Brandon Pre-school Playgroup
Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
The trustees present their annual report and financial statement of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The financial statement has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in our Constitution, The Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (second edition) and Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102.
Aims and activities for the public benefit.
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 pay, 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, religion, 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 the aims and objects of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charities aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Chair’s Report
During the financial year for 2022 – 2023 we had a change of manager with Carman taking on the role and on behalf of the committee I would like to congratulate her on doing a great job. Donna has been supporting her as Deputy Manager and together they make a really strong team. Staff have also been really supportive whilst she was getting to grips with the role and things seem to be running really smoothly. I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication.
The committee are continuing to work towards re-registering the pre-school as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), the process is taking a while but we’re getting there. At some point in the future, we will have to hold a meeting to close down the current registration, so if you see letters come out about us closing, please don’t be alarmed – we’re not actually closing. We have to set up a new registration with the Charity Commission and Ofsted and once everything is ready, we close down the old registration and switch over to the new one.
The current financial climate is certainly providing us with some challenges. We have seen a significant rise in our service charges which includes all our utility costs. In the meantime, the National Living Wage has increased by around 20% over the last 2 years which has certainly impacted our wages bill. To make sure we remain viable we will be looking at our fees structure in the next few weeks.
I would like to thank the committee for their continuing support for the preschool. Without that support the preschool would not be able to run. I would especially like to thank Claire Goldstone, our treasurer. She has now been treasurer for the preschool for 14 years! She’s been trying to step down for the last few years, but we’ve not managed to find a replacement so that we could let her go. This will likely be her last AGM as once we switch over to the new registration someone else will have to take over responsibility for over seeing the preschool’s finances.
Laura Boone, Chairperson
Treasurer’s Report
We have made a loss this year as in the previous year, but the loss is significantly less, and we have put measures in place to protect against this in the future years. In the years before, we had been accruing profits and this has led us to having a healthy reserves policy in case of future difficulties and still leaves us in a financially healthy position. As well as this we have been having an ongoing dispute over printing services, which has been costly but has now been resolved.
As a charity we are not expected to make large amounts of profit and we want the playgroup to benefit from spending on fair wages for staff and wonderful resources for your children as much as we can.
£143,038 – Income
£164,356 – Expenditure
We continue to review our charges and wages and have ensured that no loss will be made next year and continue to work to find a balance for the future.
Claire Goldstone, Treasurer
Manager’s Report
We have had a busy year in Preschool, I have now been manager just short of a year and feel I have settled in quickly to the role with the support of Donna as deputy and the staff. Preschool is running very well, the children settled in very quickly. We have good communication with the parents, using Memos on tapestry. We were lucky enough to have a visit from Miraikers wonderful world of Puppets. Which is always a fantastic day.
Our books are full with a large waiting list. We have lots of enquires about the new 2-year funding for working parents. At the moment we have no spaces available but have put them on our waiting List for September.
Rebecka is attending university twice a week to get a degree in Early Childhood Studies
Sarah is doing her Level 3 childcare qualification and Lisa has one more session until she has completed her cache Level 3 special educational needs Co-ordinator in the early year setting award.
We were lucky enough to have had our garden work completed. The workmen replaced all the sleepers around the planters, replaced the gas cupboard door and lifted some of the block paving. Making it a safer area.
A big thank you to this year parents for supporting donating items from our wish board this really is a big help to us.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank my team and you the parents for your continued support of the preschool and thank the committee for their support.
Carman Derbyshire, Preschool Manager
Structure, Governance and Management
The pre-school is a registered charity, number 1029166, and is constituted under the Pre-school Learning Alliance Model Pre-school Constitution 2011, adopted by the Trustees on the 24[th] October 2012.
At the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Trustees will be elected by parents (members) of the preschool. The minimum number of elected trustees shall be 5 and the maximum shall be 12. Trustees can co-opt up to 3 further Trustees at any time after the AGM.
The Trustees shall hold at least 2 meetings each year. Every issue considered by the Trustees at meetings may be determined by a simple majority vote.
A Trustee must absent himself or herself from any discussions in which it is possible that a conflict of interest may arise and may take no part in any vote on the matter.
Reference and Administrative Details
Names of the Trustees who manage the charity:
Laura Boone (Chairperson) Rebecca Connor Olivia Davey (elected October 2022) Rebecca Dibley Kimberly Egan-Welch (elected March 2022) Claire Goldstone (Treasurer) Gemma Hargreaves (elected October 2002, retired October 2023) Patricia Masango (elected October 2022) Marie Shead (retired October 2022) Laura Smith (Secretary) Sam Snaith (elected October 2022) Clare Taylor
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity:
Laura Boone Claire Goldstone
Approved by the Trustees on 13[th] October 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Laura Boone Chairperson