Trustee Report
This has been a very difficult year for us all, but particularly for the staff and children at preschool. The COVID pandemic really turned into a baptism of fire for the new manager following the departure of Emma. There were also the further staff departure of Lisa M and Lisa W to contend with.
Following the excellent work of the Treasurer who called out our declining financial position last year and which prompted us to change the direction and emphasis for the new management team. Clear understanding of ratio management versus staffing costs was called for, along with the tight control of other costs. Without this essential change Preschool would have rapidly headed towards serious financial problems. Not only is this not acceptable to the charity commission, LCC and OFSTED, more important to me is that this wonderful setting remains at the heart of the community and continues to provide a firstclass early years education, as it has done for over 30 years. I am very happy to say that those measures have born fruit and our financial position is much healthier and managed in a professional way.
The pandemic really did force the Committee to take a distant seat, but with Preschool operating with either no or minimal children at various stages this proved an ideal time for the new manager and deputy to examine and focus on other areas. We have cultivated a good working relationship with School next door and all the issues around maintenance and care taking have been resolved. Several fruitful conversations have been had with the sustainment consultants at LCC, covering topics such as maintenance costs, future lease negotiations and finance.
Clearly our normal fundraising could not take place either, however the staff did a sterling job when the children returned, raising money with a raffle and photograph sales. We were also chosen by Lindum Group to receive a donations of a wooden sand table, toy box and bike shed produced by their scheme to help people back into work.
Preschool has been operating since Christmas at full capacity after the various periods of lockdown with key worker and vulnerable children only. Many parents chose to keep their children safely at home until after Christmas when the majority returned. It is to the credit of staff, parents/carers and the children that COVID has fundamentally been kept at bay. I can only thank everybody for their patience, understanding when difficult decisions had to be made and good oldfashioned common sense, something that will be required in abundance when moving forward.
The Committee will start to meet face to face more regularly, however the convenience of online cannot be ignored so I will propose that the Committee moving forward will utilise this facility more often. I will be brow beating the new parents for new members as I am acutely aware that parent representatives are falling away as children leave.
Finally, may I say a fond farewell to the children leaving us for Primary School, I know the staff will really miss them. May I also wish everybody well for their summer break.
Steve Green
Chair
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