Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS School Hours Tel: 07528 302 108 e.mail wendyforestbears@btopenworld.com Manager’s Report 2022 – 2023 We returned with a good number of children on the register. We walked to Jubilee park to lay flowers in remembrance for Queen Elizabeth 11. The Town Mayor Leeroy Scott; visited the setting to give the children rosettes and a certificate. We won the Town in Bloom royal themed unusual planter. Thank you Lisa for your artistic input. We closed on 19[th] September for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth 11 We changed Milk supplier, to a local organic dairy. Diane Photos visited us again this year, with brilliant results as usual. The commission goes towards Christmas for the children. We raised £72.30 Parents invited in for Pumpkin carving We planted bulbs out the front of the building, with Whitehill and Bordon Community Trust. We held a transition meeting for parents of children starting school in September 2023 and provided them with a school readiness booklet. We celebrated Nursery Rhyme Week We celebrated Remembrance Day, We held a Christmas craft and coffee morning for parents. We held another successful Movie night for all of our families. Registered Charity 1029569 We held our Nativity and visit from Father Christmas; the local vicar was due to come and read the Nativity; but did not turn up; he apparently double booked!! We had our Ofsted Inspection 21/02/2023 the outcome was GOOD We celebrated World Book Day We invited parents to afternoon tea, to celebrate Mothering Sunday. We received a grant from Councillor Neville Taylor, for garden equipment All children received : pots, compost, sunflower seeds, stickers and easter eggs. There will be a prize for the tallest sunflower in July. The seeds, pots and compost were supplied by Whitehill and Bordon Community Trust. We held a brunch for our families to celebrate the coronation of King Charles 111 The children made cards to celebrate Father’s day Becky from Barnados visited to talk to the children about Oral health and Healthy Eating We broke up for the summer, with a coffee and cake morning for all of the families. We had a presentation for the children moving up to reception, The children all received a teddy bear, bubbles, a photo of all their peers and one of the staff and their journals. We finished the morning by the children releasing balloons. Unfortunately our rent was increased considerably this, we did try to negotiate but were not successful. During the year we have attended SfYC briefings, First Aid training, Safequarding courses and kept up to date with all changes. Lisa started her Apprenticeship, and has worked really hard this year. Lauren joined us for the summer term. The Early years teachers from the local schools came in to meet the children starting with them in September 2023; we were disappointed that one school didn’t visit, because there was only one child moving up to them; this felt as they didn’t value that child! We were in receipt of the Discretionary fund throughout the school year; which we used to support our families in different ways, to include: food parcel, electricity top up, extra hours, expanded café for all children. We were closely with out side agencies to support our families. We contacted the other settings of the children who have shared care We have a parents What’s App group and during the year the parents used it to support each other, as well as us passing on information. A huge thank you to Karen, Michelle, Lisa and Lauren; for once again ensuring the children in our care are safe and have a fun and happy experience during their time with Forest Bears Pre-School Registered Charity 1029569 Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS ## **Chairs Report 2022 - 2023** This year has been yet another busy year for Forest Bears, there have been many activities over the year which Wendy will cover in her report. In February 2022 Forest Bears had their Ofsted Inspection, the result was GOOD. A huge thank you to all of the team in achieving this great report. 