Little John’s Preschool
Annual Report to 31 August 2021
This report was approved unanimously by the Trustees of Little John’s Preschool on 13.05.2022
Signed on behalf of the Trustees by:
Suki Kaur
Date: 13[th] May 2022
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The Management Committee present this report with the financial statements of the Preschool for the year ended 31 August 2020/2021
INCORPORATION AND CONSTITUTION
Little John’s Preschool is a registered charity (No 1036192) and is registered in England as a charitable company (No 7199734). The company was incorporated on 23 March 2010.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND OBJECT OF THE CHARITY
The principal activity and object of the charity is to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age. This is achieved by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of the children through a community Preschool held in rented premises at St John the Baptist Church in Clarendon Park, Leicester, and by offering play, education and care facilities five days a week. This is coupled with the right of parents to take responsibility for and become involved with the activities of the Preschool, whilst ensuring that our sessions are offered to all children, regardless of race, culture, religion, means or ability. We seek to encourage the study of the needs of such children and their families and to promote public interest in the recognition of such needs.
STATEMENT
“Little John’s Preschool – the place to play, learn and grow.”
BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
Little John’s Preschool has been running since late 2009, following a restructuring of the organisation previously known as The Park Playgroup.
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The Preschool is located in the Parish Centre of St John the Baptist Church in Clarendon Park, a community in Leicester with many young families. The Preschool premises are opposite the popular primary school of St John the Baptist. Whilst we are not directly affiliated to the School or the Church, many of our families find this proximity and connection convenient and many children move onto the foundation stage at St John’s School.
The quality care and education we offer enables children to learn and develop essential skills necessary for entry into primary school and beyond. We believe that the Preschool is an important stepping stone for developing skills such as social and emotional, communication, language, teamwork, and safety, and these enable children to play a confident and active part in their local community.
Our staff are a source of information and knowledge on many aspects of Early Years childcare and they share this knowledge and guidance with our families from the local community. Areas of support they are able to offer include advice on diet, mealtimes, oral hygiene, toilet training and behaviour management.
Little John’s Preschool is overseen by a Committee constituted of parent volunteers and Preschool staff. This gives local parents the chance to contribute to the development and education of their children, as well as gaining beneficial experience and skills through doing voluntary work. The Committee encourages participation in
community events and links with local businesses, educational establishments and charities.
MANAGER’S REPORT
Suki reported that, by the end of the 2020-21 academic year, there were 38 children on roll, of whom 5 were 2-year olds accessing 15 hours of funding and 32 were 3-4 year old children accessing all or part of their
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universal or extended funding (15 or 30 hours), and 1 privately paying 3 year old child.
During 2020-21, the Preschool continued working in partnership with parents through termly parent consultations, a joint workshop with St John’s School Foundation teachers around school readiness, oral health information programme and a new healthy cooking/eating program. Mandatory staff training in first aid, food hygiene and safeguarding was kept up to date. Preschool policies have been reviewed on a rolling programme by staff and signed off by all staff and Suki on behalf of the Committee. Due to lockdown COVID the numbers are slowly picking up, however we have total 38 children on roll.
COVID 19 has had a big impact on the preschool, when the lockdown was announced in March 2020 parents kept their children at home. At first the preschool opened to just 1 key worker’s child, eventually 3 key worker’s children were in attendance for 3 day a week. The summer term saw an increase in attendance of just 1 new child when lockdown was lifted. Unfortunately, Leicester then went into a local lockdown and all parent confidence disappeared, no further children signed up for attendance. As a result, we will enter the academic year 2020-21 with only 15 children on role for September 2020. In comparison we started September 2019 with 32 children on role, a reduction of 53% of children on role.
COMMITTEE’S REPORT
It is not possible to compare end of year children on role with the previous year as the preschool finished the year after enduring 4 months of lockdown and being open to children of key workers and vulnerable children only. This reduction in children will have a significant impact on the finances of the preschool for the year 2020-21 as the summer term is when the preschool generates a surplus income to offset the lower numbers during the next term. The Preschool is open Monday to Friday (10 sessions), to take advantage of the government’s offer of 30 hours’ FEEE to some parents. In line with its commitment to offering learning
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and support to under-3s, the preschool accepts FEEE and private paying 2 year-olds. Fees payable for under-3s have been kept at the same level as for over-3s for this year (£15.00 per 3 hour session)
The relationship with St John’s School and the Church continues to evolve in a positive direction with all leadership teams supporting these partnerships. Prior to the COVID 19 crisis the Preschool took part in School and Church events and services, which have also served as an opportunity to promote the Preschool. 12 of our FS1 school leavers went on to St John’s School, 4 children went on to Avenue Primary, 1 child went on to Launde Primary and 1 child to St Thomas More. We also had a SEND child who went on to Netherhall Special Needs School and 1 child left to attend the FS1 unit in their chosen primary school. Our proposal of a formal partnership with St John’s School has been put on hold by the new Head Teacher as she gets to grips with running the school. It has not been dismissed out of hand however; she is open to holding a discussion again with the preschool in 2021-22.
Two of the Fs1 staff and a member of the Toddler Room have spent time in the FS2 classes at St John’s Primary School, assisting the class teachers and bring back good practice ideas to further their practice and that of the preschool. Unfortunately COVID 19 lockdown happened before the final member of the FS1 team could spend time in the primary school. The staff that attended have all stated that it was worthwhile and enjoyable, and that they would like to do it again every year.
