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← St Nicholas Playgroup

2024-08-31-accounts

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP

Charity Number: 1034853

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the period ended 31[st] August 2024

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024

Charity Name: ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP
Registered charity number: 1034853
Charity principal address: North End Bowling Club
Beresford Road
Portsmouth
PO2 0NG
Our Preschool Committee:
Chairperson Debbie Goodyear until 10.06.2024 Jessica O’Rourke from 10.06.2024
Treasurer Jane Skinner
Secretary Amy Warner
Committee Member Carly McNeil
Committee Member Natalie Cole
Committee Member Sadie Alexander
Committee Member Michelle Kimber until 10.06.2024

St Nicholas Preschool has been established since 1962 and has provided childcare for 2-3 generations of families within the community. Our Ofsted inspections have been rated GOOD.

We provide term-time (38 weeks a year) childcare between the hours of 8.30am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old.

Preschool Aim

The aim of our preschool is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children can learn, thrive and feel safe. We follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) to support the children who attend our setting and work closely with families to prepare the children for school. Children are taught through games and play.

St Nicholas Preschool Objectives

Review of the Year 2023-2024

Finances

Bank and Cash Balances at 31.08.2024
Petty Cash £473.19
Main Preschool Account £98,013.72
Fundraising Account £494.58
Monies still to be paid into the bank:
Children’s Fees £156.00
Fundraising Monies £473.60
Learning Journey Money £45.00

Page 1

Fundraising Activities during the 2023-2024 period:

Christmas Ra�le 2023 £311.10 raised Easter Ra�le Event 2024 £162.50 raised

Preschool Fees

2 Year Olds
3&4 Year Olds		 2 Year Olds
3&4 Year Olds		 2 Year Olds
3&4 Year Olds
Preschool Fees – PayingFamilies
£5.00per hour
£4.00per hour
FundingRate 2023-2024
£5.90per hour
£4.69per hour
FundingRate 2024-2025 £8.49per hour £5.50per hour

The national minimum wage increased from £10.42 to £11.44 in April 2024. All sta� received an increase of £1.02 per hour.

We continue to get the majority of our income through funding with most of the children who attend our setting being entitled to Universal Hours, Extended (30 Hours), Working Parents Entitlement or 2-Year-Old Funding.

This year we had an increase in Funding income (£115,191.16) compared with last year (£93,880.22) but a reduction in the number of children paying (£4695.30) compared with last year (£9111.50). This was due to the Working Parents Entitlement being expanded and more children being able to claim funding along with the funding rates increasing.

Funding rates increased by £2.59 per hour for 2-year-olds and 81p per hour for 3- and 4-year-olds in April 2024 this has been one of the highest hourly increases in recent years which will positively benefit the running of the preschool, helping with the increasing minimum wage, pension, HMRC ERNI contributions and rent.

There were two children attending preschool who received additional SEND support during the 2023-2024 period this included additional SENDIF+ funding which equated to £4,817.12 this money was used to purchase resources and equipment to support their time at the preschool.

Rent increased this year by £609.00 due to the hourly rate rising from £8.50 to £9.00 per hour in September 2023.

Highest increases this year has been resources, HMRC ENRI contributions and Pension payments.

We paid less in sta� wages (due to the number of sta� reducing by 2 in September 2023)

It has become more di�icult to pay cash into the bank as local branches have closed and the post o�ice stopped allowing the use of paying-in books. A bank ‘deposit only’ card for use at the post o�ice was requested in September 2024 which will allow cash to be paid to the bank accounts at more local locations. We only accept cash when holding fundraising events and activities.

which will result in an increase in pension costs and related expenses.

Sta�ing

We experienced some sta�ing issues during this period as two members of sta� retired at the end of August 2023 which meant we started the new academic year with 8 members of sta� (previously having 10 members of sta� in 2022-2023).

A preschool assistant was promoted to the position of Deputy Supervisor which commenced on 01.09.2023. She increased her hours of work from 4 to 5 days a week in November 2023 to support this role within the preschool.

Page 2

A temporary member of sta� accepted the o�er of a permanent position in September 2023 and a new member of sta� joined us in November 2024.

A member of sta� went on long term sick which meant we worked with reduced sta� for a number of months. Existing members of preschool sta� covered the sickness absence, so we remained within the required adult: child ratios.

