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2020-12-31-accounts

Rainbow Corner Day Nursery

Chairperson’s Report – 2021

Introduction

My name is Carolyn and I have been on the management committee for 7 years now, this is my second year as chairperson, and unfortunately my last. I am handing over the reins to a very capable Sarah Warner, I will still be around and offering my support as deputy chair to both Sarah and the rest of the management committee. I love Rainbow and all the opportunities and life learnings they have given my 2 girls. I am mum to Emma, 9 & Katie 5 who both started Rainbow when they were 9 months old and both loved their time at Rainbow. I have seen members of staff come and go but one thing remains the same, the level of care my children have received has been and remains outstanding. The staff at Rainbow really make it make a special, relaxed and enjoyable place for our children.

Review of 2020

2020 was an incredibly challenging time for everyone, both personally and in their working lives. Rainbows handling of the pandemic and the impacts to the children, parents and staff was second to none. They made it their mission to keep the nursery safe for our children while trying to accommodate all the needs of the parents and staff. The financial impacts could have been devasting but with the incredible generosity of parents and the management exploring every avenue for government grants we managed to maintain the service and standard of care and ensure we met all our financial liabilities.

Firstly I would like to thank Debbie and Sandra for all their hard work and resilience at such a challenging time. They are not afraid to muck in and turn their hand to whatever is required whilst managing all the new requirements involved with keeping Rainbow open and maintaining the high level of care we have all come to know and love.

It is also extremely important to give a shout out to the other nursery staff who also, continually show commitment, dedication and understanding for the babies and children at nursery. They have gone above and beyond during the pandemic, working incredibly long hours, providing additional content for the children through Tapestry and keeping each others morale up through these incredible times. We have a great team of people managing and running the nursery which makes my role as chair incredibly easy.

The garden make over for pre-school has been great success and the children are having hours of fun outside in the fresh air. The new windows installed have assisted with the ventilation of the building so will also assist as the weather gets better and we see those soring temps in nursery which can make it difficult for the children and staff to keep cool and comfortable.

2021 Budget & Income Predictability

As a charity, our focus each year in terms of the budget is to at least break-even or hopefully make a small profit to put into the reserves. We set a budget each year and update our forecast each month to reflect our actual position for the months that have gone and use any new information we have to better predict the future months.

COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact to the budget and outlook for 2021. Due to restrictions on the number of children we are able to accommodate and a reduced interest in potential parents adding their children to the waiting list it puts Rainbow in a difficult financial position in 2021. As lock down eases we are starting to see an increase in interest so we will be keeping a close eye on the finances and reviewing the outlook each month to ensure we are covering our outgoings with the forecasted income. We therefore maybe required to review the fee structure later in the year, this will only happen if we feel there is no other option, this is not something we would look into or decide on lightly.

It has never been more important for you to keep us updated of requirements or changes to your childcare provision to help with our forecasting and planning.

Looking forward

2021 started with similar challenges to 2020, but with the vaccination role out and the hope we have been given that life may gain some normality we hope we will finish in a stronger position. There have been lots of learnings from the forced changes, some that may remain when life returns to normal. The children have adapted incredibly and we can all be proud of their resilience and ability to follow the new rules.

We have a fabulous team of dedicated staff that we are continually grateful to for consistently going over and above their role to ensure the highest standards of care for our children. I have no doubt we have another safe and great year here at Rainbow.

Fundraising

As a charity it is mandatory that we fundraise each year, as without it we would lose our charitable status. We understand that money and time are precious to everyone but if everyone can give a little then it spreads the burden and helps keep nursery running!

Parent participation within nursery is key, over the years we have had many fund raising events which have been run by parents, past and present.

During these social distancing times it becomes increasingly difficult to raise money for Nursery. Any suggestions as to events we can run, or an offer of running an event would be gratefully received.

Remember that if you don’t have the time to organise or come to an event, you can still support nursery’s fundraising by giving a donation –

Also, if any parent is interested in joining the management committee, we are always looking for keen, enthusiastic parents to join. We meet approximately 4 times a year, so be assured it is not onerous on your time.

Thanks Carolyn (Chairperson)

Introduction from Sarah Warner

My name is Sarah and I am mummy to George, 3 and Hamish who is only a few weeks old. George started at Rainbow when he was a year old and always looks forward to his days at nursery. The level of care and attention that all the children receive is second to none.

2020 has proved to be an incredibly challenging year for us all and has left no aspect of life untouched. As a result of Debbie and the whole team’s resilience, dedication and hard work, nursery has remained open throughout and despite all of the required changes, has remained an extremely reassuring constant to our children during these uncertain times.

