## The Wallops’ Pre-School Registered Charity Number: 1027625 School Lane Nether Wallop Stockbridge Hampshire SO20 8EH 01264 782051 staffthewallopspreschool@gmail.com ## **Yearly Overview 2021-22** It has been a much more settled and dare I say, ‘normal’ year with Covid being something that we now have to live with. We have maintained the good practice with the children washing their hands on entry and although we have had some positive cases with both staff and children, they have remained off site to help contain the spread of the virus. We opened our doors in September to warmly welcome back our children and parents and decided to kick off the new term by ‘going big’ with a fundraising Halloween Party successfully raising a healthy amount of money, along with a very generous parent donation. This gave us a real boost to start the year off on a strong foot and push forward with our popular Christmas photos, pottery painting and village fayre. Fundraising remained steady for the rest of the year with a successful ‘Bingo & Curry’ night which went down extremely well with thanks to Pete from the village for bingo calling, and Sgt Om Gurung for providing a delicious meal! Our funds raised have allowed the Free-Flow garden to be fully refurbished with a fantastic new flooring completely transforming the garden area. Throughout the year the staff have worked incredibly well as a team and each member is dedicated and valued. They have each been working behind the scenes on their forest school portfolio all on target to complete by the end of term. Being able to offer these skills to the children will be a fantastic strength to the Pre-School provision. A huge thank you to all members of staff for working their half terms to complete this training. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Ashley, our Deputy, and thank her for her help and hard work over the past few years, we wish her well in her new career path! Heather has been appointed Deputy and continues to support Sian in all aspects. Louise was a successful candidate for the key worker role and at the end of term we will be saying goodbye to Jen who sadly leaves us to relocate to the North. Relationships with the Primary School remain secure and we are always keen to collaborate with the School. They have allowed us to access their fields and hall and we are grateful for their support of which we are always willing to return. We still have a strong mix of both village and military families and appreciate their help in promoting the Pre-School amongst the wider community. Local competition is on the rise, however we have been lucky to attract an influx of parents from Clatford widening our catchment areas. Sian has promoted the setting with help from staff and Committee members; a fresh new website is underway, new flyers / posters have been distributed along with magazine adverts and soon a new banner to replace the current one. Sian and Heather have attended a local market to promote the pre-school and 2 new open day events have been added to the calendar. This year the cost of living has risen sharply for everyone. This has meant we have had to increase the snack and hourly fee to help fund the rise in staff wages and the increase in rent along with rising costs in utilities. We feel our prices are still competitive but a realistic response to harder financial times that may lay ahead. Finally, I am continually amazed by how wonderful and selfless our staff really are- a charity that supports another charity! All 6 members of staff are walking the Brecon Beacons to raise money to help support a parent recently diagnosed with cancer. I wish them the best of luck and love to the family and staff for doing such a remarkable thing! ## Moving on to 2022/23 Many of our current committee parents have their children moving into Reception Class, including myself, and thus are stepping down from the Committee. I thank them all for their time, effort and support to the Pre-School. I am confident that the new Committee will take the setting forward into new and exciting directions. It has been my pleasure to Chair the Preschool and I have complete faith it will continue to thrive. Laura Start (Chair) DEPOStT ACCOUNT OPENING BALANCE £20.683.41 Add irrternsl IM 1719r21 Transforr•d to current aC￿￿t CLOSING &ALANCE £20.685.47