Heysham Youth and Community Playgroup Trustees Annual Report – Year Ending 31[st] January 2022
The Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit with particular emphasis on the commission supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and fee-charging during the planning process for all activities and while setting the pre-school aims and objectives.
For children aged between three and five years old and qualifying two year olds, fees for 15hrs per week are obtained from the County Council in the form of Early Education Funding at no cost to the parents/guardians. Some working parents also qualify for a further 15hrs extended funding for children over three if they meet criteria. Two year old children who do not qualify and those three year olds who take up additional hours to those funded by the council, are charged at the rate of £4.50 per hour. This fee has been set to cover costs and is the lowest possible amount chargeable in order to maintain the pre-school’s high standards.
By continuing to maintain our fees at a low rate we have again been able to provide affordable education and childcare for children aged between two and five. This can be accessed by underprivileged families in the local area and provides safe and stimulating care for children from all backgrounds including children with special education needs and disabilities, children with English as an additional language and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. These children have been given a chance to flourish and develop in a positive nurturing environment and have been given a good start for when they enter mainstream education.
We follow the 'Early Years Foundation Stage' curriculum. This Statutory framework was changed and came into force in September 2021.
Meetings are held between children’s key workers and their parents as and when needed to enable discussion of their development at pre-school and we operate an ‘open door’ policy, encouraging parents to talk to us whenever they need to. We continue to use an online Learning Journal, which allows us to share information with parents about their child’s experiences and development and vice versa; this gives both practitioners and parents a more accessible and mutually beneficial communication tool. Parents engage with this technology much more than the traditional paperbased information.
As well the key objectives for the Pre-school outlined above, under the Pre-school Learning Alliance, HYCC Pre-School also holds the following powers and objectives:
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a) To provide accommodation and equipment.
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b) To raise money to pay for the Pre-School activities.
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c) To make such payments as shall be necessary.
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d) To fix and collect the fees payable in respect of children attending groups run by the PreSchool.
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e) Subject to adherence with all applicable legislation, to control the admission of children to the groups run by the Pre-School and if appropriate require parents or guardians to withdraw them.
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f) To borrow money and to charge the whole or any part of the property as security for any money borrowed subject to complying with the provisions of sections 38 and 39 of the Charities Act 1993 if it is proposed to mortgaged land.
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g) To hire or acquire assets of any kind.
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h) To buy, lease or rent any land or buildings and to maintain and equip it for the use of the Pre-School.
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i) To sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Pre-School's property subject to complying with the provisions of sections 36 and 37 of the Charities Act 1993.
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j) To set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves against future expenditure.
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k) To maintain and pay for membership of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
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l) To ensure the property and assets of the Pre-School against any foreseeable risk and to take out other insurance policies to protect the Pre-School as required.
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m) To employ such paid and unpaid staff, agents and advisors as may be required from time to time.
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n) To do any other lawful things which are necessary or desirable to enable the Pre-School to achieve its aims.
Main Achievements During the Year
Over the past twelve months we have maintained the Pre-School and facilities to a high standard and continue to provide affordable education and childcare for the local community irrespective of background. Parent meetings were all carried out over the telephone or by prior arrangement.
The beginning of the year was again overshadowed by Covid-19 with the rise of a new variant called Omicrom. Many schools again remained closed until February half term. We remained open as usual and continued to socially distance and use PPE as appropriate. We did have children and families affected by the virus and we continued to offer support to children by personally delivering home learning bags which included craft activities and communication activities including stories, rhymes and colouring/writing activities. We kept in touch with families via telephone calls and email with links to further online activities. Staff were also affected on a number of occasions, but we were able to manage absences without having to close the setting. Again, we are very fortunate to have large outdoor spaces and due to good weather we were able to spend a great deal of time outdoors.
Again our child intake for nursery in the Autumn term remained low, however this worked well as we supported a child with complex needs, who needed 1:1 care. Our preschool room numbers improved over the year as parents began to return to the workplace and needed childcare.
Our new Sensory room was fitted out in Spring 2021. This was a considerable expense however; we were able to use monies from fundraising and donations. The sensory room is a big asset to the setting and has been a huge benefit to all the children, especially children with additional needs and sensory issues. It has provided a cosy and relaxing environment for children whose social and emotional needs have been affected by the pandemic. We continue to add to the resources available as and when they are needed and are building up a broad resource base. Once all restrictions are lifted and we can invite parents to use of our facilities again, we will be able to offer sessions in the room to our parents with babies.