I will be taking on the role of Chairperson going forward and would like to thank Carolyn for her hard work in the role over the last couple of years. I am extremely grateful to her for her continued support as Vice Chair.

Hopefully, with the vaccine rollout, there is now some light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel and we can look forward to life returning to as close to normal as possible. Watlington is extremely lucky to have such a wonderful nursery at the heart of the community and I look forward, along with the rest of the Management Committee, to providing continued support to Debbie, Sandra and all of the staff at Rainbow to ensure that it continues to thrive.

RAINBOW CORNER DAY NURSERY

MANAGERS A.G.M. REPORT 2020

After nearly 37 years of being nursery manager 2020 is one I will remember like no other! as I am sure you all will too. This time last year we had no idea what the year would look like and how we would all manage to get through it, but through trials and tribulations and extremely hard work and dedication from our staff team we have managed, at this time of writing to get by without any major problems. We have managed to keep the nursery open throughout the pandemic and kept everyone safe and well and most importantly our children have continued to develop, grow in confidence and positively thrive which is an immense relief to us all. However, we will continue as always to track and record the children’s progress and if we find any additional needs the children require due to the pandemic, we will address these in the usual ways.

STAFFING

As a manager I have always felt very lucky to have such a dedicated, well-qualified, experienced, hardworking staff team, but this year I could not be prouder of how they all in different ways proved their weight in gold. They have been positive throughout, willing to adjust to all the changes that the Government rules and regulations have asked for.

We had to completely re-arranged the nursery several times inside and out, building and moving partitions to provide the bubble spaces we required and have kept these in place to help keep the children and ourselves as safe as possible.

Staff have kept where possible to normal routines, helped concerned parents and most of all continued to be wonderful carers and teachers throughout what has also been an extremely worrying time for them and their own families. Some worked throughout both lockdowns providing key workers with childcare, others returned to work after the first lockdown whilst trying to sort their own childcare issues and home schooling at the same time. I cannot thank them enough for being such a great team.

I would also like to thank Sandra and Natalie for all their hard work in researching and implementing all the furlough scheme, grant/funding issues that were completely new to everyone this past year.

Compared to most nurseries we have a very low staff turnover, but things do change from time to time and since our last AGM we have said a sad goodbye to Graham and Sam.

As you know we’ve have had some staff shielding and for many months I myself took over the kitchen but when the second lockdown came, we felt we had to find someone else to take on this duty and we welcomed Cesar who has helped us immensely over the last few months.

TRAINING

Training continues to be a high priority and again even in the middle of the pandemic and working fulltime the staff have not shied away from this. They have all completed interactive training programmes including Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Fire Awareness and Equality and diversity to name but a few. We also have to say special congratulations to Sharon on also completing her Level 3 in childcare and education during this difficult time.

All Staff continue to update their early year’s knowledge whenever possible, Sandra, Susie and I have attended relevant Zoom/Teams meetings and training to help us keep up to date in this everchanging world. Although this is not as easy via the internet we will continue to keep in touch with new initiatives, bench marking, working patterns and networking within the childcare sector. This year’s focus is on new changes to the Early years Foundation stage.

We have a great working partnership with the Watlington Primary Foundation unit and school, Family Hub and Health visitor, and have continued to keep in touch virtually throughout the pandemic to help support one another.

POLICIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.

Policies, risk assessments, safeguarding and our self-evaluation are regularly updated and during the last year this has included all relevant Covid information. We use the Early Years Alliance, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board and OFSTED websites and of course this year the Government Covid19 sites to assist us with these tasks. Our policies reflect any changes made by OFTSED, the DFE or to the EYFS as well as changes we make ourselves. We hope you will take the opportunity to view a copy of these which are located in the operational plan in the lobby. Our Policies will be re-adopted during this AGM along with our constitution, please keep your eyes open for new notices and information posted within the nursery, newsletters, emails and Tapestry.

RECORDS OF ACHIEVEMENT

Please remember your children’s records of achievement and our Tapestry system are also available for you to see and contribute to at any time, the two year check which is completed by your key person when your child is between the age of two and a half - three years old is an additional but important assessment, we hope this helps you to share this information with your health visitor as this progress check helps to identify a child’s strengths and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected. If there are any significant emerging concerns this will enable staff and parents to develop a targeted plan to support the child’s future learning and development and seek other professional help if required.

OFSTED AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTION.

