Heysham Youth and Community Playgroup Trustees Annual Report – Year Ending 31[st] January 2023
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 Early Years 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 Early Years 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 carried out face to face or via the telephone to support and inform parents.
Our Sensory room continues to be an 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 continue to build a broad resource base. Parents and local childminders with a connection to the setting can use this facility via prior arrangement.
We have continued to invest in our outdoor area developing our allotment area and encouraging the children to plant and care for vegetables and fruits, learning about where food comes from and how to eat healthily.
In the Spring term we had an incubator from Incredible Eggs and the children watched the eggs hatch into chickens and then these were collected by Incredible Eggs where they are allowed to be free range chickens on their farm in the North East. The children all received an easter egg from the Pre-School.
In the run up to Christmas we had a roast dinner for all the children. We also had a party day with a magician, party food, games, music and dancing. All the children received a book as a gift from the setting for Christmas/winter holidays and a chocolate selection box.
Our landlords Lancashire County Council haver verbally extended our lease, and have agreed revised heads of terms. We are responsible for the building including all utilities, services and maintenance. Our costs for maintenance of the building have increased dramatically as repairs are undertaken and costs of utilities soar. In 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 of 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 be budgeted for.
Heysham Pre-School
Balance Sheet as at 31st January 2023
| 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 |
£ £ 205,505.33 13,707.88 63.70 219,276.91 1,793.72 1,793.72 217,483.19 £ 217,483.19 216,195.83 1,287.36 £ 217,483.19 2023 |
£ £ 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 |
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HYCC Pre-school - Profit & Loss Year ending 31 January 2023
| 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 |
2023 2022 25,270.15 19,081.04 130,695.78 149,808.37 0.00 1,137.96 76.84 184.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,285.69 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 350.00 0.00 156,392.77 172,497.90 111,726.27 105,605.90 973.00 529.01 1,731.63 1,475.45 971.52 0.00 11,250.00 13,500.00 2,350.71 2,544.33 3,065.00 4,500.00 1,287.97 1,056.34 3,700.15 7,704.48 635.56 0.00 1,105.49 1,013.04 34.78 26.26 721.75 768.71 88.44 80.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,177.86 2,940.26 862.26 520.09 269.07 56.27 8,148.81 5,760.32 354.76 48.00 1,669.62 718.60 673.20 701.59 340.00 315.00 741.62 186.56 217.94 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,008.00 1,008.00 155,105.41 151,059.89 1,287.36 21,438.01 |
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