We paid for a landscaper to make additional changes to the outdoor areas to improve the environment and also make areas safe for the child with complex needs after an environmental audit. Members of the committee and volunteers continued to enhance outdoor areas planting shrubs and perennials.
The children again benefitted from planting and caring for vegetables and fruits and learned much about growth and change and healthy eating.
During the year we were able to begin allowing parents in the building, practising social distancing and wearing PPE. Again, we did not hold any fundraising events or go on a trip in the summer. For our end of year celebration we were given the loan of a bouncy castle for a week and had ‘fun-days’ every day with party food music and games. On the last day we invited parents to meet, ‘socially distanced’ on the field and everyone was able to say goodbye to their friends and had a lovely time.
Once again we did feel able to hold our annual indoor Christmas activities, but we provided all the children with a hot celebration meal and had a special visit from an entertainer dressed as ‘Elsa’ from Frozen. We also had a party day with a magician, party food, games, music and dancing and this felt like we were finally getting back to normal, which was wonderful. All the children received a gift from the setting for Christmas/winter holidays and a chocolate selection box.
From 1[st] April 2018 We entered into a five-year lease, taking sole responsibility for the building including all utilities, services and maintenance. Our last Ofsted Inspection was September 2018 and we were rated as ‘Good’. We received positive feedback and continue to strive to meet requirements which will see us continue to achieve a good rating although our ambition would see us achieve outstanding.
The Pre-School has continued to purchase new resources to help the children's progress and development. The rejuvenation of our outdoor spaces which are a huge benefit for our children with regard to experiences and physical activity, is an ongoing action and require a great deal expense and time.
Financial Review
Monies remaining in the Pre-School accounts at the end of the year will be held in reserve to allow for fluctuations in Pre-School numbers and in accordance with our additional objectives (item J) to allow for special purposes such as events, training and the purchase of new resources when needed in order to enhance the environment and maximise the learning opportunities for the children. We are also now mindful of the commitment to maintain the building and environment to a safe and functional standard, including the outdoors.
Preschool expenses, in accordance with item A of the Pre-Schools main objectives, have increased substantially with the signing of the lease. Daily running costs including wages, rent and purchasing new resources for the children continue to be budgeted for.
Heysham Pre-School
Balance Sheet as at 31st January 2022
| Current Assets Natwest - Wages Account Natwest - Fund Account Cash in Hand Current Liabilities Creditors Net Current Assets Represented By: Capital Account Opening Capital Net (deficit)/surplus for the year |
£ £ 204,348.08 13,633.84 40.23 218,022.15 1,826.32 1,826.32 216,195.83 £ 216,195.83 194,757.82 21,438.01 £ 216,195.83 2022 |
£ £ 182,954.15 13,186.54 20.18 196,160.87 1,403.05 1,403.05 194,757.82 £ 194,757.82 140,664.12 54,093.70 £ 194,757.82 2021 |
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HYCC Pre-school - Profit & Loss Year ending 31 January 2022
| Income Parents LCC Funding Grants Commission Lunch Money CJRS Grant HYCC Staff contributions Training Fundraising Expenditure Wages Employers NI Pensions Supply staff Rent Water rates Heat & Light Milk & Food Toys & Materials Insurance Phone Postage Stationery Website Printing Equipment Registration Fees Training Trip & Special events Repairs Uniforms & Clothing Cleaning Waste Disposal CRB Checks Sundry Bank charges Entertaining Fundraising costs Accountancy Profit/ (Loss) for year |
2022 2021 19,081.04 13,890.08 149,808.37 176,681.08 1,137.96 0.00 184.84 0.00 0.00 203.50 2,285.69 7,755.31 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 172,497.90 198,529.97 105,605.90 101,030.24 529.01 943.92 1,475.45 1,512.15 0.00 2,790.72 13,500.00 13,500.00 2,544.33 1,768.30 4,500.00 4,940.21 1,056.34 1,120.68 7,704.48 1,886.47 0.00 0.00 1,013.04 1,223.99 26.26 11.20 768.71 692.03 80.88 79.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,940.26 1,708.01 520.09 785.00 56.27 0.00 5,760.32 7,482.11 48.00 165.60 718.60 1,081.39 701.59 464.23 315.00 35.00 186.56 207.48 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,008.00 1,008.00 151,059.89 144,436.27 21,438.01 54,093.70 |
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