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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
RegiSte￿d Charity Number 1031348
Page 14

The Mall Nursery and Creche
3+ Room
Unil 35, The Mall LU1 2TVV. Telephone 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
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 01582 458545
Registered Charity Number 1031348
Page 26

]w29 to40.
Act 2011 I'the Act'l.
which1sa￿of1b¢]1wjTr￿*&.
P¥27

INDEPENDEYf ￿￿MINERs IIEPORT IX)TUE TRLsfEES OF
THE MAl￿N￿￿ERy ATr41) CRECHE [t{￿t￿lI￿￿)
kACwAFCA
Mitk*& Co
S knwMIC(R
LU4 8FE
27hlliwy2025

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

20
14597
5172
51756
585.912
lJ16
n2W2
403 J83
457,091
io
12
(161978)
118.6251
475JQ
438.4fO
NET ASSBI8
573.857
l4
571.405
452.459
1452
573.857
453,063
241￿Y2￿25

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&) B**h ofprtp*rath
Icl GowgCo*¢tr
Id) F￿d
l¢} I]btytht
Pa8e 33

rortht Ewlrd31 V4rth 2024
AccouffTP4G POLlCtES
(f) ￿pen￿¢&
wt*rtA babiltyis I￿ur[W
Co
(bl Flxed A￿tts
li) T1￿￿&re￿ita]LSCd irwed fixjutt th l )YlY￿¥JOX5l￿￿•st£9Ab llry*¢v•lwl atl
3.4)rn5
(l) PeDIiDRI
{k) OprTrthKI**

for the YfarE•drd31 2024
ACCOUNTL¥¢ POIJCIES It￿￿￿*41
11)
{*) Do￿t￿lF*d11tl
(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 w*ixne fr4XD ￿￿￿￿£4]￿1010f wthith £16,167wAsatyrQ￿Ets)¥E￿TthI fityi%wd£399.937
2023
6J03

NOTLS TOTtIE Fly￿}cIAL 5TATEMETr
forthe YuTEJd¢d31 MArrb 2•24
ch￿knb￿ S•p￿rt¢*
S•ppDrt
Totsl
2024
Totsi
2023
i(QJ48
.612
5,718
419.038
5.718
305.782
163548
469,330
S•Fg0rt Auty
20
91,568
9298
80J53
8.138
3.747
38,th)
3,149
3.870
49,486
163548
143257
£4512631202J. £411.0491 wa% tOWuB¥J￿fi1th.
2024
J24273
10.563
3.842
301.188
4.894
4J35
338 678
3IO,617
2023
No.
18
18
21

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￿[)