2024-03-31-accounts

The Mall Nursery and Creche Registered Charity Number 1031348 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Miller & Co Chartered Accountanls Statutory Auditors 5 Imperial Court Laporte Way Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8FE

The Mall Nursery and Creche CONTENTS Letter from our Chair Pages 1-3 Treasurer's Report Page 4 Charity Trustees and Administrative Information Page 5 Trustees, Report Pages 6-26 Independent Examiner's Report Page 27-28 Financial Statements Pages 29-40

The Mall Nursery and Creche CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT 202312024 This year has been an extraordinarily successful year for the Nursery. Thank you to the Nursery Management for providing such a detailed report of the year. In summary, the Nursery continues to receive financial support from the community, including rent-free accommodation and other support from The Mall Shopping Centre, local authority funding, fundraising, donations, and fees. We continue to be committed to using these funds wisely for the benefit of all users. We continueto welcome all families ofyoung Ghildren, regardless of background, faith, gender, orpersonal circumstances, and have staff who speak the community's diverse languages. This openness enriches everyone through shared skills and experiences. The management team is particularly supportive of the underprivileged families wilhin the setting. The Ioc21 area is within the top 10 % most deprived in the country, with elevated leve15 of unemployment, low qualifiGations. poverty, perinatal mental ill health, and poor oral health, all impacting families, and young children. Where possible we access many of the programmes to help support in these areas. Achievements There have been several achievements and improvements this year, these include the following- Signrficant grant fundlng: this was used to expand floor space, redecorate playrooms. and enhance the ouldoor environment for growing fruits and vegetables. Core Services.. The day care nursery, educational sessions, and shoppels crèche operated successfijlly, with high demand, especially for 2-year-old places, resulting in a waiting list. Education Sesslons: Provided places for over 120 34-year-olds and increased spaces for funded 2-year-olds to meet local demand. Support for Families: Offered places for children of parents in training or receiving Ghildcare grants and provided emergency and short-term care for families in crisis. Expansion Success= Finalised consent to trade for additional space. which was opened in January 2024, with new play areas for 2+ and 3+ children, enhancing learning outcomes. The Deputy Mayor of Luton and Paw Patrol attended the grand opening. The past year has been busy and exciting. with significant achievements and improvements for the nursery. Unil 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 1

The Mall Nursery and Creche Tar We have identified some targets for 2024-2025. We will work towards these in the coming year to continue to improve our service to the community, they are also based on the needs of the seNice. Ofsted Registration: Seek guidance to change OFsted registration to accept children under 2, utilising the expanded nursery space for a baby room. Parent representatives on the Committe: Encourage more parents tojoin the management committee by informing them during induction. offering welcome hampers, and incentive vouchers for meeting attendance. Provide a welcome pack with roles, responsibilities, and suitability checks. Recruitment: Advertise and recruit new early years practitioners and offer apprenticeship opportunities to maintain aduluchild ratios due to increased occupancy and expanded space. Professional Development: Encourage slaff with level 2 qualrfications to pursue further studies, with nursery covering training costs. Ensure all stsff attend core training such as Safeguarding and First Aid. Marketing: Advertise the nursery within the wider community to increase holiday club numbers, targeting older children up to 7 years 11 months. Promoting Cultural Capital: Ensure all children have access to similar experiences, arranging trips at little or no cost to parents and providing in- setting entertainment like pantomimes, bouncy castles, and face painting. These tsrgets aim to enhance the nursery's offerings, support staff development, and engage the community effectively. Acknowled ements Primarily, I would like to thank the staff at the Nursery, there have been seve￿1 chan9es and as always change G3n be a difficult process. The staff have ernbra￿d this positively and have risen to the challenge. Tammy and Michelle have worked hard to ensure that the upgrades to the areas that have been made have been in line with building control and the use of space has been maximised. It was also particularly good to see that where possible local community businesses have been used. Thank you, Jen for maintaining our administration and keeping everyone informed on a regular basis. Many Thanks to The Mall Management for their continued support with the nursery and the community, enabling the service provided to be one to be proud of. Thank you, Brian, for keeping us °In check" with the finances. Unit 35, The M811 LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 2

The Mall Nursery and Creche I look forward to another good year for 202412025. Yvette Watson Chairperson 24 January 2025 Unit 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 3