The Church continues to work through maintenance issues as they arise; a key issue is the COVID 19 compliance issues due to the Church reopening from September 2020 including cleaning and sanitising of the premises.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report was reviewed and approved. During 2020-21, taking into account FEEE funding received early, a small excess of income over
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expense of approximately £1,800 was made, this was less than the previous year due to numbers being reduced during the pandemic and the Local Authority paying for the numbers of funded children during the summer term based on spring term figures. As a charitable not-for-profit setting, the Preschool continued to subsidise activities such as children’s music and movement sessions and the Christmas party however due to the pandemic the end-of-year trip and party had to be cancelled. Instead the three key worker children attending at the end of the school year celebrated with a small pizza party.
The Preschool also supported the migration of children’s records and learning journeys to the Tapestry online software. The Preschool is legally required to offer a workplace pension scheme, which is administered by our accountant, current only the manager and deputy are enrolled. The Preschool also offers placements for students registered with one of the approved national apprenticeship schemes, which carry a set salary cost. During 2019-20 the preschool undertook to support an unqualified mature apprentice studying level 2 childcare and to support the previous year’s level 2 apprentice to gain level 3 in childcare.
TRUSTEES
Trustees for the charity known as Little John’s Preschool are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting and are known as the Management Committee. Candidates are proposed and seconded by the attendees of the AGM.
Trustees for the 2020-21 year were:
Rachel Young – Chair/Secretary
- Treasurer
Suki Kaur - Staff Representative
Working progress- Parent Representative
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Mellonie Flamson stood down from the role of Staff Representative as she will be leaving the preschool on 28 February 2021. Three Committee
members stood for re-election and the new preschool manager will stand for election as Staff Representative.
The results were as follows:
Rachel Young - Chair/Secretary
Working progress - \Treasurer Working progress - Committee Member Manager - Staff Representative
STAFF
Staff members for 2020-21 were:
Suki Kaur - Manager
Yvette Salmon - Deputy Manager and SENCO Manisha Rana – Senior Practitioner, and SENCO Nadiya Akhtar – Preschool Practitioner Julekha Ibrahim – Bank Staff Rafia Khan – L2 Apprentice
PLAN FOR 2020-21
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Increase child numbers to ensure financial stability and long term sustainability as the preschool has been hit very hard by the COVID 19 crisis and parents lack of confidence at sending children to a setting based in multi-purpose rooms.
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Continue to develop the preschool’s market presence within the area using social media, local amenities and groups.
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Continue to develop the relationship with St. John’s School and the Church.
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- Build on relationships with parents and encourage their involvement in
their children’s learning and development by active participation in the Preschool and in the Committee.
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Accounts (1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021)
Assets:
Cash at bank 1 September Cash at bank 31 August 1:1 funding not yet received
been met.
Liabilities:
Rent owed to Church FEEE paid early Insurance (PLA)
Receipts:
Cash at bank c/f Nursery Education Grant (NEG/FEEE/EYPP) Fees Job retention scheme Donations/activities Untaxed interest Commissions Pension refunded Payroll Grants/Funds /professional fees Total
Payments:
Professional fees Fees refunded Accountant fees Staff wages Pension Rent Consumables Office costs Equipment Training Entertainment & Activities
Registration& Insurance Marketing Cash at bank c/f Total
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2020-21 2019-20
£62,723.58 £60,861.14
£48,344.87 £62,723.58
- -
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2020-21 2019-20
- -
£21,067.76 £19,840.45
£948.19
2020-21 2019-20
£62,723.58 £60,861.14
£92,656.74 £88,554.94
£9,100.00 £13,652.50
£8,262.70
£164.35 -
- -
- -
25.82
£1,258.69
£165,903.36 £171,357.10
2020-21 2019-20
£4,506.80 £3,499.39
£1,913.00 £1,913.00
£92,642.37 £85,516.25
£2,240.13 £2,020.75
£10,732.00 £9,241.40
£1,394.76 £3,203.17
£1,254.82 £1,102.11
£529 £295.01
£243.23 £627.00
£81.00 £1,165.44
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£2,021.38 £50.00
- -
£48,344.87 £62,723.58
£165,903.36 £171,357.10
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the I rusteesl meinbers of Littlejohn's Pre School On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 Charity no lif any) 1036192 Set out c n pages Re >pective The charily's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsll.. ilities of The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and e,xaminer under section 144 of the Charities A¢t 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility lo.. examine the accounts urKler section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the prOdureS laid down in the general Direclions given by the Charity Commission (under section 14515}Ib} of the Charities Act. and to state whelher particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent My examination was Carried out in accordance with general Directions given examlner's statement by the Charity Commission. 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 conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence thal would be required in an audit, and onsequently no opinion is given as to whether the a¢¢ounls present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the Statement below. Inder*endent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my altenlion examlner's sL-:Itement (other than that disclosed below ') 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met.. or 2. to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounls to be reached. Please delete the words in Ihe brackets if they do not apply. Date: 2710912021 Signed: Name: M.Z Gara Relevant profélssional qualificatlonls) or body {if any): Chartered Certified Accountants SER March 2012
Jlddress: The Zak Partnership Limited 20 Ashfield Road, Leicester LE2 1LA Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matenal problems. IER March 2012
Glve here brlef detsills of any items that the examiner wlshes to disclose, NIA IER March 2012