Trustees annual report year ending 31[st] July 2021
The trustees of Little Acorns Preschool are pleased to report our annual report for the year ended 31[st] July 2021 together with our audited financial statement for the year.
Reference and administration details
Charity name: Little Acorns Preschool Playgroup, Ingham
Charity registration number: 1044210
Address of charity: Ingham and Cammeringham Village Hall
The Green Ingham LN1 2XT Trustees: K Lane (chair) E Forrest (Treasurer) L Guy (Secretary) N Brown E Pringle
Independent Examiner: M C Skayman, AAT
Short Lane, Ingham, LN1 2YA
Objectives and activities
Little Acorns Pre school playgroup is a committee organised playgroup which provides Ofsted registered childcare, education and play for pre-school age children and a Breakfast and After School club for the local primary school.
Achievements and performance
This year has been another year with significant challenges posed by covid, but Little Acorns has remained financially viable and continues to provide excellent childcare.
We reopened our preschool and out of school club in September 2020 following a period of closure from March 2020. We had greatly reduced numbers (in particular in out of school club, partly due to the increased number of parents now working from home). Unfortunately with the second lockdown in January 2021 and the closure of schools (apart from keyworkers) it wasn’t viable to keep our out of school club open in this period. We part furloughed our staff for this
period to enable us to keep preschool open, and were pleased to fully reopen out of school club in March 2021 along with the reopening of schools. Our staff have worked hard as always to keep Little Acorns a safe, inclusive environment, encouraging and supporting the development of all children.
Financial review
Over this financial year Little Acorns made a loss of £4608.95. We had significant challenges this year with low numbers due to covid and lockdowns, in both preschool and out of school club, and limited fundraising opportunities. Whilst not ideal, we were fortunate to have the reserves to support the charity and ensure that it can continue to run. Looking forward we anticipate an increase in numbers, and fundraising possibilities, with the restrictions easing.
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
Little Acorns Preschool playgroup was registered on 16[th] February 1995. The constitution adopted is the Pre school Learning Alliance constitution document as amended 30 November 1999.
Appointment and recruitment of trustees
Trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Trustees can co-opt up to 3 further trustees any time after the AGM. The minimum number of trustees is 5 and the maximum is 12. The trustees are all either parents of children who use the setting, or those that have previously used the setting (our constitution specifies a minimum of 60% current parents/guardians).
Trustees’ induction and training
All new trustees are provided with a welcome pack including information on the constitution, code of conduct, confidentiality agreement, roles and responsibilities of trustees and safeguarding requirements. Trustees are encouraged to read charity commission newsletters and relevant training regarding their duties and responsibilities.
Organisational structure
The trustees administer the charity and meet regularly throughout the year. Fundraising, income structure, ongoing performance and forthcoming charitable expenditure are discussed, and reported annually at the Annual General Meeting.
Risk management
The charity has reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Costs are closely monitored to ensure Little Acorns operates within its means. We have moved our financial reserves to a separate bank account to minimise risk.
Little Acorns preschool playgroup has internal policies in place to mitigate risk associated with the running of the preschool.
Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions during this or the prior period.
Reserves policy
Little Acorns preschool playgroup has a policy to maintain adequate reserves to cover three months running costs plus statutory redundancy costs. This value (of £20,000) is set aside in a separate bank account.
The trustees consider Little Acorns to continue to be viable, with no uncertainties about its ability to continue to operate.
Plans for future periods
We plan to continue to provide services in line with our objectives and activities. We hope to see increasing numbers attending preschool and out of school club as the covid restrictions ease, and actively promote our preschool and out of school club. We hope to restart our associated baby and toddler group (run by volunteers) in response to demand from the local community.
We have consulted with our families and have responded to their preference for an additional long day – we will offer an additional full day from September 2021 for preschool children. We will continue to consult with our families about what they need from our setting, and develop as needed.
We welcome back a new leader from September and look forward to working with her, and the positive changes she will bring to Little Acorns.
Public benefit
The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. They confirm that in planning and carrying out the Charity’s activities they have had regards to this guidance.
The trustees annual report was approved on 17.5.22 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
K Lane (chair)
Trustee
Incomings Au8 2020-July 2021 Fees from Parents Early Years Funding Vouchers Fundraising Other {Grantsl Total Annual Income £ 6,927.98 £ 19,980.92 £ 4.463.75 £ 2,300.70 £ 3.934.01 £ 37.607.36 Outgoings Aug 2020- July 2021 Salary Rent Food/consumables Equipment Office costs Meetingslfraining Other Total Annual Outgoings £38.628.74 ' £ 1.304.37 285.68 147.85 808.55 105.00 936.12 £ 42.216.31 Au8 2021> July 20211oss of £ 4 f8.95
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of Little Acoms Pre-school Playgroup, Ingham I report on Ihe accounts of the Tw5t kn the year erthd 31 July 2021. Respective sponSibl1rtles of trustee and examIr The charty's tnIst are responsib for the preparation ofth8 accounts. The chafty's trustees Consider that an audit is nol reguired for this year under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an in(lependent examM)ation Js needed. 11 is my responsibilty to. examine the aceotjnts under SeOn 145 ofthe 2011 Act to follow the procedures laid ¢knm in the general diredions given by th8 commission under sectjon 14515llbl of the 2011 Aci to state whethw parb'oJlar mattets have come to my attention Basis of the independent examiners report My examination was carried OLrt in accordanct with the general direclions given by the Charty Commission. An examination indudes a review ofthe awunting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the aecounts wesented wrth those records. It also Includes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the account. king explanation form you as trustees concerning any such mattets. The prowlures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audi( and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a Irue and fair Wi and the report is limrted to those matters set out in the next statement. Independent examinets statement In conneclion my examatiOn, rK) matter has come lo my atiention: 11) gNes me reaSonae ¢ause to believe th in any material aspect the requirement". to keep accountir#J records in aCan wrth ts section 130 of the 2011 Act and to prepare accounts which accord vrith the a¢un"fty redS and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or {2) to in my onion. attention should t* dra in order to enable a w>per UrIng Of accounts to be reached M C SkaymI, AAT 5 SIKYI Lw. INJham. Lrthn. LN12YA 10 May 2022