The Mall Nursery and Creche TREASURER'S REPORT 202312024 The financial year for The Mall Nursery & Creche runs from April 1 St to March 315t This year saw the most significant expansion of the nursery with the extension into adjoining premises within the Mall, unit 19. The business plan to support this move was carefully considered by the nursery management and the trustees and was driven in the knowledge of existing demand for places and govemment policy to provide more funding to support child care. It required c£100k of capitsl investment and a new lease that commits the nursery to running costs of c£50k pa for a five year period. In addition, there will be more staff and other incidental running costs to acC￿mm0date the anticipated increase in child numbers. Capital costs were met from reserves and all worl(s were within budget, with the extended premises successfully opened in January 2024. Child numbers have increased to meet expectation, and demand for childcare services has meant that our revenLJe has met our additional running costs. It is a credit to Tammy, Michel and the entire team that this major expansion of the nursery was seamless with no hiccups. There is potential for yet further development within these extended premises which is planned for the coming year. This expansion has increased annual revenue to exceed £500k pa which requires additional reporting to the charity commissioners. I would therefore like to thank Brian Cox from our independent examiners and his colleagues at Miller and Co for their support and guidance with all our financial matters. And a word must be said for Jen who diligently administers our affairs in house. Yet another indispensable member of the team. Brian McFadand Hon Treasurer AGM 24 January 2025 Unil 35. The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 4

The Mall Nursery and Creche Charit Truslees & Administrative Infomiation The Mall Nursery and Creche is located in the Mall Shopping Centre, Bedfordshire. We offer 80 Ofsted - registered places and is assessed as 'Good' by Ofsted. Our committed, friendly. and well- qualified nursery team provide high quality care and education for children. The nursery operates from 8am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year, excluding bank holidays. The setting is closed for the week be￿een Christmas and New Year. The nursery follows the Earty Years Foundation Stage {EYFS) with a focus on learning through play and actively encouraging parents to become involved in the lrfe of the nursery. The Mall Nursery and Creche is a large nursery delivering a high-quality service ensuring emotion, physical, social and intellectual needs are met, within a safe environment of respect and equal opportunity for all. Mana ement Committee Officers Chairperson - Yvette Watson (Appointed Chair March 2024) Treasurer- Brian McFarland (Re-elected Treasurer March 2024) Secretary - Jennifer Drummond (Re-elected March 2024) Mana ement Committee members Tracey Bateman (Re-elected March 2024) Roy Andrew Greening (Re- elected March 2024) Shannon Redding (Appointed March 24) Nurse Staff Nursery Manager- Tammy Treagus- BA Hons Child and Adolescents Level 6 (Appointed July 20181 Nursery Deputy Manager- Michele Baulcombe {Appointed March 2019) Room Leader- Shanel Walker (Appointed March 2021 previously Early Years Practitioner appointed March 20191 Room Leader- Michelle Gibson (Appointed September 20221 Administration and Flnance Assistant Jennifer Drummond (Appointed November 2015) 15 Early Years Practitioners 1 Early Years Apprentlces Bankers HSBC. 63 George Street, Luton LU12AP Inde endent Examiner Roger Cox - Miller & Co Chartered Accountants, 5 Imperial Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds LU4 8FE Unit 35, The Ma11 LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Numbef 1031348 Page 5

The Mall Nursery and Creche REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 The twstees present their report and the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the financial year ended 31$1 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity- The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the aG¢ounting policies set out in note 1 to Ihe accounts and comply with the Charity's constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in acGordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republi¢ of Ireland published in October 2019. Structure, Governance and Management The Mall Nursery and Crèche is an unincorporated charity registered in England and Wales, constituted under the Pre-school Learning Alliance Model Pre-school Constitution 2011 dated September 2012. The trustees comprise management committee officers and management committee members as shown on the Charity Trustees and Administrative Infomiation page. Management committee members are elected by members of the charity (parents of users of the Nursery) at the Annual General Meeting each year. Truslees also have the power to co-opt additional trustees as defined in the constitution. The management committee has the power to raise money, employ staff, fix fees, and make payments for the charity. The committee employ a manager, and a deputy manager to administer the dayto day running of the charity, although the management committee retains overall authority in administering the charity finances and decision- making processes. As a nursery, we work closely with the local authority who monitor the input of the partner agencies involved in delivering the additional serviGes from the nursery, they and Early Years Allian￿ also act as advisors to our management committee. Remuneration of key management and bonuses to all staff is set by the Personnel & Finance Committee consisting of the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. This sub- committee also carries out performance reviews of key personnel. Salaries are set using information from local settings as well as those in the local authority. Living wagel Minimum wage will be taken into consideration and will reflect the age and role of the employee. The total salaries costs for the setting are then fed into the budget for the coming year to ensure there is viability and sustainability. Trustees, Indu¢tion and Training IndLJCtion for new members of the management committee includes meetings with existing management committee offi￿rS and members, and information on Unit 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 6

