From To
Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date 1st Sept 2024 31st August 2025
Section A Reference and administration details
| Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) Charity's principal address |
Margaret Lloyd Playgroup |
Margaret Lloyd Playgroup |
|---|---|---|
none |
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| 1026270 | ||
Grove Hill Playing Fields |
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| Washington Avenue, Grove Hill | ||
| Hemel Hempstead, Herts | ||
| Postcode | HP26NG |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loretta Anderson | Chair | |||
| Jean Nagle | Vice Chair | |||
| Karina Larsen | ||||
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|
| N/A | |
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| N/A | ||
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Helen Hendrey – Manager Jacqueline Thomas – Deputy manager
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Pre-school learning alliance – Now The Pre School Early Years Alliance Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution)
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Unincorporated Charity How the charity is constituted
Trustee selection methods
By member vote at AGM
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Ofsted Registered as an under 5’s pre-school service.
Our last Ofsted inspection took place on 7th December 2022 and the report was published on 16th Jan 2023. Playgroup was judged GOOD on all levels which is a great achievement.
The Charities policies are in line with OFSTED early years procedures
- The Charity are members of the pre-school Early Years Alliance and have their insurance and guidelines in place
The Charity works closely with Herts social services to support children at risk.
The Charity works closely with Herts County Council and most children are fully funded by them.
The Charity has a small but experienced trustee board who work closely with the senior staff to manage risk.
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN UNDER STATUTORY SCHOOL AGE BY ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY GROUPS
The playgroup operates from a purpose-built centre in the heart of Grove Hill in Hemel Hempstead offering Early Years Foundation stage education to children from 2 years old to 5 years old.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
The playgroup is open on Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm and on Friday from 9am to 12.00pm – This equates to 9 session options plus 4 lunch clubs.
Parents/carers have flexible options so they can choose sessions that help them work and/or care for their other children and wider family commitments.
Most sessions are funded through the government funding for pre-school children, but extended sessions are offered at way below the local market rate to support families. The playgroup has very many families on low income or benefits. A lot of the children within the area are on pupil premium due to their low-income status.
The playgroup has been a true community resource since the early 1980s adapting to and supporting the needs of local families.
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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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relevant, about: The playgroup has always been a supporter of local young people offering volunteering and work experience for students from our local
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• policy on grantmaking; schools and colleges. The playgroup also has regular volunteers who
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• policy programme related themselves have learning difficulties, which offers them experiences in investment; helping others and being part of their community. This can also offer respite to their Carers.
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contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main The academic year 2024-2025 was a good year for the playgroup giving achievements of the charity local pre-school children, many from low-income families the benefit of a during the year safe place to enjoy their day and learn from highly trained early years foundation stage practitioners.
It also gives parents/carers some much needed respite, or time to work. The playgroup is well resourced with experienced staff and has an extensive well-equipped playroom and garden, which gives children the space and freedom to explore and enjoy the full early years outdoor play/education experience as defined in the Early Years Foundation Stage by Ofsted, and is a crucial part of their start in education and preparation for school.
The number of children attending the playgroup over this year is lower than normal but that is in line with general birth rate trends in the area. Our board of trustees are very proud of the way our staff and volunteers manage the day to day running of the playgroup. Their support and care for the children and their families are outstanding.
Section E Financial review This year the charity income was £114,257 from fees and including Brief statement of the nearly £6500 in bank interest. Our expenditure was £120,699 including charity’s policy on reserves some indoor improvement work on the building of around £12,000. We have over £250,000 in the bank including £120,000 in reserves. We are now ready to start the project with the expected cost of around £100,000, while still keeping a year of running costs in reserve. We have had our first estimate for the work and hope to have it done during the school summer holidays of 2026. Details of any funds materially NA in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
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how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
The playgroup receives funding from Herts County Council under the governments Early Years Funding for pre-school children. Since April 2024 most preschool children are now fully funded for 30 hours, but those who are not, are only charged a nominal fee of around half the average session in our area to make it accessible to all.
Our expenditure on resources is totally in line with our ethos to offer the best early years provision possible to support families in our community.
We continually purchase appropriate resources to support the Early years curriculum and put extra focus on purchasing resources to support the needs of the children who are on pupil premium, these resources also benefit all other children that attend the playgroup.
Section F Other optional information
Our staff retention and training records are exemplary, as is our trustee dedication and support. We are a small but dedicated team working hard in our community to support others. We thank all our staff and volunteers for all their hard work in the care of the children placed in our care.
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Loretta Anderson Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair of Trustees etc) Date 22.5.26
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
THE MARGARET LLOYD PLAYGROUP
1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2024 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2025
CURRENT ACCOUNT
Income
Expenditure
| Balance @ 1.9.24 Fees Herts CC Lunch clubs Misc Total* |
£ £ 26597.91 Sian Thomas 1920.00 4965.00 CAD 85678.05 102779.72 Volunteer Expenses 1699.50 2.00 County Supplies 1212.49 23.00 R G Parrott 12142.72 134367.63 Misc 1932.43 Pest control 325.00 Ark Farms 768.00 Names Co 813.34 Early Years 2014.93 Donation 600.00 Shopping 2205.87 BT 1064.69 Herts for Training 289.20 Castle Water 558.81 SSS Education 540.00 Nest 2728.72 O2 264.06 Music 49.95 Training/Study expenses 930.40 Rent 250.00 British Gas 1903.57 Balance @ 31.8.25 14476.40 Total 134367.63 |
|---|---|
I certify this to be a true and accurate statement of account
Teresa Canning 19.5.2026
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
THE MARGARET LLOYD PLAYGROUP
1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2024 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2025
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
Income Expenditure
£ £ Balance @ 1.9.24 249064.66 County 185.95 Interest 6487.88 Marsh Commercials 592.23 Trf in from Metro dep 4219 100000.00 Trf to new Metro dep7438 100000.00 Total 355552.54 Balance @ 31.8.25 254774.36 Total 355552.54
Notes
The balance of £254774.36 @ 31.8.25 consists of £104838.25 in Nationwide, £49936.11 in Metro 7438 and £100000.00 in new Metro deposit 4219 (total in both Metro deposit accounts £149936.11)
I certify this to be a true and accurate statement of account
Teresa Canning 19.5.2026