AGM
Tuesday 28th October 2025
Atendees: Michele Jolley, Clare Gseir, Kallie Jackson, Megan McCreedy, Riley Nice, Cassie Clowes, Alexandra Taylor and Molly Manser.
Agenda:
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Welcome
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Apologies
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Minutes
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Finance Report
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Staff Report
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Fundraising
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Member Election
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Policies
Clare welcomes everyone to the AGM, a new parent has joined today to gain an understanding of what is involved with the committee. Apologies were made for Velichka Shapkova. During the introduction Michele spoke about the importance of confidentiality and privacy within the setting. Michele expressed it was a shame only one new member had shown up to the setting, this could be due to being half term. There are new parents that have shown an interest in joining the committee. DBS forms will be send out via email to confirm suitability of joining.
Minutes from the last AGM was read out by Clare – 23[rd] dated October 2024. From this it was discussed the new recent time changes. We spoke about children arriving after the gate opening at staggered times. This was due to parents dropping off at school and then coming to drop off at pre-school. Breakfast club is now 8:30am-9:00am. (From September 2025) Both breakfast and afterschool club have picked up. At the moment we limit 3 members of staff to cover these times due to staff increase of hours and wage. This is always the same members of staff.
Megan read out the financial report for 2025.
Kallie read out the staff report.
Over the last year fundraising has been okay. We have continued with the same ideas. E.g. raffles, Easter Bake Off. This is due to getting new members on the committee. Parents who attended the last meeting (10/03/25) had requested DBS forms, however these were not completed. Lots of ideas were spoken about at that meeting to fundraise but due to DBS’s not being completed they didn’t take place. Two original parents are still going through the process of DBS checks. Michele will support these committee members with their DBS
forms. We have new parents who have shown an interest in joining our committee. Forms will shortly be sent out via email to them.
Over the last year all staff have completed many training courses/webinars. This is with The National College and Education Essex. Clare has completed her Level 3 and Hayley has completed Makaton levels 1 and 2. These have been very beneficial courses as children are now using Makaton signs to communicate with staff. Staff are supporting Language Focused Play in the setting; this is to promote speech, communication and interaction.
Michele said as stated in the financial report we only have 35 children on roll due to having 14 2 year olds accessing FEEE2W, this has related to ratio levels increase each session meaning we have less children on roll. We have 5 new children ready to enrol in January. We could take more children when ratios change.
During the summer term we had a large increase in EYPP. Many resources/equipment was purchased to support children in the setting. E.g. Bikes, new shed, new children’s kitchen and games to support social interaction. We changed the planting area for children to access and improved the sand pits. We had £3315.
Autumn term we have 14 children in receipt of EYPP. Key workers are speaking with parents to discuss what equipment and resources will benefit their children.
Michele has announced that Kallie will be leaving us at the end of this term due to moving out this area. Staff changes will be taking place to replace Deputy role. In house and CV’s are currently being looked at.
As DBS’s have not come back for new parents Clare was re-allected as Chair, Megan as Treasurer and Velichka as Secretary. Once the DBS process has been cleared a new Chair and Treasurer will be elected.
New polices have been adopted.
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Responding to safeguarding or child protection concerns
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Food safety and nutrition policy
Next meeting will be arranged for the end of Autunm Term in December 2025.
Minutes agreed by………………………………………………..
Signed…………………………………………………………………. Date…………………………………………………………………
LITTLE GEMS PRE - SCHOOL BASILDON
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
LITTLE GEMS PRE - SCHOOL BASILDON
Registered Charity Number: 1028673 Chairperson: C Gsier Treasurer: M McCreery Secretary: E Davey Independent Examiner: D Parker Sterlings Accountancy Solutions Ltd 131-133 Roman Road Mountnessing Brentwood Essex CM15 0UD
Bankers:
Barclays Bank Plc 2 East Walk Basildon Essex SS14 1HH
Independent Examiner's Report To The Trustees Of Little Gems Pre - School Basildon On The Accounts For The Year Ended 31 December 2024 Set Out On Pages 1 to 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 year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent
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examiner’s statement My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below
David Parker Date: 22nd July 2025 Sterlings Accountancy Solutions Ltd 131-133 Roamn Road Mountnessing Brentwood Essex CM15 0UD
Little Gems Pre - School Basildon Statement of Income and Expenditure Year ended 31 December 2024
| Incoming resources from generated funds Essex County Council Other Incoming resources from charitable activities Fees Total incoming resources Interest recieved Resources expended Charitable activities Wages Employer's pension Rent Water rates Light & heat Security Repairs & renewals Equipment and materials Refreshments Telephone Cleaning, refuse & hygiene Postage & stationery Training Independent examiners fees Sundry Insurance Subscriptions IT costs Donations Bank charges Travel Licenses Activities Legal fees Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
£ £ £ £ 183,814 152,251 1,865 1,855 9,805 9,248 195,484 163,354 295 188 157,267 136,805 2,630 2,218 10,743 9,300 774 863 4,549 3,593 703 732 745 4,237 10,671 9,875 1,144 924 915 1,409 4,279 3,110 86 32 571 172 1,436 1,446 24 169 1,078 1,021 465 503 1,695 0 600 151 162 45 60 476 495 1,749 2,285 0 0 202,196 180,011 -6,417 -16,469 64,914 81,383 58,497 64,914 2024 2023 |
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Little Gems Pr8- S h ol Baslldon Balan e Sheet At 31 Decemb r 2024 Unrestrlcted fund8 2024 2023 Curront assots Bank account Debtors Cash 65,903 68,838 65,903 68,838 Crodltor8 falllng du9 wlthln one year 7,406 3,924 58,497 64,914 Charlty fundB Unrestrtcted funds 58,497 64,914 Th8 flnanclal statem8nls have be8n prepar8d In accordanco wlth FRS102 SORP. Approved and agreed Clalre Chalrporson Megan McCre8ry Treasuror Date: ..22 /0..7.12)25
Little Gems Pre - School Basildon Notes To The Accounts
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
1 Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention,and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
2 Accounting policies
Incoming resources
Grants are included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resource. Fees are included in the SOFA when the charity becomes entitled to the income.
Expenditure and liabilities
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance costs include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
3 Staff costs
The average number of full time equivalent employees during the year was 9. All of these worked within charitable activities.
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Finance Report 2025
I would like to start with going through our income and expenditure of the year 2024.
Our total income for this year was £195’484, this was made up of 2yr funding, 3/4yr FEEE funding, 30hr funding, Fee’s, fundraising, SEN payments, Early Years Pupil Premium, fees for breakfast club and after school club and voluntary snack contributions.
Our total income increased by £32’130 from the previous year. This was a combination of more 30hr funded children on roll and Spring term funding being paid into the account at the beginning of Spring Term in January rather than the end of Autumn term as the previous year. Our expenditure increased by £22’185, this was mainly due to the government minimum wage increase, PAYE tax and rent increases.
At the start of January 2025, we had £46’885.88 in our bank account.
We currently have 8 members of staff on roll.
Minium wage increased again in April of this year, so a wage increase was given to all staff bandings, this may increase again in the year with inflation.
We currently have 35 families enrolled. 10 children - 3/4yr funded 9 children - 30 hours 8 children - FEEE2 6 children - FEEE2W (increase to 30hrs) 2 children - fee paying.
In September FEEE2W children hours increased to 30hr per week, this means that due to ratio, less children are on our registers from previous years.
At the moment we have 5 new starters for January 2026, and our 30hr funded children will increase slightly.
We current offer a breakfast and after school club at £6 per hour. This has picked up a little more from last year. We continue to ask parent/carers to give us a contribution for snack of 20p each session.