The Mall Nursery and Creche govemance, powers and responsibilities, recent minutes, annual report, our trust deed and the Charity Commission's guidan￿ including "The Essential Trustee.. What you Need to Know. and 'Public Benefit" Managemenl committee members are supported by training and advi￿ from the Early Years Alliance. When recruiting and appointing new trustee members several factors are taken into consideration. To actively encourage parent participation within the committee advertisements have been placed in the nursery reception. these highlight the significances that parent contribLJtions and views have when reflecting on aspects that could be adapted and altered to further improve the nursery. Trustees are voted in at the yearly AGM meetings, they require 3 votes to be elected. Following these steps ensures it is a fairer process for selection and remains unbiased. After members have decided they wish to join our committee suitability checks will be carried out a DBS Gheck will be conducted and an EY2 Form will be completed to infonn Ofsted of new committee members. Other outside agencies may be contacted to gather further information on the suitability of an individual before being approved on the committee list. Risk Management The charity trustees have considered the major risks to which the tharity is exposed and have reviewed those risks and established systems and procedures to manage those risks. Financial Risk Fall in numbers of children and families attending. Methods to minimise risk Monitoring of numbers to ensure running at fvll occupancy. A marketing strategy, Maintain close working relalionship with the local authority. To offer flexible hour and session limes. Ensure we maintain a good reputation. Ensurin a suslainabili fundlreserve is ke To recruit enough staff to have additional staff above required ratio levels. To offer staff incentives and bonuses to ensu￿ we retain staff recruited. Mana ement will cover staff absences when needed. Employing Management with previous experience of running a similar setting. Ensuring staff attend regular Irdining and have a full and relevant Early Years qualificabons. Management will monitor stsffs pr8Ctice and procedures to ensure Ihat high quality care and education is rovided to all children. Ensuring a sustainability fundlreserve is kept. Holiday club will be offered to children up to age 7yrs 11 months. To ensure creche is fully advertised. Fundraising throughoul the year. Not having adeq¢Jale slaffing levels to cover ChildlAdult ratio requirements of the EYFS Receiving an inspedion resulting in a less than a 'Good' rating can mean immediate withdrawal of o-year-old funding A drop in additional income fom crechel drop in users. Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 7

The Mall Nursery and Creche Increase in utility bills, rents and rates To ensure we are following our Eco policy of switch, off, tum down, reuse. Concussive taps in all areas accessed by chIld￿n to reduce waler waste. Censored lighting installed throughout nursery to reduce electric usage. RedU￿d rent. Reduced rates. By ensuring the above methods are implemented this will minimise those risks. Organisational Structure Charity Trustee I Committee Manager Deputy Manager Admin & Flnance Assistant Room Leaders Practitioner Apprentices Students Unil 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 8

The Mall Nursery and Creche Our Mission and Aim at the Mall Nursery and Crèche Our setting aims to: Provide high quality care 8nd education for chIld￿n primarily under slatutory school age. Work in partnership with parenls to help children to learn and develop. Add lo the life and well-bein9 of the local community. Improve outcomes for young children and their families. Offer children and Iheir parents a service that promotes equality and values diversity. Our mission is to: To have high expectation of every child and strive lo help them succeed. To creale an environmerst that will encourage parents to work in partnership with us. To create flexible childcare to suit parentsl carers needs at the most reasonable cost achievable. To create a leaming environment where students can thrive. In addition, through our services we will support and inform parents also providing access to additional services via our partners to become a 'one stop shop, for parents and families. Our responsibilities and work Public Benefit In all aspects of running our organisation the management committee keep in mind and have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission. Guidance on publi benefits issued by the Charity Commission is to be included in management committee inductions to ensure all trustees are aware of and apply it when working with managers to decide upon future activities, policies. and pr0￿dUreS. The focus of our work continues to be split into 2 areas: Unit 35. The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 9

