Preschool and ASC Report to the Annual Parish Meeting
May 2023
Combe Preschool and ASC continues to operate 5 days a week, from 8.50 – 6.00pm during school term times in the Combe Hub. We have 35 2- 4 year old children on Preschool roll (up significantly on last year), and we now employ 8 staff working with the children, as well as a cleaner and an administrator. Afterschool club numbers vary, but we have between 10 – 22 children each day. We have had 9 children join Preschool this term following the closure of two well established local settings (WUFA and Daffodils). We have been able to accommodate all our Combe children and most of those wanting to come to us following these closures.
Finances continue to be tight, with our annual figures for year ending 2022 showing a profit of just £296. These figures include over £6450 in fundraising and donations. Our current increase in child numbers will help our financial position going forward, but this is somewhat mitigated by increased staff costs to provide these places as well as the 9.2% increase in minimum wage, and general inflationary increases. Monthly finance meetings continue, to monitor our position. We are extremely grateful to Combe for continuing to support our Preschool both through these fundraising events, and also through donations.
This year we have been very grateful to receive the support of COMAG and Combe Charities, who have provided funding for 5 children. This support has enabled children to take up additional places, and / or funded a hot lunch where this would not have been affordable for the families. Comag support has also enabled us to take up a government offer of training for the early years workforce that is aimed at upskilling practitioners in the post-covid world. This training is specifically focused on the areas where children have fallen behind as a result of the pandemic: social skills, speech and language and physical development. The Comag donation of £1500 will all be spent by the end of this academic year.
We are grateful, and fortunate that our staff team has remained stable throughout the year. Recently one member of the ASC team has moved on to a different job, but we have been fortunate to replace her with an experienced TA from the school, who brings knowledge and skills from working with the older children in the School environment. Recruitment in the early years sector continues to be a national problem, and indeed was the reason for recent local setting closures, so it is important that we continue to value and reward our staff as much as possible.
A visit from our OCC advisor went very well, with lots of positive feedback, and some small action points. We were very pleased when it was commented that she would love to be able to send her grandchildren to our setting!
Our committee and staff continue to work closely with the Combe Hub, Combe Charities, the Primary School, and the VHRGC all of whom are very supportive of Preschool and ASC. We are very grateful to have the support of these and other village organisations. This year we have welcomed in several villagers as regular volunteer readers who come in and share books with the children. This has been very popular and is lovely for the children to get to know other members of their community.
Although we are still going through a difficult time financially, with the continued support of Parents and the Village we are confident that we are now on a more sustainable footing. Recent announcements around 2 year old funding will pose new challenges next year, but the committee will continue to work together with our dedicated staff to continue to provide the very best early education for the young people of Combe and local villages.
Sally Purssell,
Chair, Combe Preschool and ASC
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name Combe Pre-school members of
On accounts for the year 31st August 2022 ended
Charity no (if any) 1022602
Set out on pages
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Name: Barry Baudry
Date: 12[th] April 2022
Oct 2018
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Relevant professional CIMA qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address:
6, Square Firs,
Combe, Oxon OX29 8PB
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
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