67 112,143.80 803.82 44.866.04 119.74 30y).SI 960.11 36.737.25 T+*lTradln8 3.4￿5.82 18J29A51 3.435.31 Profft ￿ trad 74,4C6.66 11.516.42 85923.08 lllcome EVI￿thre Expendltufeiyrtr Ine¢Mne 13.219.401 89.J42.48 Tra￿ler be￿ten Attounts Imterert on Dep¢wt Accourbt 28.378.22 215.91 nce at 8ar¢k rrent 49.247.a4 40,110.55 89,358.39

APPENDIX B.. COPY OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT CHARITY COMMISSION FOR EPUAND AND WJIES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to th• trustw L4RRIETSkL4JI PLAYGROUP ASSOCL4TION On ac¢ounts for tho year 31 JULY 2024 Charity no 111 any) 1021287 l TeF¥Xt to the trustees w my examinat￿ of Ihe accounts of the xwe chanty (Tr Tntst-) for the year el￿d 3110712022. R•tspon•lblllll•o and accounts in accordance with It￿ r8quirem8nts of th• Charthe$ Act 2011 I rerort in r8srd of my examination of Trust's ar￿Unts carriéd OLrt under sethn 145 01 the 2011 Aci and In CAr￿'r9 out my examinatlon. I have f￿1(￿￿1ed all the app[￿ble DireCOr￿ gNen by the Chanty CommisS￿n U￿r sectw)n 1495Xb) of tho Atl Independent I h8ve CAThpkt&Y my examinabon. I confirm that no matenal matters havo •xamln•rfs statement o)m• to my atterrt￿n In ¢))nnection v#rth the examnation gives me cause lo ￿lIeVe that In. any material resFd'. the a¢counts'ThJ retxKts rKA keKrt m accordance with sedion 130 of tt Charitw Ad.. or I have no ¢xJn(Yms and have come auoss no olher matters In r￿n1￿"On the examination to tA)th attentKryn 5houkl be drawn in this report in txderto en8ts￿ a urthrstarKliThJ of the aC￿￿Jntr to ￿ reached. . Please d8leta lh8 Mxds ￿ the br8ckots Irthey {• nrA aK4*y. Slon•d: 14111r2024 Name: COUN GOUGH Rel•vant profo••1¢)n•l quallficatlon{s) or body (If any): AddvM•: 15 CRICKETERS CLOSE HARRIETSHAM KEKf ME17 1JQ Oct 2018

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