The Mall Nursery and Creche Childcare and education is provided through our day care nursery, with a focus on development matters, staffed by qualified early years practitioners we work dosely with parents and are open to children from the ages of 2yrs- 5yrs. The nursery offers 15 hours funded care and education for children who are 3+ and spaces for 30 hours funded. We also offer care and education for qualifying 2- year-olds via the government's schemes. All day care and additional hours outside the funded hours are available at a low cost and is payable by the hour {Currently £5.50ph). Payment in advance and deposits are NOT required making childcare both flexible and afford4ble to meet the needs of parentslcarers in our community. Our services are accessed by many one parent families, families with no or little income, families new to the UK whose first language is not English, parents who were deprived as hildren themselves, under achievers, teenage parents, parents, and children with disabilities. By enabling even, the most disadvantaged children to achieve as much as they are able before they leave us for statutory eduGation, we aim to redu￿ the effects of poverty and deprivation and improve outcomes for all children and the wider community in which we all live. Holida club and Creche is provided to children from age 2yrs up to 7yrs 11 months. We continue to offer a shoppers creche for families that require care while they are doing their shopping in the Mall shopping ￿ntre. Our holiday club takes pla￿ out of temi time and offers care to families that require care during the school holidays. Through our work with these families, we advance the education of their children through play and the Early Years Foundation stage. Our work with parents achieves outcomes for families allowing parents to continue to worf( and improving life chances for the whole family. Our cornmunity As a charity we welcome the financial support that we receive from our community.. - rent-free accommodation for Unit 35 from The Mall Shopping Centre and other organisational support from The Mall Shopping the local authority providing support and govemment funding; - fundraising and donations. fees. We acknowledge our duty to spend these funds wisely for the benefit of all our users. We welcome all families of young children regardless of personal background, faith, gender, or personal Circumstan￿S. We have staff who speak different languages of our community, which is very diverse. We believe this philosophy of openness to all enriches everyone through the sharing of skills, aptitudes, and life experiences. The loGal area is made up of private and social housing and is situated within the top 10 % most deprived area in the country. The levels of unemployment, the proportion of people with no qualification, the level of poverty, perinatal Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 10

The Mall Nursery and Creche mental ill health and the prevalence of poor oral health are high and impact on families and young children in the area. Activities Achievements and Performance Achievement against targets for the year 202312024 was good and we received a large amount ofgrant funding money which was used to make improvements both internally and externally, increasing the size of the floor space in nursery. We were also able to redecorate the nursery and make some much-needed improvements. We were able lo create a more relaxed neulral leaming environment by redecorating the nursery playrooms. Some additions were made to the outside environment to allow us to Continue with our ongoing EGO largets with the children now growing a variety offruits and vegetables but on a much larger scale. Our core services, the day Care nursery, educational sessions, shoppers crèche were operated successfully throughout the year. Levels of intake have been extremely high with demand, particularly for 2-year-old places, exceeding availability and we onGe again have a waiting list. Our moming and afternoon education sessions provided places for 120+ 34-year- olds and we were able lo increase spa￿S for funded 2-yearaolds to meet local demands. During the year we have also provided places for children whose parents are, undertaking training via Job Centre Plus, or students who qualify for childcare grants or funding. Some children have been placed with us via referrals from social care and health and our expertise in supporting Ihese families is widely recognised. Our ability to react quickly, be flexible and provide care by the half hour has enabled us to provide emergency and short-temi care including looking after children whose parents may be attending court or during periods of crisis. Unil 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page11

The Mall Nursery and Creche The past year has been extremely busy and exciting for the nursery. Our biggest success this year was finalising the consent to trade for the additional space to expand our provision. Due to the continued high demand from the local and wider community to access our provision and the Ghanges to the early entitlement offer, the additional space was mL¢ch needed to allow us to increase the availability of spaces offered to 2. 3 and 4-yeaf-olds. The building work began to convert the space to be more suitable for the needs of the nursery and to make the required adaptations to ensure it is fully compliant and safe for the children to access. Partition walls were erected to split the large open space in two and the shower rooms were converted to children's toilets. Once all the major building work was complete, we were final ready and opened the new expanded space in January 2024. We were very lucky to have the Deputy Mayor of Luton and Paw Patrol attend to open the new expanded space for us on our grand opening day. The new play areas for the 2+ and 3+ children are now more stimulating and engaging and has allowed us to develop and achieve better learning outcomes for all children to prepare them for their next stage of learning and support them to reach their full potential. sa Unit 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 P8ge 12

The Mall Nursery and Cre¢he During the building works Opening day of the new expanded side From acquiring this additional space, we have been able to give the 2+ Ghildren a much bigger area to play, leam and grow. With them moving into the old area Ihe 3+ children used to access. This has allowed for extra stimulaling activities to be provided to encourage the younger children to explore more freely with much more messy play being offered. Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 13