Our last OFSTED inspection was graded OUTSTANDING on 16/8/2018 all the Staff, Management team and the committee continue to work hard to keep this grade up to date with all the new revised changes and still provide a fun and varied educational day for your children even throughout the pandemic.

Environmental Health carryout spot checks from time to time, and on their last visit thanks to Carole’s hard work we kept our award of 5 scores on the doors Food Hygiene rating.

Good fresh home cooked food is a big part of Rainbow and we continue to adhere to any new health initiatives regarding healthy eating and a good balanced diet for under 5’s. Although this last year has been very challenging kitchen wise and we have had to reduce the menu slightly we have still been able to provide a healthy balanced menu throughout. However, at Rainbow we like to educate the children about all things in moderation and not extremes, so we do still have the odd small treat.

ALLERGIES

We often have children with severe allergies including some with EpiPen’s. We also have many other children with minor allergies and intolerances so we MUST ask you not to allow your child to bring food into Nursery.

ILLNESS

Our Staff, many of whom are parents themselves fully understand how difficult it is for you as working parents when your child/children are ill and you are unable to work, However, we must ask you to consider your child and the other children in nursery. I know sometimes you are called back from work to pick your child up when they are poorly at nursery only to find they seem fine when they get home but I can assure you we never send children home unless we really feel that they are too poorly or distressed to be at nursery. We all know that when we feel unwell the only place we want to be is tucked up in our own homes. Nursery is not the place for sick children who require one to one care. So please help us by being sensitive to your child’s needs and to the staff when these cases arise. We must also ask you to adhere to all the Public Health England advice including the 48-hour exclusions policy after the last bout of any Diarrhoea/Vomiting and this year to continue to abide by the governments self-isolation, lockdown and track and trace rules.

I want to thank you all for your understanding during this last year and also the parents who have been required to have their children tested for Covid (not a pleasant experience) but so far, we feel it has been well worthwhile in keeping Coronavirus out of Nursery.

DEVELOPMENT PLANS

We Manged to revamp of the Preschool Garden with a new climbing frame, artificial grass and fencing around the mud kitchen which has all been essential to keep to bubbles and give the children more time outside in the fresh air. We also had four new opening windows fitted to help with ventilation. This was all paid for from Fundraising and parent donations for which we are truly grateful.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

As Carolyn has explained in her report we are a registered charity and so every bit of free/discounted help we get is greatly received and this in turn helps to keep the nursery fees as low as possible. We know and fully understand that not all parents can spare the time to be a full committee member although this is not as bad a people think, however, there are many smaller but just as important and worthwhile things that parents can do to help Rainbow, for example helping

us with topics including your own work experiences, hobbies or outside contacts, helping with odd jobs such as DIY cooking or lending items from home to go with projects, helping on trips or with activities or simply reading a story before or after work, which of course your children will love.

This last year has of course been very different and we have not been able to invite parents in but we hope that will change later in the year so if you feel you have a hidden talent that you wish to share with us or think you can help in anyway please let us know we are always glad of your assistance however large or small.

In the past Parents and/or their contacts/work company have offered to complete both minor/major jobs in nursery cheaper or even free of charge like electrical, plumbing and DIY work, which can make a huge difference to our budget, all this really helps to keep the fees less than many other providers without skimping on the quality of our provision. We thank all the parents and staff that help with these tasks again this year, Caroline and the other committee members and of course Paul French who again this year have been there to help us in our hours of need. We ask you all to consider how you may be able to help in the future, whether it be fundraising, joining a committee or general help when required.

Fundraising seems to get harder each year as we know money and time is tight for everyone, but thanks to a really dedicated staff team and a few parents, even during a pandemic 2020 saw a total of over £1784.25 raised from our Easter and Christmas Hamper raffles, Christmas card sales plus other smaller fundraising activities like our jam and marmalade sales and our 5p Rainbow pots.

2020 also provided a huge amount of unexpected parent donations for which we will be eternally grateful as without these, the OCC grants and furlough from the government Rainbow would be in a very different position.

The initiative introduced by the management committee of parental voluntary monthly or annual donations has been very successful and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents and grandparents that have pledged donations so far. Whether large or small these donations mount up and add to our fundraising totals. They can also be gift aided via the Government Gift aid system and last year this provided us with an extra £812.35 on top of the donations themselves. If you would like to donate via a one off or a monthly/annual amount, we would love to hear from you.

Fundraising continues to be an important part of Rainbow and there are lots of ways of helping, if any of you can match fund events through your workplace please let us know and we can see how we can fit this in with forthcoming events.

