Meadowlands Pre-School
Reg. Charity No. 1024742
Annual Chair of Trustees Report 2021/22
Aims;
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 :
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(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, means or ability;
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(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;
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(c) Instigating and adhering to and furthering such aims and objects of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
Who would have thought that this academic year would see the world still being influenced by the global pandemic ? We started the new term with a new management team in place after the retirement of our previous manager. I think it’s fair to say that it was a very challenging start to the year for the entire staff with Covid restrictions and isolation rules prevailing, we had staff shortages due to isolations, staff were being infected by children being brought to pre-school despite showing symptoms at home.
In November we were forced to close the setting for a week due to staff members testing positive thus leaving us below the legal number of staff to operate. . Staff found that this year’s intake were somewhat restricted in their ability to share and socialise with their peers and all staff agreed that due to being locked down for large periods, that this was probably the root cause. I have to say that this has been well managed by the staff team and things are now starting to return to “normal”.
All of our traditional fund raising activities such as Halloween, bonfire night and even Christmas were severely curtailed (again) due to the pandemic, the staff did a sterling job in helping the children to celebrate these occasions and once again the children had a great time. However one trip to Chester Zoo did go ahead but was low on numbers of children attending. There has been a lack of support from parents this year compared to previous years, this may well also be as a result of the pandemic and the disruption caused to our normal routines. We can only hope that it is all now behind us and we can return to support we have had in the past.
This year saw us having to recruit extra staff to help with one-to-one care for our special needs children, we have suffered financial loss due to the way the funding has been allocated despite the management team contacting the EY Alliance. This is something we are keeping close eye on.
In March this year our treasurer and secretary announced that they would be standing down, but would stay on until replacements were found. We started the search immediately and have had a positive outcome for both positions, the new candidates are currently going through the DBS and EY2 checks and will start as soon as everything is completed. I must take this opportunity to thank the treasurer and secretary for their dedication to the pre-school, and for everything they have done and also for their willingness to stay in post until we are ready for the new people to start.
Also in March, we were approached by the secretary of a former charity status pre-school that had closed down. They had the sum of £16,551.42p that was to be awarded to a similar charity run pre-school and came with the stipulation that it was to be used exclusively to improve the settings facilities only. We were very thankful for them choosing us to be the recipients of these monies.
In May we were given 24hrs notice that we were about to be inspected by OFSTED. I’m pleased to say that the inspection went very well and we are
eagerly awaiting their final report. The inspector had 2 minor notices only and actually said she would be happy to send her own children to us, So as the academic year draws to a close it is nice to have some good news to report. We look forward to next September being less hectic and hope that finally we have said goodbye to the dreaded Covid. I can’t thank the leadership team and the entire staff enough for all their hard work in this last year in continuing to grow the setting in the way they have.
Steve Hunter (Chair)
May 2022.
Final 05/05/2022
Meadowlands Pre-School
Registered Charity Number 1024742
Accounts for the Period Ended
31 August 2021
Meadowlands Pre-School Registered Charity Number 1024742
Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts
Report to the trustees of Meadowlands Pre-School on the accounts for the period ended 31st August 2021 set out on pages 2 and 3
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
-
state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
Our examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
1 - which gives us reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
-
proper accounting records are kept in accordnance with section 130 of the Act; and
-
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
2 - to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Lounds & Co Chartered Accountants 26/04/2022
367 Chester Road Little Sutton Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH66 3RQ
1
Meadowlands Pre-School Registered Charity Number 1024742 Income and Expenditure Account Period Ended 31 August 2021
| Sales Funding Fees Inclusion Fundraising Bank interest received Donations Expenditure Accountancy fees Cleaning Clothing Costs Bank Interest and Charges DBS Checks Educational equipment and materials Fire Extinguishers Food and drink Insurance costs Light, heat and water Ofsted Payroll Postage and stationery Premises Expenses Rent Repairs and maintenance Staff Salaries Staff training and welfare Subscriptions Sundry expenses Telephone Excess of expenditure over income for the period |
2021 £ 129,397 2,532 19,321 20 6 - 151,276 1,188 706 622 90 143 3,040 108 1,162 1,990 3,284 50 - 1,781 3,221 500 7,170 122,262 944 341 - 1,231 149,833 1,443 |
2020 £ 126,964 3,032 3,822 - 35 997 134,850 600 450 528 92 99 3,624 112 979 1,989 3,095 50 481 1,414 1,944 500 1,175 110,140 605 408 49 750 129,084 5,766 |
|---|---|---|
2
Meadowlands Pre-School Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2021
| Current assets Trade Debtors Sundry Debtors Prepayments Current account Deposit account Petty Cash Current liabilities Accruals and Creditors Net assets General Fund Balance at start of period Excess of Expenditure over income |
2021 £ 225 3,845 - 11,245 33,374 13 48,702 (3,939) (3,939) 44,763 43,320 1,443 44,763 |
2020 £ 298 6,114 174 10,255 30,191 17 47,049 (3,729) (3,729) 43,320 37,554 5,766 43,320 |
|---|---|---|
3
Final 05/05/2022
Meadowlands Pre-School
Registered Charity Number 1024742
Accounts for the Period Ended
31 August 2021
Meadowlands Pre-School Registered Charity Number 1024742
Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts
Report to the trustees of Meadowlands Pre-School on the accounts for the period ended 31st August 2021 set out on pages 2 and 3
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
-
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
-
state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
Our examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
1 - which gives us reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
-
proper accounting records are kept in accordnance with section 130 of the Act; and
-
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
2 - to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Lounds & Co Chartered Accountants 26/04/2022
367 Chester Road Little Sutton Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH66 3RQ
1
Meadowlands Pre-School Registered Charity Number 1024742 Income and Expenditure Account Period Ended 31 August 2021
| Sales Funding Fees Inclusion Fundraising Bank interest received Donations Expenditure Accountancy fees Cleaning Clothing Costs Bank Interest and Charges DBS Checks Educational equipment and materials Fire Extinguishers Food and drink Insurance costs Light, heat and water Ofsted Payroll Postage and stationery Premises Expenses Rent Repairs and maintenance Staff Salaries Staff training and welfare Subscriptions Sundry expenses Telephone Excess of expenditure over income for the period |
2021 £ 129,397 2,532 19,321 20 6 - 151,276 1,188 706 622 90 143 3,040 108 1,162 1,990 3,284 50 - 1,781 3,221 500 7,170 122,262 944 341 - 1,231 149,833 1,443 |
2020 £ 126,964 3,032 3,822 - 35 997 134,850 600 450 528 92 99 3,624 112 979 1,989 3,095 50 481 1,414 1,944 500 1,175 110,140 605 408 49 750 129,084 5,766 |
|---|---|---|
2
Meadowlands Pre-School Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2021
| Current assets Trade Debtors Sundry Debtors Prepayments Current account Deposit account Petty Cash Current liabilities Accruals and Creditors Net assets General Fund Balance at start of period Excess of Expenditure over income |
2021 £ 225 3,845 - 11,245 33,374 13 48,702 (3,939) (3,939) 44,763 43,320 1,443 44,763 |
2020 £ 298 6,114 174 10,255 30,191 17 47,049 (3,729) (3,729) 43,320 37,554 5,766 43,320 |
|---|---|---|
3