The Mall Nursery and Creche 2+ Room The 3+ children have now transitioned from the area they used to access into the new area in the additional space creating extra leaming opportunities for them. Due to the space being bigger. The older children are now provided with not just a home corner but a mini village reflecting the community much more. They also have access to a large sand pit not just a sand tray. This allows for the children to take their shoes and socks off and get into the sand creating the experience of visiting the beach. We have also introduced a curiosity area, with all natural reSoUr￿S for the children to explore. Unit 35, The M811 LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] RegiSte￿d Charity Number 1031348 Page 14

The Mall Nursery and Creche 3+ Room Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TVV. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 15

The Mall Nursery and Creche Both rooms have now also got the Spa￿ to have their own separate lunchrooms, this has a positive impact on practice as we no longer need to clear activities away lo set up for the lunch time session and then set up again ready for the afternoon session starting. It also gives the children a more positive social interactive learning experience during lunch. Promoting independence and teaching children about healthy and unhealthy choices to support living a healthy lifestyle. 3+ lunchroom 2* lunchroom Unfortunately, we were unable to create a sensory room this year due to the space identified to use for this area was needed to create a larger staff room. Due to the expansion and recruiting new staff, the old slaff room was not an adequate space for all stsff to sit and relax comfortably during their lunch break and they would often leave the setting to sit and eat lunch on the floor outside the nursery in the shopping centre area. This has allowed us to create a more spacious area for staff to take their breaks. Staff were given a questionnaire to allow them to document their views on what they would like this area to look like, as it is them that would be using and accessing this space. Suggestions documented was things like, floor cushions and blankets, table and chairs, a fridge etc. Unil 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page16

The Mall Nursery and Creche Our nursery end of year trip to Whipsnade Zoo was successful with staff, children and parents all thoroughly enjoying the day, and all had lots of fun. All funded children 2- 3- and 4-year-olds and extended day care children were invited to attend with their parenls and nursery subsidising the cost of the trip. We will continue to offer a free end of yeartrip and consider offering more free outings throughout the year in relation to the subject topics being covered in the children's learning. This has a positive impact on our culture capitsl ensuring even those from the most deprived backgrounds can attend trips and outings that they may not nomially be able to access due to their family's financial circumstances. Ur¢it 35, The M811 LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Pa9e 17

The Mall Nursery and Creche 4ry Our planning and curriculum have continued to be a great success and the EYFS guidelines are now embedded through the nursery. All Key persons are continuing to focus on the children's interest and individual needs which has led to lots of new and exciting activities in the paly rooms. These interests were also used to extend the role play area in the 2+ room which regularly changes its purpose. In the last year we have had a travel agent, vets, hairdressers, beauty salon and several others. This has proved very popular with stsff and children alike. As part of our curriculLsm planning, we incorporate activities linked to our Eco mmitment teaching the children about Biodiversity and Healthy Lifestyles. We continue to grow our own fruit and veg in the outside area with the children taking part in planting seeds and caring for the plants as they grow and develop. The resources were purchased for the children to watch the life cycle of a butterfy in action and then releasing them back out into the wild once they had changed from the c£Jcoon to the butterfly. We have been encouraging our parents to take part in clothes swaps or providing nurserywith donations of old clothing lo be used as spare clothesfor children who may have a personal accident or get wet during water play or outside activities. We also provided evidence to the Eco schools team and was able to achieve our Green Flag Eco award for this year. Unit 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 18

The Mall Nursery and Creche Eco.Schools 2025-2024 This year following the learning journey of some of our regular children has shown that they have developed more social skills, communicalion and mathematical vocabulary. Due to our town centre location and non-connection with any specific school, families come to us from across Luton and a few from beyond Luton's borders. See chart below for breakdown. Unit 35. The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 19

The Mall Nursery and Creche LU4 5.8% LU5 1.3% LU3 4.5¥0 LUI 51.3% LU2 35.9% The Manager, deputy and supervisors have been monitoring closely each child's progress with a cohort system which enables the Key person to monitor areas for each individual key child. This monitoring has helped staff recognise areas in which (*ildren need extra support, if they are at risk of delay and this is planned for using the child's interests. This has been made even easy and more productive with the purchase of the Famly software meaning the computer can easily produce reports and assist in calculating results. Unit 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 20

