Madley Pre-School Annual Report 2023-2024
Purpose
This report is to provide local and national stakeholders, including the Charities Commission and Ofsted, with an overview of the activities undertaken at Madley Pre-School in the period of September 2023 to August 2024.
Audience
This report will be circulated to all committee members and discussed at the next committee meeting. It will be submitted to the Charities Commission alongside the audited accounts and will be made available to Ofsted on request or as part of the documentation supporting an inspection.
Setng Overview
Madley Pre-School is a small, rural setting set in the grounds of Madley Primary school in Herefordshire but is constituted as a separate charitable entity in terms of governance and management. It operates during term time only and is open 09:00 to 15:30 Monday – Friday. It also offers a Breakfast Club in conjunction with Madley Primary School, which operates out of Madley primary school but is run by Pre-School staff. This opens Monday – Friday 07:45 – 09:00. It also now operates an ‘Early Bird’ session, opening at 8:30am each morning to accommodate parents who may need to drop their children off slightly earlier.
Madley Pre-School can take a maximum of 24 children each day and is staffed by a number of early years practitioners led by the setting manager, who is supported by two Deputy Managers who share the role. A Management Committee made up of elected volunteers oversees the management of the setting.
The Management Commitee - is structured as follows:
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Sally Johnson: Chairperson/ Safeguarding officer if Manager/Deputy is unavailable
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Michaela Byrne: Finance Administrator
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Fiona Batstone: Pre-School Manager
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Jane Mansfield: Committee member
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Becca Thomas: Committee member
This full committee has met on a frequent basis, usually once a term. However, a smaller management team including the Chair, setting manager and finance administrator have met on a more frequent basis; typically, once every half term with additional meetings as required.
Madley Pre-School Aims
Madley Pre-School aims to develop independent and motivated learners who embrace a valuesbased culture. They provide opportunities for learning through play in a calm and multi-sensory environment both inside and out. Madley Pre-School is fully inclusive and welcomes all children to the setting, regardless of their background or needs.
Ethos
Madley Pre-School shares the same Values-based approach as the primary school and works in close partnership with the school to ensure the best educational outcomes for all children and, a smooth transition for those children who go on to attend Madley Primary School. Madley Pre-School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The setting continues to hold a prestigious ‘Values based setting’ award, certified by Dr. Neil Hawkes.
– Report on September 2023 August 2024
There were 33 children on role at the start of the Autumn term, with 23 being of ‘school leaver’ age, this was unusually high and left only 10 spaces for 2 year-olds. Numbers were therefore quite healthy but would mean that when the 23 children left for school at the end of the year numbers would fall quite low and some targeted marketing needed to take place.
Building developments
No building work took place this academic year, however, plans to develop the outside area further were discussed and drawn up between staff and committee. The plan was to create a large sand pit and new larger guinea pig run that would give the animals more roaming space and make access for the children easier. A second phase to develop the ‘side garden’ into a “mini forest school” area with some low growing trees and natural ground growth of grass, herbs etc was also drawn up. Quotes were given from various companies, and we began to apply for some grant funding.
Teaching and Learning
Madley Pre-School follows the EYFS curriculum with a strong emphasis on Values education, in line with Madley Primary School. Staff promote independence and resilience with the children and encourage them to ‘have a go’ at new or different opportunities. Children are assigned a key practitioner to support them and their family throughout their time at Pre-School. Key practitioners begin by talking to parents at Transition days to ensure they have a good understanding of children’s needs, interests, likes and dislikes. They then make careful observations and assessments of the children in order to plan a curriculum of exciting learning opportunities and activities that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. Staff plan children’s Next steps by having daily reflections about the children’s play and learning, these are then shared with parents. A loose theme is usually planned for each half term, with stories being at the heart of any theme, supported by creative, open-ended experiences and activities that give children a ‘first hand’ experience, where possible. Educational visits take place to enhance the children’s learning and understanding. Visits are made both locally and, where possible, further afield. The school mini-buses are used whenever possible, and 2 members of staff own mini-bus licences. This academic year walks to and from the
park and around the village were frequent. Educational visits took place to the local church for Christmas and Easter craft activities, Madley Environmental Study Centre for Christmas walks, minibeast hunts and storytelling and Madley Plants to find out about growing vegetables and how to look after plants. Regular walks around the Primary school grounds also take place weekly, these increase throughout the summer term when staff know which Primary school the children will be attending. These walks and further ‘organised’ transition visits support a seamless transition into Madley Primary school. Staff also make contact with other local primary schools and arrange for teachers to visit the children in setting, giving them the opportunity to see the children playing in a familiar environment and also an opportunity to talk with their child’s key practitioner about their individual development.