We are very lucky that all the management committee members are happy to stay in office again this year, with just a swop of Chair and Vicechair we would like to thank them for the hard work and support they have given to the staff and nursery this year. We would like to especially thank Kiri who in the middle of the pandemic moved her whole family to Denmark and thanks to virtual meeting has and will continue to still been a major player on the committee. We do still have space on the committee and so if you are interested please let us know.

We thank our very dedicated custodial Trustees, Tim Jones, Tim Anders and Bruce Thompson who have been a part of Rainbow for many years helping us to maintaining the building and Lease.

I hope you will join me in thanking Carolyn, Sarah and all the other committee members and fundraising staff and parents for all their hard work. I cannot express how very important these roles are to the Nursery and we would not have what we have today without all the help and commitment from past parents and Staff, so please try and help whenever you can so we can continue in their footsteps.

Last but no means least I hope you will join me again in thanking all the staff for their pure dedication to Rainbow in what has been a year like no other.

Please continue to stay safe and well.

Debbie Hemmins

Nursery Manager

Early Years Co-ordinator’s report – March 2021

As we look back on the past year, we are able to reflect on the changes to our practice that COVID restrictions have forced upon us. Obviously there have been a lot of challenges, but we have also found some new ways of working that have had a positive impact on our children’s wellbeing and progress. We are currently looking forward and planning how we can incorporate what we have learnt over the past year with all of the good from the many, many years previous experience at Rainbow. Over the next few weeks we will share our plans with you.

We have been so impressed with how the children have managed throughout this time – they are the most resilient, flexible and positive little people it is impossible not to be happy when with them, despite what might be going on in the wider world so we consider ourselves very privileged to have been part of their lives throughout this, even when it was at the end of a Zoom call! Our parents have also been so positive and supportive throughout this difficult time, following any restrictions we have put in place which I know has not always been easy, so thank you all.

The staff at Rainbow have worked tirelessly throughout, again having to be very flexible in their ways of working and creative in coming up with solutions to all of the challenges that have been thrown our way. As always, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their ability to always be calm, enthusiastic and positive with the children even when they may be questioning things, worrying or just exhausted. Our children have thrived during this time, evident in how well they settle, how happy they are in the daily routine and tracking their academic progress, which is a credit to staff and parents alike.

Fundraising Committee Report – 2021

We have now been using the Pre-School garden with its new climbing equipment and artificial grass for a year, and it has been such a good investment! Needing to spend as much time as possible outside has been made much easier as it can be used in all weathers. The final section of the Pre-School garden is to be laid with artificial grass with a track and hopscotch over Easter and our next major fundraising project will be to raise money to do the same in the Babies’ garden area too – we will need to raise around £4000.

Over the past year, our fundraising efforts have been very limited by the restrictions of COVID, and we have had to cancel several planned events, but we have continued to find ways to keep much needed funds trickling in. We were delighted by the generosity of parents and the local community in supporting us during the first lockdown through a JustGiving page set up by one of our parents, and by all the donations that parents have given us during closure times.

Easter Hamper £233
Christmas Hamper £390
Christmas Cards etc. £388.97
5pJars £45

Over the next couple of months we have this year’s Easter Raffle to look forward to and also a sponsored “Run for Rainbow” that we will be asking people to complete in their own households. We hope that next year we will be able to run some bigger events with real socializing again, including a sponsored fun run and Family Fun Day, both of which have been great events in the past. We will start to use the notice board outside the front door to keep you informed of our fundraising events as well as Tapestry and email, so please keep an eye on this.

The committee is made up of both staff and parents and is ably led by Becky. We love to welcome new people with fresh feedback, ideas and contacts – so if you are interested in helping us please do get in touch, there is no huge commitment required!

Note 2020
€		 2019
€
Fixed asseG 4 95.289 84,460
95,289 84,460
CulrantAssets
Debtors &prepayments 6 4,280 3,586
CashatBank 116,A4 97,546
120.924 'to1.132
Currsnt Liabilities
Creditors
44,502 10,296
44_502 10.296
Net CunentAssets 76,422 90,837
Net Assets
17',t.711 175.257
Roptesentedby:-
Funds
Unrestricted
171,711
171,711 17s.297

lncomingReaources
Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 TotalFunds
€e 2020
e
20.t9t
2 (a) Fees &other income
Fees 378,682 378,682 373,215
Membership 3,758 3,758 3,632
Childcare vouchers 0 0 121,136
Grants&donations 49,357 49,357 7,256
2 (b|Fund raising income
Generalfundraising 1,784 1,784
2 (c) Other ordinary incoming resources
Sundries
Income frominve stments
lnterestfrom savings account
TotallncomingResources 433,623 0 433,623 512,114