During the Autumn Term (September – December 2023) sta� were required to reduce their hours on 2 days of the week (Thursdays and Fridays) as child numbers were low, the other 3 days (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays) had higher child numbers so a reduction in hours was not required. Sta� reduced their hours on a rota basis until hours returned to normal by the Spring Term (January 2024).

Sta� attended training throughout the 2023/2024 period updating their knowledge about safer recruitment, autism, paediatric first aid etc.

The Year Ahead

We have a good number of children returning to preschool in September 2024 but will continue to market and promote the preschool locally to increase numbers.

payments, drop in child numbers, sta� recruitment.

We forecast a minimum rent increase of 50p per hour each year. We have a good relationship with North End Bowling Club and negotiate the rent increase annually.

We will continue to hold fundraising events to raise money for equipment.

We will be applying for a business debit card, the preschool trustees will be looking at how this will be managed before the card is issued.

We recruit trustees by canvassing parents by speaking to them directly, sending regular newsletters and email drops to give them information about what the committee does and the role it plays in running the preschool. We ask for new members to join us.

We hold our AGM between January and June each year.

continually reviewed.

The annual report was approved by the Trustees of the charity and signed on its behalf by:

Jessica O’Rourke Chair

Date:

Page 3

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP

Registered Charity No 1034853

Statement of Financial Activities For the period ended 31st August 2024

Income
Donations
Fees
LA fees
Send income
Other income
Interest income
Total Income
Expenditure
Staff costs
Staff wages
Staff NI
Staff pension costs
Staff welfare
Staff training courses
Rent of premises
Administration expenses
Telephone
Resources
Advertising
Insurance
Postage
Repairs and software expenses
Stationery
Cleaning
Memberships and subscriptions
Music licence
Miscellaneous expenses
SEND
Discos, parties and snacks
DBS checks
Depreciation toys and equipment
Other financial expenses
Bank charges
Professional fees
Accountancy
Payroll bureau
Total Expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 31 August
2024
Total
£
1,444
4,209
115,191
4,817
-
4
125,665
84,388
7,050
2,527
196
923
11,305
744
4,948
-
1,291
7
50
1,893
357
261
131
1,096
-
359
139
556
221
600
615
119,657
6,008
6,008
94,890
100,898		 31 August
2023
Total
£
598
9,228
116,251
12,240
-
2
138,319
92,546
3,111
1,861
74
-
10,696
442
4,406
171
1,040
-
10
1,766
311
250
118
210
248
376
311
698
209
600
714
120,168
18,150
18,150
76,740
94,890

Page 4

Registered Charity No 1034853

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP

Balance Sheet
As at 31st August 2024
Tangible fixed assets
3
Current assets
Debtors and accrued income
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities
Accruals
Deferred Income
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds		 31 August
2024
£
2,196
156
99,026
99,182
480
-
480
98,702
100,898
100,898
100,898		 31 August
2023
£
2,752
642
91,976
92,618
480
-
480
92,138
94,890
94,890
94,890

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

…...................................... Jessica O’Rourke

Date:

Page 5

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP

Registered Charity No 1034853

Notes to the financial statements For the period ended 31st August 2024

1. Accounting policies:

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The account have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued in October 2019 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.

St Nicholas Playgroup meets the definition of a public benefit entity under section 34 of FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transactional value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2. Employees

Average number of employees in the year was 9 (2023: 9).

There are no employees who received total employee benefits or more than £60,000 (2023: £60,000).

No trustees received remuneration or were reimbursed for expenses in the year (2023: Nil).

3. Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
At 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024
Depreciation
At 1 Spetember 2023
Charge for the period
At 31 August 2024
Net book values
At 31 August 2024
At 31 August 2023		 Equipment
Fixtures &
Fittings
Total
808
7,586
8,394
696
4,946
5,642
28
528
556
724
5,474
6,198
84
2,112
2,196
112
2,640
2,752

Page 6

ST NICHOLAS PLAYGROUP

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Nicholas Playgroup

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] August 2024 which are set out on pages 4 to 6.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

….……………………….. Kerry Lawrance FCA

Date:

Compass Accountants Limited Venture House, The Tanneries East Street, Titchfield, Hants. PO14 4AR