The Mall Nursery and Creche Revlew of Targets for 2023-2024 To encourage more parents to join our parents committee Recruiting parents to join our management committee continues to be challenging due to parents not being available due to work commitments or being willing to take on such roles. We have recruited one more committee member this year and will continue to seek more parents to take up membership with the current Mana ement committee. We finalised the consent to trade in October 2023 and opened the new ex anded s ace in Janua 2024. Due to the other building work taking place to adapt the new area to be more suitable for the needs of the nursery and to make the required adaptations to ensure it is fully compliant and safe for the children to access. This target has not yet been achieved. As part of our curriculum planning. we incorporate activities linked lo our Eco commitment teaching the children about Biodiversity and Healthy Lifestyles. We continue lo grow our own fruit and veg in the outside area with the children taking part in planting seeds and caring for the plants as they grow and develop. The resources were purchased for the children to watch the life cycle of a bUtte￿Y in action and then releasing them back out into the wild once they had changed from the cocoon to the butterfly. We have been encouraging our parents to take part in clothes swaps or providing nursery with donations of old clothing to be used as spare Clothes for children who may have personal accident or get wet during water or outside activities. To finalise the process for consent to trade for the additional Spa￿ for the expansion To install a fully working kitchen Continue with our Eco work and reducing our carbon footprint Unit 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 21

The Mall Nursery and Creche We also provided evidence to the Eco schools team and was able to achieve our Green Flag Eco award for this year. To identify an appropriate area to have a sensory room. Unfortunately, this target was not achieved due to the identified spa for this area being needed to create a bigger staff room area. Therefore, we were unable to create a sensory area. Due to the expansion and recruiting new staff, the old stsff room was not an adequate space for all staff to sit and relax comfortably during their lunch break and they would often leave the setting to sit and eat lunch on the floor outside the nursery in the shopping centre area. Based on this providing a more relaxing adeqLsate space for staff was a bigger priority, to ensure we maintsin a good level of wellbeing for our current and future staff team. Staff to access training in relation to the EYFS updates. Management accessed training on the new EYFS requirements that come into effect in January 2024. Some changes were made to meet the new requirements with the ratio of staff for the 2+ children increasing from 14 to 1-5. This will have a positive impact on remaining sustainable as it will reduce the cost of staffing the 2+ room and supports incfeasing our availability to offer spaces to the younger children. We will seek to identify an appropriate area to tum into a sensory room in our future lannin Unit 35. The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 22

The Mall Nursery and Creche Tar ets for 2024-2025 To seek infomiation and guidance to change our Ofsted registration to be registered lo take children under 2 Due to the expansion of the nursery space, we are now in a position with the available space for a baby room. The local authority and Ofsted will be contacted to gather information and guidan￿ as to what would be needed to change our Ofsted registration to be approved to take children under 2. New equipment will be purchased to equipped the roorn with reSoUr￿S suitable for under 2's Parents will be informed during their child's induction day of our management committee and their role when taking an active part in nursery lrfe. A welcome gift in the fomi of a hamper will be given to those who are willing and approved by Ofsted to join and an incentive voucher for every meeting attended. Such as a £5 - £10 Greegs or Greenfields Restaurant gift card. This will also support the local business located in the shopping centre next to the nursery. We will formulate a welcome pack for parents willing to join the management committee outlining the roles and responsibilities of the committee and information to inform them of the suitability checks which will be carried out for them to be approved by Ofsted as a suitable candidate for the role. This paperwork will include the pre-school constitution and the nursery's latest Ofsted re ort. Due to the continued increase with occupancy and expanding the space available we will advertise and recruit new early years practitioners and continue to offer apprenticeship opportunities to ensure aduluchild ratios are maintained. To encourage more parents to join our parents committee Recruitment Unit 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 23

The Mall Nursery and Creche Prornote continued Personal, Professional Development. We will encourage our staff with level 2 qualifications to aC￿sS further studies to increase their qualification to the next level. Nursery will contribute to the cost of this training to ensure staff are able to access this training at no cost to them personally. All staff are required to attend all Core training such as Safeguarding and First aid. It is significant for staff to undertake appropriate training to enhance practice and professional development. Training needs of staff will be Glosely monitored by Nursery Management and the required training will be bix)ked for the next available course. Due to holiday club numbers remaining low we will seek opportunities to advertise the nursery within the wider community. Due to holiday club being offered to children up to 7yrs 11m we want to reach a target audience for the older ¢hildren not ust under 5's. We will continue to ensure all children are given ac￿SS to the same opportunities ensuring even our more deprived children are given the opportunity to access similar experiences to those more privileged. We will arrange trips at little or no cost to parents and have in setting entertainment such as, the pantomime. bouncy castle, face painting etc. Marketing Promoting Gultural capital The financial aspect of these tsr9ets has been taken into consideration, the expense for the overall cost of marketing and promoting cultural capital, the cost of equipment to resource the baby room will be quite significant. Based on this, additional funding will be sought where needed for smaller projects like our Eco work. To ensure thal the nursery remains sustainable we will work towards the targets highlighted above, these will be costly and there is a budget to adhere to. Further developments for the nursery will be detailed during the next financial year. Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 24

