2025-07-31-accounts - Harrietsham Playgroup Association

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] August 2024 to 31[st] July 2025

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.

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 2024-25, Harrietsham Preschool provided high quality care for 41 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. We have supported numerous children with additional needs and 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.

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 2024-25, Harrietsham
Preschool provided high quality care for 41 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.
We have supported numerous children with additional
needs and 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 operating as Harrietsham Playgroup Association closed the year with a loss of £13,287. Like many settings, the Preschool has been negative impacted during 2024-25 increase for staffing costs due to national minimum wage changes, and a reduction in income due to changes in government funding per child.
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	£46,237
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Our key concern for 2025-26 is the additional increase for staffing costs due to further changes to national minimum wage, continued pressures on income due to recent changes to government funding, and the ever increasing cost of energy and consumables.

As a committee, 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	N/A
Other	The preschool is currently looking for new accommodation because our current set up at St John the Baptist Parish Church is not tenable for the church or for the preschool in the long term. This remains a live issue for the Preschool trustees.

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

Charityname	Harrietsham PlaygroupAssociation
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

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
Jamie Doggett		Started 14 Jan 2025

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 2025-6.

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) Michael Johnson Position (eg Secretary, Chairperson Chair, etc) Date May 28, 2026

APPENDIX A: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

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APPENDIX B: COPY OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

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