Parents are included in the sharing of learning and ideas, through regular Facebook posts, the PreSchool page on the school website and online Tapestry observations as well as regular newsletters. Parents are invited to Transition sessions before their child starts at Pre-School and staff work with parents throughout their learning journey to ensure that an overview of their home life is shared and considered when making the children’s next steps. Staff undertake a ‘Two year progress review’ with all children who are two years old when they join the setting. As the children progress through their Pre-School journey and prepare for Primary school a written report is given to parents and a copy transferred to their chosen Primary school.
Community Links
The Pre-School continued to open on two Saturdays a term for it’s stay and Play sessions; ”Petit Pois”. These are open to existing and new/ past families as well as any members of the community that wish to attend. They have proved to be a lovely way for parents to meet up and talk to staff in an informal way, meet other parents, have a cup of tea whilst their children play and to see what the Pre-School has to offer. Staff kindly volunteer their time on these occasions.
Madley Pre-School was inspected by OFSTED in June 23 and was judged as GOOD in all areas.
Staf Development
It is essential to create a learning environment for practitioners in the setting as well as the children. The Pre-School is used by local High schools, colleges and Worcester University as a placement for students to develop their knowledge about Early Years Education. No students took part in placements at Pre-School this year, however, a 2[nd] year sixth form student volunteered at the setting to gain work experience before embarking on a Speech and Language therapy degree. The setting was visited by other local nurseries to make connections and share knowledge and ideas. The local Health visiting team and Nursery nurse visited to establish a connection and share information about the setting’s families. The Designated Safeguarding lead was also available throughout the year to liaise with Children’s services when necessary.
The team of qualified practitioners are constantly developing their knowledge through local and national training courses and seminars.
Further training throughout the year was;
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Designated Safeguarding lead in early years settings
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Effective safeguarding practice
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Safeguarding and child protection
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Safeguarding children awareness
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Prevent Duty
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Child on child abuse
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Health and safety responsibilities
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Health and Safety awareness
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Fire safety awareness and warden duties
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Level 3 Paediatric First Aid
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Level 2 Food safety
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Providing a Healthy Food environment in Early Years setting
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Early years Professional Development programme – building on success
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Mental Health awareness
The manager and deputy manager continued their 18 month NPQ in Early years Leadership and management throughout the year.