3ResourcesUsed
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds
2020 2019
s € € €
3 (a)Direct expenditure
Materials 6,777 6,777 5,761
Perishable supplies 9,249 9,249 16,519
Toys andequipment 3,676 3,676 z,ouc
Outings 0 0 485
'19,702
3 (b) Fundraisingand donations
Generalfundraising 2,'t51 2,151 2,019
2,151 2,151 2,019
3 (e)Management and administration
Administration:
Salaries 391,495 391,495 387,896
Pension 6,804 6,804 5,955
EmployersNI 22,009 22,OO9 17,325
Furlough income received -73,329 -73,329 0
Uniforms 1,380 1,380 1,030
Training&welfare 1,580 'I,580 1,554
Staffxmasparty&gifts 0 0 1,752
Travel 143 143 102
Printing & stationery 2,563 2,563 3,735
Postage 432 432 138
Advertising 0 0 135
Telephone 1,256 1,256 1,307
Light & heat 2,707 2,107
Rent & rates 8,197 8,197 8,251
Cleaning 12,260 12,260 13,345
Subscriptions 717 717 179
lnsurance 2,946 2,946 3,068
Repairs&renewals 5,593 5,593 6,363
Professional costs 14,474 '14,474 15,227
Bank charges 272 272 306
Depreciation 13,757 13,757 9,449
Other items 100 100 126
415,356 415,356 479,350
Total ResourcesUsed 437,209 437,209 506,739

Fortheyea rended31stDecember2020 rended31stDecember2020 rended31stDecember2020
UnrestrictedRestricted
Funds
Funds		 Total Funds
2020
2019
lncomingResources Note€€eE
2
Fees &otherincome (a) 431,797 0 43'1,797 505,239
Fund raisinginoome (b) 1,784 0 1,7846,788
Other ordinary incomingresources(c) 0 0 0 0
lncome frominvestments (d) 42 0 42 87
TotallncomingResources 433,623 433,623 512,114
ResourcesUsed 3
Direclexpenditure (a) 19,702 0 19,70225,370
Fundraisingandpublicity (b) 2,151 0 2,1512,019
Management andadministration(c) 415,356 0 415,356 479,350
Total ResourcesUsed 437,209 437,209 506,739
Net (Outgoing)/lncoming Resources -3,586 0 -3,5865,374
Balances BroughtFoMard
at1stJanuary 2019(20'18)		 175,297 0 175,297 169,923
Balances CarriedForward
at3'lstDecember2020(2019) 711
Fixedassets
Building Fixtures& Total
fittingsand
Equip
€ € e
Cost
Balance broughtfoMard 195,958 56,258 252,216
Additions 2,764 21,822 24,586
Balance carried forward 276,802
Depreciation
Balance broughtfoMard 120,041 47,714 167,756
Charge foryear 8,383 5,374 13,757
Balance carried forward 53.088 181 ,513
Net assets@2020 70,298 24,992 95,289
Net assets@2019 75,517 8.544 84,460
Analysisofnetassetsbyfund
Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds
€ € e
FixedAssets 95,289 95,289
CurrentAssets 120,924 120,924
Current Liabilities (44,502) (44,s02)
Fund balance 171,712 171 .712
2020 2019
Debtorsandpnepayments
TradeDebtors 0 0
lnsurance
4,280
3,035
Liabilities: Amountsfallingduewithinoneyear
lnlandRevenue (PAYE ,NHl&VAT) O,OUZ
5,594
Holidaypayaccrual 27,024 0
Other creditors 10,875
4,702
__4,502___10 2e6
FundDetails 2020 2019
€ c
Therearenorestrictedfunds
0

Asatthe year endthere we retwenty permane
No€
Manager&Seniorstaff 6 148,326
Nurserynurses '11 168,394
Nurseryassistantsetc 5 20,084
Kitchenstaff 3 14,179
350,984

RAINBOW CORNER DAY NURSERY

CHARITY NO 1041396

TO THE TRUSTEES OF RAINBOW CORNER DAY NURSERY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

I have examined the statements on pages 1 to 8 which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on page 4.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustee and Examiner

The charity’s trustees of the charity are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out with general Directions given 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 concerning any matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a true and fair view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter had come to my attention (other than that disclosed below);

(1) - which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect the requirements:

(2) - to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Claire L Fenwick FCCA

18A Shirburn Street

Watlington

Oxon

OX49 5BT

RAINBOW CORNER DAY NURSERY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Accounting Policies