Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31[st ] August 2024
Full name
Frampton Community Playgroup
Registered charity number
1036095
Principal address Frampton Village Hall, Middlegate Lane East, Frampton, Boston, Lincs, PE20 1AU.
Trustees Chairperson – Seanna Kerslake Treasurer – Vacant. Secretary – Joanne Clark. Committee members - Susan Simmons, Karen Morris, , Natalie Bussey, , Lucy Purdy, and Megan Simmons.
Senior employee
Sue Simmons, Pre school Manager
Governing document The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution dated 1[st ] March 2011.
Overall management of the charity is the responsibility of the trustees who are selected when they show an interest in becoming members and attend a meeting, and if they are still prepared to help, then they are elected on by two existing committee members.
Day to day project activity is managed and carried out by volunteers and paid staff.
Bankers Lloyds TSB Bank PLC, Market Place, Boston, Lincolnshire.
Independent examiner Ayesha Smith, FMAAT registered member in practice.
Aims and objectives The principal object of the charity is to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups. We run for the benefit of the children who attend. We are not a profit making organisation.
Activities We provide care in a stimulating and nurturing environment for children aged two to four years every weekday during school term time from 9.15am to 12.15pm. We are a committee run provision. We are Ofsted registered enabling us to maintain a high provision of care, by involving parents in the everyday running and decision making. We are inspected regularly by Ofsted. Our main aim is to provide opportunities for play and social experience during the important pre-school years. We ensure that all our staff are trained or are currently undergoing training to a high standard of qualification. We pride ourselves on a high ratio of staff to children to ensure that each child gets the time spent with them that they need. Each term the children are sent home with a ‘homelink’ book, which keeps their parents informed about their development and progress. Children are also further supported with individualised learning.
Summary of the main achievements during the period .
We have had a successful year. With us being full for some part of the year.
Staff have continued to update their knowledge attending different courses and workshops.
We celebrated and took part in many different events and celebrations, giving children an array of new knowledge and different experiences, such as “Chinese New year”, “Bee
day”, “National Cheese Lovers Day” , “National Pizza Day”, “Christmas and New year”, “Easter”, “Mothers and Fathers day” and many others which we linked to the Early Years foundation stage.
We fundraised for national charities which included “Christmas Jumper Day”, children in need and comic relief.
We celebrated “WORLD BOOK DAY” where the children chose to dress up in their favourite book character and bring in one of their favourite books.
In June and July we had extra transition sessions for the children who were going onto schools and the feeder schools visited us to meet the children,
We ended the academic year with an outing for the children and parents, where we went to a childrens park “Millers Woods” .
Once again, workload increased due to a number of children with additional needs who needed extra support.
Working with other organisations and networks We work in conjunction with Children’s Links, as we are one of their members, and we work closely with Early Years consultancy support from Lincolnshire County Council and the speech and language service. They are available to give us help and guidance where necessary, on a wide range of issues from training and education to help with premises, and every day running issues. We are also members of the Early years alliance.
Managing major risks The biggest risk this last financial year have again been the ever increasing running costs that we have to deal with, as we have to ensure the group remains financially viable, alongside having to deal with the and all the extra responsibilities that that are always being changed.. We are also under pressure to continually replace items. Everyday expenses like wages, rent, consumables etc, have increased again over the past year, and due to increase even more over the next financial year. The increase in paperwork required for tracking and management has significantly increased our wage bill yet again, as staff seek for overtime payments for necessary / mandatory work they have to do. We try to manage this by keeping costs to a minimum. The group has been running for over 30 years and so far has not been in any serious financial difficulty.
Other than finances the group struggles to attract volunteers to take on major roles within the group for any length of time, although we do seem to have some new parents to the group that are beginning to be more interested in a committee role. Due to the transient nature of children through Playgroup to Nursery, adults do not stay on the list of trustees (as a rule) for long enough to provide stability. Existing trustees are trying to promote the group and the benefit that other trustees can bring.
Other information Preschool supports children with special needs and will accommodate where possible. We are also a member of the Early years Alliance, who keep us informed of changes in education and provide general help where necessary.
The charity’s policy on reserves The preschool was able to initiate a reserves account some years ago. In the last year we haven’t added funds to this account. We now hold a minimum 6 months operating costs as reserves, and in each month this year have had up to six months in working capital at all times. As such, we are now working well above the Charity’s Commission suggestion that it is best practice to hold six months running costs. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Signed- Susan Simmons Date.. 4,5•.25
Frampton Playgroup Accounts to 31st August 2024
Overview:
| Overview: | |
|---|---|
| Starting Balance: | 14,898.01 |
| Income to date: | 73,149.43 |
| Expenditure to date: | 66,273.09 |
| Profit / Loss: | 6,876.34 |
| Current registered cashflow Amount: | 25,865.39 |
| Transfer to Reserves | |
| 21,774.35 | |
| Reserves Account to date: | 25,502.83 |
| Total playgroup has: | 51,368.22 |
| Income to date: | 73,149.43 |
| Fees from parents | 11,457.25 |
| Early years funding | 61,428.98 |
| Fundraising | 13.20 |
| Donations | 250.00 |
| Refunds / Rebates | 0.00 |
| Other | 0.00 |
| Expenditure to date: | 65,561.82 |
| Rent | 4,542.00 |
| Wages | 52,362.00 |
| Petty Cash | 738.98 |
| Consumables | 2,938.26 |
| Equip. | 1,334.49 |
| Admin. | 2,161.59 |
| Accountancy | 976.00 |
| Courses | 45.00 |
| Other | 463.50 |
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Frampton Community Playgroup For the year ended 31[st] August 2024
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(3)(a) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under section 43(3)(a) of the 1993 Act);
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follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act); and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
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proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the
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Act); and
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accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and
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comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act.
or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
05/05/2025 Signed_______ Date_____ ageaha Sindh Mrs Ayesha Smith FMAAT