Madlev Prfrschool Accounts for the vear ended 31 AugiLSt 2024
Madlev Pre•Sch(M Inforniation Accountants Apple Accountants 7 Harn)w Ro Hereford HR4 OEH Busin address Madley Herefordshire HR2 9PH Bankers Royal Bank of Scotland
Madlev Prsch(m)I Contents Accountanis, reFLYt Trading. profit and loss account Balance sheet N(rtes to the acC(nIS
Madley Pr$th0o1 Report to the Proprietor 00 the Unaudiled Accounts of Madlev Pre-scknl In acc(mlance with the engagenI let daied we have pPar1 flx y(w approval the counts of Madley Pre--hl for the year ended 31 August ?0?4 as set wi on pages 2 to 5 from the entiWs ac¢i)unting records and fn)m Inf[lOn and explan105 you have given us. As a prdcusing member fm of The Clwiered Inl(e of Managemeni Accountan we are subjeth io ils ethical and other professional require11 which are detsiled ai www.cimaglth].com. Our work has bttn Underkert solely io prepare for ywr approval the accounts of Madley Pre.Sch(M)l and sle those mailers thai we have agreed to SL9 io y)u in this rep)rt in XC0rd with the requIrennts of the The Chanered Insltiute of mandennI Accouniants. detsiled ai . We have verified the accuracy LY complcness of the XcLntIng records or infOrntiOn and explanalions have given lo us and wc do nL. theree. exFYess any opinion xcounts. Apple Accounrants 7 Harrow RLd Heref(Yd HR4 OEH 4 December 2024
Trading and profit and lo account for the )"ear ended 31 August ?OJ? 2024 20 Income Sales Fees receivabk Other sales incLxne 147.017 143 3.949 l(kS.253 307 5.224 I51.1() 111.784 Wages and salaries Employerf5 Nl contrili00S Staff nSIOn costs Staff training Insurdnce Equipment Fknrchases lJ95 4.120 lJ51 247 1.163 91.162 1.919 lJ14 410 951 1,8 lJ84 lJ64 2.713 1.403 1.488 938 318 2241 4,670 2285 58 114 Repairs and Maintenance Prinitng. tkn'thge and Sl0Thery Computer cos Legal and profesSial fees Accountancy Bank charges Sundry expenses Subscripitons Depreci1 on FF & EquiPnnI Depreciation on rr Equipmeni 2,674 3,579 2.414 324 639 193 59J {113.642) (114.403) Net proflU(loss) 37.467 12.6191
Madlev PSchool Balance sheet as at 31 Augus¢ 2024 2024 2023 Noles Fixed assets Tangible assets 2512 3.270 Current &wts Debi(xs C&sh at bank atml in Iwid 4.479 64.386 399 35.192 68.865 35,591 Current liabilities (nole 4 Other Cli0[S 2.401 7.352 Net currenl &wts 28.239 Total &wts kss currenl liabilities 68,976 31.509 Capilal aeeounl Bri)ughi fonvard at I SeptemEr 2023 Pmfivlloss) for the year 31J(FJ 37.467 34.1?8 (2.619) 68.976 31.509 l aP0ve these xcounts and confirni I have m available all relevani recqrds and infomMti(m for their pweparation. Mrs S Johny)n Date: 4th December 2024
Notes to the Jiccounts for the vear ended 31 Aug¢ 2024 1.1. Accounti convention The aicc)unTs are prepared the hisK)ric8J CO ClVention n¥lIf1 when necessary include the revaluaii4y) of cenain fixed a&se(s. Sales represents the i1 inVCe wal, excluding athled x, of sales mk during the year. IJ. Tangible red a&sets and deprecialKtyn t)epreciaiion its provida & Nes calLulated io Wri off the o)si vaJu&ion less residual value of assd over its eX1j useful life. as follows: Fixtures. fillings and equipmen( Utpmeni loq Reducing Balance 33 reduiing Balance 1.4. Rentsls payable oFmitDg le&ses are charged againsi income a srraighi line blS over the le&se iernL Tangible 4qets Equlpment Equlpment Total At I SewemEtr ?0?3 2,419 3.981 Ai 31 Auguq 2024 2.419 3.981 Depreciatio Ai I Sepienitrr ?023 Charge for ihe year 938 2.192 5(X) 3.130 758 Ai 31 Augusi 2024 2.78? 3,888 Net book values At 31 Augusi ?024 lJ13 2.512 Ai 31 Augusi 2023 1,481 1.789 3.270
Not lo tht accounts ror the year ended 31 Aug&st 2024 Debtors 2024 2023 Tra& dthors 4.479 399 Current Ilabillties 2024 2023 Taxes and la1 security costs Other crediiof5 7.073 279 593 7.352