## **Chairpersons Annual Report – Jenny Crawford** Welcome to our Annual General Meeting for the year 2020-2021. Thank you for attending and supporting our preschool. Once again this has been a challenging year for us all, but we have survived despite everything that has happened. The pandemic was something we had not expected to cause so much disruption and demands on all staff and committee members. However, due to the commitment of our managers and staff we were able to meet all the necessary governmental requirements to ensure we provided a safe environment for all our children on their return in September 2020. Their hard work was more than rewarded by the children when they came into the setting with big smiles on their faces and quickly settled into the regime without any difficulty. It became increasingly clear that our numbers attending preschool and before and after school club were much reduced from a normal year. Therefore, some difficult decisions had to be made. After seeking advice from Worcester Children First it became clear that we had to concentrate on the survival of our core business, preschool. There was no way we could continue as we were without becoming financially unviable despite furlough, financial help from Worcester County Council, much reduced rent – our thanks to the Parish Hall Trust and some very careful budgeting. Informal discussions had already taken place with the headmistress of Crowle school re the provision of a before and after school service for school children. After much discussion as to alternatives and practicalities it was agreed we had no alternative but to close BASC immediately. Thankfully the school agreed to provide a service on a temporary basis in November – which became permanent in early 2021 and continues to date. This was a great relief to concerned parents. Unfortunately, one member of our BASC staff had to be made redundant and thankfully the two remaining staff were successfully assimilated into preschool. ## **Staff Changes** Helen Key left us in November to become an Early Years Practitioner in a Worcester nursery. Jane Hart left due to redundancy. Ruth Marlow left us in April 2021 Best wishes to them all. Becky Greenhill was appointed as Deputy Manager in January 2021 Katherine Burd appointed as Early Years Practitioner in May 2021 Welcome to Becky and Katherine who are already valued members of our team. Our Team. Tor, Becky and Louise comprise our Senior Management Team. I can’t thank them enough for their support and dedication to providing a first class setting for all our children. There are many aspects of running a successful preschool including continual demands from Ofsted in the provision of Early Years Foundation Stages which they have to ensure we are meeting at all times. The Team include Sam, Hannah, Katherine, Cathy and Sue. I would like to thank them all for their commitment and professionalism in providing an excellent service throughout this difficult year alongside managing to integrate all the necessary cleaning etc into the working day. The future looks exciting concentrating on the ‘curiosity approach’, use of more natural resources and increased outdoor activities. Everyone making an input to the exciting daily programme for our children. ## **Finances** Nikki and Sally will be presenting details of our current financial situation shortly. It just needs me to say our position is far better than it has been for several years. My thanks to them both for all their hard work and presenting budget/balance sheets in a way even I can understand. We have not been able to undertake any fundraising over the past months but, hopefully, we shall now be able to look forward to organising some exciting activities. Sam and Sue already have some ideas! ## **Management Committee** I must express my thanks to the committee for volunteering to become a trustee and thus ensuring Crowle preschool can continue to function and grow. Particular thanks to Caroline for taking on the role of Safeguarding lead – also offering to undertake the role of chair along with Kate. Thanks to Sally for becoming treasurer. Special thanks to Nikki who has agreed to continue for a further year - without whom we probably would not have survived. Gem is resigning tonight – good luck in your new home. We are now lucky to have Amy as part of the team. I shall be stepping down as chair tonight after almost four challenging years. It has been quite a learning curve, but we have made it and I feel confident that Crowle Preschool will now go from strength to strength. So good luck and I shall miss you all. Jenny Crawford CROWLE PRESCHOOL RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 6TH APRIL 2021 YEAR ENDED 06l¢vi121 YEAR ENDED 06104120 OPERATING RECEIPTS FEES NURSERY GRANT RECEIVEO TOTALOPERATING RECEIPTS 25.956 62,862 88￿18 71.538 62,C65 133.604 MER RECEIPTS FUNDRAISING INCOME INTEREST JOB RETENTION SCHEME INCOME TOTAL OTHER RECEIPTS 21 31 20.417 20,469 1,884 46 1,930 TOTAL RE(£IPTS 109.287 135.534 OPERATING PAYME14T5 RENT CONSUMABLES/NEW EauipMENT REFAESHMENTS SALARY COSTS STAFF TRAINING INSURANCE 7.032 1.643 I4.E￿Il 1,948 2,470 113,238 270 1,618 50 358 1.614 52 266 2.182 2.272 81.515 760 OFSTED EDUCATIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS CHILDREN'S ACTtTIVITES UNIFORMS GIFfs & FLOWERS FOREST SCHOOL COSTS RECRUITMENT, OFFICE & ADMIN CONSULTANL7 BANK CHARGES OTHER TOTAL OPERATING PAYMENrs 196 42 261 1.176 138 20 %,164 123 261 141.323 SURPLUSIIDEFIOT) FOR ThE Ywi 13,123 15.7891 CROWLE PAESCHO(X 8ALANCE SHEET AS AT 6 APRIL 2021 AESERVES ioij 2020 OPENING BALANCE SURPLUSIIDIFICITI FOR ThE YEA CLOSING BALANCE 51,6d5 13.123 64.761 57,A33 15.7B91 51.645 REPAESENTED BY 8ANK . GENIRAL 8ANK - FUNORAISING SHOR T TERM DEP05115 CASH 8.782 I,SJ7 53,519 11.977 1.686 37,487 495 51,645 64.764 The receipts and paymen15 occounts for the Year Ended 61h April 2021 the Bèlinie Sheet as al the 61h Apdl 1021 wefe appI0￿d by the ¢ommittee of Crowle Pre-school on 29th September 2021. N Deutsch Treasurer Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Irtd•p•nd•ni %x•rnln•r'* R•pwl Cth•rty r• •fty) wjw ¥*GI￿ 145(5Xbl R•l•YMt Pfol•••lwl Oct 2018