The Mall Nursery and CreGhe Financial Review Income for the Gentre during the financial year 2023124 came from the funding of nursery education places and parent fees. Fees and grant income are supplemented by support from The Mall with their continuing donation of unit 35 rent free and other initiatives or gifts in kind including many items sourced from In Kind Direct. The added value of donations, gifts in kind, free or ￿dUCed cost support and goodwill from employees at The Mall and olhers in our community enable us to provide our users with quality services at value for money cost. Our Ihanks go to all Concerned and we Gould not operate at the same level without your ongoing support. The results for the year ended 31 March 2024 are set out in the statement of financial activities on page 29. The position at the end of the period is shown in the balance sheet on page 30. The charity has one major source of income: Govemment Nursery Grants and one major expense.. Staff wages. Grant income is dependent upon child registrations, and this cannot be detemiined until the start of each term. However, there is comfort in knowing that there is good demand for places, and the setting cuThently has lengthy waiting lists for 2- and 3-year-old children. With plans to further develop the nursery there are numerous factors that could potentially affect the future financial performance of the setting. This includes building work that will need to be carried out to ensure the premises is secure and safe for children, staff, and parents to access. Furthermore, now we have consent to trade from the additional space, we will incur several charges such as: rent, service charge, increased rates, and any further maintenance cost. Expanding the setting will also require the hiring of additional staff lo maintsin ratios for the increase in children that can be enrolled onto our registers. Moreover, the setting also providesfree lunches to vulnerable children who have been identified with child protection or a Ghild in need concems. To ensure that every child is provided with the same opportunities the nursery also made the decision to cover a large percentage of the Cost of the trip, asking parents for only a small contribution. This granted 2 seats on the coach as well as access to the zoo. However, on future trips the nursery will substitute the entire cost, this will ensure that even our lowest income families are still able to attend should they wish to do so. If every child on our register decided to attend the end of year trip with their parent this would increase the cost significantly (once nursery begins covering the full bill). Unit 35, The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 25

The Mall Nursery and Creche Investment pollcy The Charity holds cash on deposit with Santsnder. This cash has a maturity date of less than one year. The Charity holds Ihis money for investment purposes rather than to meet short temi cash commitments as they fall due. Reserves The truslees aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level which equates to eight months of total projected charitsble expenditure, which is reserves of £312,000. The trustees agree that this amount would reflect sufficient time to seek altemative funding should existing funding SoU￿eS cease, as well as tsking account of the increased future lease and other costs resultant from expanding into an adIa￿nt unit. The total held as unrestricted funds at 31 Mar¢h 2024 was £571.405. There was £9,304 that can only be released by disposing of fixed assets (excluding the improvements to unit 19 ￿Vered by the designated fund), designated funds relating to the future depreciation on the building improvements to the new unit 19 expansion to be written off over the 5-year temi of the lease of £88,991 and restricted funds of £2.452. This results in free reseNes of £470.658. This is £158,658 more than the reserves policy. As noted in the treasurer's Teport there are anticipated costs of circa £50,000 pa to be incurred over the next approximately four to five accounting periods relating to the new unit from additional annual costs of rent and rates, staff and other incidental running costs. Additionally, approximately a further £30,000 of costs due to the increase in minimumlliving wage, additional out of setting activities, such as educational visits in line with our planning themes and edU￿tiOnal programmes, which will need to be covered by these reserves. Approved by the trustees on 24 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by: Yvette Watson Chairperson 24 January 2025 Unit 35. The Mall LU12TW. Telephone [phone] Registered Charity Number 1031348 Page 26

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SrATL1tE￿ry OF FLNK)CIAL A￿t￿lIEs rthe Yt*rEmded31.M￿(kIo24 Totsj 2023 2024 Ineomefrorn.. 38.IKW) 456,654 38.IMM) 467,951 38.( 41A104 11297 375 375 6J03 527 71495 71495 53,622 578.827 11297 59),124 514.159 450 12.943 5.124 465￿12 5,718 419,038 11.640 591 451263 18.067 469,330 430,678 N¢¢kntt)thÈl It4)eMdkue l27J64 16.7701 120,794 83,481 14&15 18.6181 &618 NetMovtmEAt￿ 118.946 120,794 83.481 Totsi fulld5 i￿￿b¢ fwwud l4&15 451459 453.063 369,582 Totaifunds eurltdfOrn￿d 14& 15 571,405 2,452 573857 453,063 P4e29

