## **Goslings Playgroup** ## **Registered Charity Number 1031887** ## **Trustees Annual Report** ## **Presented to the AGM on 17[th] November 2021** ## **Chair’s report 2020/2021** My word what another year for all of us. Another year where some of us have not been able to rely on a routine, human contact, security, company which are all such important gifts to thrive both as adults and children. It is up to us as adults to ensure our children have these things and that can be emotionally and physically draining. At Goslings our staff have ensured this has been in place as much as they can and we thank them for this. With all the change and the unknown climate there has been a sense that people have been treading more cautiously. We have noticed fewer families enrolling with us and we have discussed this on several occasions whether it be because of our more restricted hours (not being able to offer as much as a private nursery) or, this 18 months parents not wanting to send their children into settings. We continuously discuss this and will try and make adjustments accordingly. Week on week our Goslings team, headed up by Sarah, consistently plan a balanced curriculum which not only draws on the children’s varied and changing interests but also our seasons and relevant themes such as Autumn, firework’s night and Diwali amongst others. All planning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage. They plan for gross and fine skills (big and small movements!) outside play, kinaesthetic learners, themed stories and much, much more. As the year post Christmas panned out and educational settings were shut Goslings shut for 2 weeks and then through discussion opened to a couple of key worker families who found the support, stability and routines for their children invaluable in such a turbulent time. We then managed to open after May half term for the final 7 weeks of term with all protocols, policies and cleaning in place. It was again due to the hard work of the staff with all the extra cleaning and safety measures in place that Goslings remained opened and the children thrived and, for most, got their last term there. We extend a big thank you to the whole team for their continued dedication to Goslings. In planning our activities for the year the committee members kept in mind the Charities Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **Policies** Policy documents were reviewed and amended as required in the summer term with Covid protocol added where necessary. ## **Staffing and staff development** The team at Goslings welcomed Charlotte Judge, Jo Branch, and Lauren Carroll and they have settled in really well. ## **Finances** It is with great sadness that we said good bye to our long serving treasurer Caroline Swindells this year. She lost her battle with cancer and our thoughts were very much with Goslings and her family throughout. Her husband Phil took on the role as he knew the procedures and has kindly offered to be our treasurer for the foreseeable future. We thank him so much for his hard work and for being able to take on this really important role particularly at the moment where the finances have been so tricky with Covid. Phil managed to secure a grant for us from Hertfordshire County Council which was for preschools who had struggled with fluctuating numbers, staff absences/ furloughing and thus finances. We are working hard to ensure every pound of our parents’ money, government money and the grant money counts as there are increasing pressures on every pound. ## **Fundraising** Fundraising this last year was again super tricky. We have managed a scavenge hunt, a photographer and a raisin fundraising idea. Goslings remains such a well-loved pre-school in Hitchin and comes very highly recommended by past parents. I am really delighted to be involved in such a community but am very aware that I haven’t been able to action quite as much as I would have liked in recent months due to my father in law dying and family situations. I thank Bethan and Phil particularly for their commitment and hard work behind the scenes in such tricky times. Hopefully be back in person soon! Gail Litterick Chairperson, Goslings Management Committee GOSLINGS PLAYGROUP Recei ts&Pa ments Account For The Year Ended 31st Au ust 2021 2020121 2019120 RECEIPTS PAYMENTS RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Fees Fundraising Grants DonatKJns Interest IDepo$rt wci 94.405.62 1.299.60 16.137.04 488.00 89.830.57 318.00 13.442.99 2.50 179.47 267.50 102.00 Staff costs.'- Salarte5 Training Unrforms Stsff Xmas me81 95.167.00 5S2.70 28.80 27S.00 92,699 32 756 00 8760 250.00 Premises."- Rent Meintena 5,890.00 1843.13 5,983.00 3,860.95 Catenng Insurance Consumables Equipment AdminislralK)n Ofsted registration fee Membershp ¥ubs" EYA Other payments.- 282.76 827.85 2,840.09 891.21 2.703.91 60.00 115.00 143.70 27.00 330.87 742.95 1,806.35 1,008.47 2.846.41 5000 11500 DBS chèck Lea￿￿j grft AGM eyn8e8 38.25 £112.332.84 £112.905.65 £103,773.53 £110,677.17 SurpluslDoficlt for t￿ yèar 572.81 -£6.903 84 Deflclt fr•r th& year 2020121 Surplus BIF from 2019120 Surplu$ CIF to 2021122 572.81 £31,73S.96 £31,163.16 BANK RECONCIUATION Clo$in Balance at 3181 Au Current ACco￿t Deposit Account ust 2021 £7.129.95 £24,033.20 £31.163.15 Phil Byford (Trpasurerl 19110r2021 rhael Fther IlrKkFendent Ey2minefl 19110r2021 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Goslings Playgroup On accounts for the year ended 31¥tAugust 2021 Charlty no (rf any) 1031887 Sot out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of th8 accounts of the ab¢)ve charity {'the TnJ8t°} for the year ended 3110812021. Rosponsibilitles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounls in accordance with th6 requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 (llhe Ad"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed th8 applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seGtion 145(5)Ib) of the Act. Independent examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me ¢aus8 lo believe that in, any malerial respect.. accounting records were not k8pI in a¢¢ordance wth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accoLbntin9 record8 I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: Iq Ll Name: i oHAeL %+-16IL Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body Ilf any): Address: LLOTC LoTfA gg LotrJr>oKJ (