## Forest Bears Pre-School ## Manager’s Report 2020 -2021 We returned in September, to a new normal! Harvest collection were donations for the local food bank, again this year. Diane Photographics were able to visit and again produced brilliant results. We contacted St. Mark’s church regarding performing our Nativity again this year; unfortunately, we had to cancel this due to COVID Lockdown! We contributed to the Hogmoor time capsule. Staff attended virtual training during the Autumn Term. The children were all given the opportunity to paint a troll or fairy to be displayed in the Hogmoor café; several parents visited the café and sent photos of their children showing them their paintings. As we could not hold our Nativity, the children all had the opportunity to try on different costumes and took their photos and sent them to their parents. The children were all invited to attend our Christmas party and Father Christmas’s Elf (Michelle) visited with gifts. Due to vandalism over the Christmas holidays, one of our parents organised a “Go Fund” page to raise funds to replace the fence. We also had donated fencing, which was collected and delivered free of charge by my son in law and his brother-in-law. A local company Goodyear Gardening Services provided the labour free of charge, and we were able to replace all of the fencing before the children returned. We were lucky enough to secure a Local Councillor Grant from Councillor Wigman; which paid for the 3 new gates and iron mongery. The local community were extremely supportive. January another lockdown announced but **Early Years carry on as usual** , a number of children did not return after the Christmas break due to COVID lockdown. We held several ZOOM story and rhyme times for the families that hadn’t returned; so that all of the children could stay in touch. We kept our Face Book page updated, with our weekly Makaton sign, challenge and rhymes. We sent home next steps activities to families as well, with ideas and offers of resources. Staff again attended virtual training during the Spring term. This lockdown ended and children returned. During the summer term staff again attended virtual training. We worked closely with some of the schools our children were moving up to in September to make the transition as easy as possible for them after an unsettled year. One school did not contact us until we prompted them! We worked closely with all of our families during the pandemic to offer as much support as was needed to individual families. We also worked with SALT, Portage and other outside agencies to support the children, mostly by phone; but thankfully with some visits to the setting. Our staff have kept Forest Bears a safe and happy environment for the children during these unprecedented times; and I wish to thank Karen and Michelle for their dedication to the children; and thank you to Becky who volunteered during the summer term. All staff carried out twice weekly LFT, We ended the year with a family picnic (the weather was kind to us!!) as it was after 19[th] JULY!!!!! We had a leavers presentation for the children moving up to reception and they then all released balloons. We received an amazing MUD kitchen and 2 balance bikes collectively from some of the families whose children were moving on to reception. We are looking forward to a new year. Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS School Hours Tel: 07528 302 108 e.mail wendyforestbears@btopenworld.com AGM 13/06/22 7.30pm Present Ian Garforth Becky Manning Lesley Roberts Neville Taylor Lisa Taylor In attendance Wendy Garforth Apologies None Received Last Year’s Minutes agreed Proposed Lisa Taylor Seconded Neville Taylor Chair Report Attached Treasurer Report Attached Manager Report Attached Election of committee Ian Garforth, Becky Manning, Lesley Roberts, Neville Taylor. Lisa Taylor Proposed Neville Taylor Seconded Lisa Taylor Election of Officers Chair Ian Garforth , Treasurer Lesley Roberts, Secretary Becky Manning Proposed Lisa Taylor Seconded Neville Taylor AOB Discussion on WBCA rent and service; a meeting to be arranged with them. Discussed using Facebook more effectively to promote the setting. Discussed approaching a local councillor for a grant for equipment Discussed contacting local fire service and police to visit the setting. Meeting Closed at 8.00pm Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS ## **Chairs Report 20-21** This year has been another busy one for Forest Bears not made any easier by the Covid Pandemic. Whilst The Community Centre had to remain closed Forest Bears as all other Pre- Schools continued to operate. Stringent safety measures were put in place making the setting safe for both children and adults. This was also the year that the fencing was vandalised over the Christmas Period. We are very grateful for the parents who set up the “Go Fund Page” on Facebook which paid for all of the smaller fencing, the 6’0 panels were donated to us, Goodyears a local gardening contractor fitted all of the fencing free of charge for us, new gates and ironmongery were funded by a Councillor Grant from Councillor Wigman, we are extremely grateful for people’s generosity in both financial and time given up to this. Thank you I would like to thank the members of the committee for all that they have done over the past year, each year it becomes harder and harder to entice people onto the committee, many people think that it is time consuming and therefore they do not have that amount of spare time, in reality there are perhaps three meetings each year plus the AGM. All potential committee members are DBS checked so that they may help out with activities involving the children from time to time. The committee is there to support the Pre – School and its help is always well received. There are some activities during the year in which a few hours help would make all the difference, Christmas, Craft Days, Community Fetes, helping to maintain the garden and play area, just a few of the ways in which we can help. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lesley for taking on the role of Treasurer, the most onerous of the committee tasks. Lastly but by no means least is to thank Wendy, Karen and Michelle for all of the hard work that they put in throughout the year, and their dedication to the children, without this Forest Bears would not be the success it is now and has been for many years and will be for many years to come. Ian Garforth Chair Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS ## **AGM AGENDA 13[th] June 2022** - 1) Apologies - 2) Minutes Last Years AGM 3) Chairs Report - 4) Managers Report - 5) Treasurers Report - 6) Election of Committee - 7) Election of Officers - 8) AOB ## Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS School Hours Tel: 07528 302 108 e.mail wendyforestbears@btopenworld.com Forest Bears AGM Treasurer’s Report 2020/21 The Accounts were signed off by our auditor. Copy available on request. The 2020/21 year continued with funding challenges together with COVID-19 impacts which of course affected everyone again. The Early Years Grants from the Government increased last year due to an increase in numbers of children, but still does not cover our costs. When added to the fees paid by those parents not supported by grants, we have managed to reduce our loss year on year. Lesley Roberts Treasurer Forest Bears Pre School 119120- 3118121 Income and Expenditure 2021 2020 Income Early year5 Grant Fees and Lunthes Food Vouchers Other grant5 Merchandlse Fundraising Donations Other 54,989.42 46.536.52 5,049.75 8,290.LKI 1,147.CM) 487.40 179. 176.50 710.27 103.50 io. 88.13 io. io.c 62.582.84 55,204.65 Expenditure Premlses Wages Pension Contrlbutlons Ins/Membership Equipment Food Vouchers Admin Other Merchandise Ofsted Snacks Training 11,609.21 8,758.65 45,300.61 45,628.95 1,922.87 1,844.81 1,279.39 1,279.39 1,670.98 1,512.66 1,147.C S18.56 477.01 131.08 82.20 SO.￿) 59.73 346.91 163.(M) 50.IJ) 54.28 180.00 63.995.90 60.171.39 1,413.06 4.966.74 Related Party Transartlons Durlngthe year the wife ofthe Chairman Mrs WendyGarforth was employed by the charity asthe Manager her sa y amounted to £19,732 ReseNes Pollcv Reserves are held In regard of closure costs of the Preschool and for years when there may be fewer children. Charltable Adfvltles The Preschool aims to include everyone in their community with its attivities and on this basis if a chlld can not pay for sessions that is in need due to hardship then the preschool will fund these hours. Also If a child is in need through personn31 circumstances then this will also be funded by the preschool. No child will be penalised for not being able to pay for activities. I certify that these figures have been taken from the cornputeri5ed primary records for all bank accounts and cash expenses. The cash items were paid from monies received as fees. The majority of receipts have only been verified to bank statements and not primary receipt records. Christine L Cunningham FCCA • 4322 Forest Bears Pre School 119120- 3118121 Income and Expenditure 2021 2020 Income Early year5 Grant Fees and Lunthes Food Vouchers Other grant5 Merchandlse Fundraising Donations Other 54,989.42 46.536.52 5,049.75 8,290.LKI 1,147.CM) 487.40 179. 176.50 710.27 103.50 io. 88.13 io. io.c 62.582.84 55,204.65 Expenditure Premlses Wages Pension Contrlbutlons Ins/Membership Equipment Food Vouchers Admin Other Merchandise Ofsted Snacks Training 11,609.21 8,758.65 45,300.61 45,628.95 1,922.87 1,844.81 1,279.39 1,279.39 1,670.98 1,512.66 1,147.C S18.56 477.01 131.08 82.20 SO.￿) 59.73 346.91 163.(M) 50.IJ) 54.28 180.00 63.995.90 60.171.39 1,413.06 4.966.74 Related Party Transartlons Durlngthe year the wife ofthe Chairman Mrs WendyGarforth was employed by the charity asthe Manager her sa y amounted to £19,732 ReseNes Pollcv Reserves are held In regard of closure costs of the Preschool and for years when there may be fewer children. Charltable Adfvltles The Preschool aims to include everyone in their community with its attivities and on this basis if a chlld can not pay for sessions that is in need due to hardship then the preschool will fund these hours. Also If a child is in need through personn31 circumstances then this will also be funded by the preschool. No child will be penalised for not being able to pay for activities. I certify that these figures have been taken from the cornputeri5ed primary records for all bank accounts and cash expenses. The cash items were paid from monies received as fees. The majority of receipts have only been verified to bank statements and not primary receipt records. Christine L Cunningham FCCA • 4322