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STAILMthY OF CASH FLO145 24 2023 269.686 87,953 Cajh ljoiy frDthj*we￿1lCf￿Il￿l 112.077) 6J03 186,6931 182.993 76,782 455fi75 378,893 638,( 455 675 P¥31

Tr4OTKS TO ThESTATEMLYfoF CASH FtAJIIS Ttsrthe YearE•dtdJl Mar¢b 2024 ￿￿ONcIL[AlloN OF NÉT LNCOME TO ￿ CASH FIKJW FROMOPEPATtNG AcmTllES 2024 20 12(k.794 16J031 9298 14.456) 150J53 269,086 83,481 19)61 8,138 1.147 13,4>7) 87,953 CASH AI¥D CASH KomvALENTS 2024 s￿,912 52,756 403383 s22￿2 638,668 455.675 ANALYSIS OF CHANCES IN NETFUNDS At31J.Z4 Nrt¢* 455.675 182.993 638.é68 Totsi 455.675 182.993 638.668 P4eJ2

f4OlES TO IHE FLY￿￿clAL STATEMENrs fvtthtYtsrEJbdtd 31 21124 Accouf4TENC FOLtCIÉS () Charlty ￿Orma￿ lTr&) Bh ofprtprath Icl GowgCo*¢tr Id) F￿d l¢} I]btytht Pa8e 33

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for the YfarE•drd31 2024 ACCOUNTL¥¢ POIJCIES It￿￿￿41 11) {) Do￿t￿lFd11tl (b) Crni Totsi Totsi 2024 202J 454.154 434.154 5￿,937 6,150 10.017 8.817 8.817 I.5￿) 456.654 11397 467,951 416.104 In the pyitt year wixne fr4XD ￿￿￿￿£4]￿1010f wthith £16,167wAsatyrQ￿Ets)¥E￿TthI fityi%wd£399.937 2023 6J03

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forth¢ Yor llld¢O 31 2024 Thet(rtai empJoyeelKDefi15of th kry ￿$38612023.. £672741. Net EApellthTrrehrthe Y 2024 1.5(K) 2,370 8,138 2,304 9298 Total l At(d2023 IWL,440 83 4Q630 9,689 l43,070 At31 Motch2024 185,747 50,319 236.066 At l ApiJ20 J95 6J61 38.078 2.937 128,473 9298 At31 m￿2024 96,756 NetB¢xQVfi At 31 ma￿h2O24 88.wl 98295 At 31 Marth2023 2J52 14J97 Page37

NOTLS TOIHE FLYLICIALSTATEMETr4TS rvrth¢YearE*dtd3J Mu¢k 2L124 io 51756 51756 52,292 Deithrs 2•14 371 5501 1215 201 5.8T2 ,416 12 2023 756 16,423 150847 3.750 168.978 18,625 20 139.652 139652

NOTFS TOTHg FtP4AYCIAL sfATEMENrs fortkt YtarK•dcdJl 2024 13 T•tsi F￿th 20 FIX￿ 98,2 644,540 {168,9781 042￿88 {168978) L452 571,405 2.452 373,857 Total 2D2Y Futh 14597 45Q487 (18,6251 14,597 457,091 118.6251 452.459 453,063 14 01-Apr-11 & tr**thn 3J.Mar.24 442,059 10,4(M) 578827 (451WI 1872091 7&591 482,414 88,9>1 452.459 578.827 {451263) 571,405 L'nre5tlltt￿F￿ts. Prkir Y 01.Apr-22 31-M4TrLI 368265 497.gn {411 113,l491 10.4(K> 442,059 10.4(K> 3(é265 497.ty2 411.049 2.749 452 459 P4e 39

for the Y￿r Ended 31 2024 15 G*kn4 •i•ApTr 31-Mar-24 8.618 ETrTP 8.817 1696 2.452 11297 8.618 2,452 01-Apr.22 3J-M•r-13 6.150 19.135 {10.4911 2.749 1.081 lJ17 16.167 119.6291 2.749 16 Rtknttd Party 17 18 14.4¢X 44,613 59.013 thc)f4Tk¢albJ £5.78712ff23..sj￿[)