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. A big thank you to Lesley for taking on the role of Treasurer, the most onerous of the committee tasks. Thank you Lesley Lastly but by no means least is to thank Wendy, Karen, Michelle and Lisa 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 Registered Charity 1029569 Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS School Hours Tel: 07528 302 108 e.mail wendyforestbears@btopenworld.com Treasurers Report 2022 -2023 The Accounts were signed off by our auditor. Copy available on request. We have had a positive year again this year; again very much attributable to those children being paid for direct and not reliant on grants. Indeed, our grant income fell slightly but direct income rose considerably. Costs have increased but at the moment we appear to be keeping ahead of them. The overall position is that our net income fell slightly but is still healthy and positive. We distributed the Discretionary grant from the government, in line with their guidance. Lesley Roberts Treasurer Registered Charity 1029569 Forest Bears Pre-School Forest Community Centre Pinehill Road Bordon Hants GU35 0BS School Hours Tel: 07528 302 108 e.mail wendyforestbears@btopenworld.com Minutes AGM 18/06/2024 7.30pm Present Lesley Roberts Ian Garforth Becky Manning Apologies Neville Taylor In Attendance Wendy Garforth Last Year’s Minutes Approved Proposed Lesley Roberts, Seconded Ian Garforth Chair Report (Attached) Treasurers Report (Attached) Manager’s Report (Attached) Election of Committee Registered Charity 1029569 Lesley Roberts, Ian Garforth, Becky Manning, Neville Taylor Proposed Lesley Roberts, Seconded Becky Manning. Election of Officers Chair Ian Garforth Proposed Becky Manning, Seconded Lesley Roberts Treasurer Lesley Roberts Proposed Ian Garforth, Seconded Becky Manning Secretary Becky Manning Proposed Lesley Roberts, Seconded Ian Garforth ## AOB Discussion on finding new fundraising ideas. There is a need to update the constitution over the next few months because it is proving impossible to persuade any parents to become a trustee, despite the Chairman having written to them all this year. An Extraordinary General Meeting will be planned to ratify it. Meeting Closed at 8.13 Registered Charity 1029569 Forest Bears Pre School 1/9/22- 31/8/23 Income and Expenditure |Income
Early years Grant
Fees and Lunches
Food Vouchers
Other grants
Merchandise
Fundraising
Donations
Other
Expenditure
Premises
Wages
Pension Contributions
Ins/Membership
Equipment
Food Vouchers
Admin
Other
Merchandise
Ofsted
Snacks
Training|2023
2022
72,415.36
73,346.75
14,421.34
10,277.75
1,140.00
977.07
100.00
289.25
206.00
551.87
160.05
72.30
88,727.19
85,230.55
0
13,929.12
12,381.33
57,181.17
53,107.43
2,415.06
2,237.82
1,347.33
1,308.39
1,790.00
1,613.19
1,140.00
758.47
1,343.53
164.24
45.00
369.11
304.44
50.00
323.87
278.13
282.59
292.00
78,560.96
74,101.26
10,166.23
11,129.29| |---|---| ## **Related Party Transactions** During the year the wife of the Chairman Mrs Wendy Garforth was employed by the charity as the manager her salary amounted to £21,132 ## **Reserves Policy** Reserves are held in regard of closure costs of the Preschool and for years when there may be fewer children. ## **Charitable Activities** The Preschool aims to include everyone in their community with its activities and on this basis if a child 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 personnal 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 computerised 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 Cunningham Christine L Cunningham FCCA 29-Apr-24 Forest Bears Pre School 1/9/22- 31/8/23 Income and Expenditure |Income
Early years Grant
Fees and Lunches
Food Vouchers
Other grants
Merchandise
Fundraising
Donations
Other
Expenditure
Premises
Wages
Pension Contributions
Ins/Membership
Equipment
Food Vouchers
Admin
Other
Merchandise
Ofsted
Snacks
Training|2023
2022
72,415.36
73,346.75
14,421.34
10,277.75
1,140.00
977.07
100.00
289.25
206.00
551.87
160.05
72.30
88,727.19
85,230.55
0
13,929.12
12,381.33
57,181.17
53,107.43
2,415.06
2,237.82
1,347.33
1,308.39
1,790.00
1,613.19
1,140.00
758.47
1,343.53
164.24
45.00
369.11
304.44
50.00
323.87
278.13
282.59
292.00
78,560.96
74,101.26
10,166.23
11,129.29| |---|---| ## **Related Party Transactions** During the year the wife of the Chairman Mrs Wendy Garforth was employed by the charity as the manager her salary amounted to £21,132 ## **Reserves Policy** Reserves are held in regard of closure costs of the Preschool and for years when there may be fewer children. ## **Charitable Activities** The Preschool aims to include everyone in their community with its activities and on this basis if a child 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 personnal 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 computerised 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 Cunningham Christine L Cunningham FCCA 29-Apr-24