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2021-08-31-accounts

The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB Tel: 01892 664214 Email: stjohnspreschool-crowborough@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk

CHAIR REPORT – Rachel Pullen (2021/22)

Welcome - Good evening and thank you for joining us this evening. As you probably know the preschool is a Registered Charity that is run by parental committee. The committee is currently made up of myself (Chair), Natalie Peers (Treasurer), Sharon Hockly (Secretary) and a team of Fundraisers; Becky Sonnex, Danielle Bone, Katie Bromley, Jacqui Sherlock and Lauren Willis (Fundraisers). Linda Scott is the Manager and is responsible for the operational day to day running of the preschool; she is supported by Lisa Weait (Deputy Manager), Rebecca Cook, Ella-May Freeman, Anne-Marie Sadler and most recently Jenny Carr, who joined the pre-school on 11[th] May 2022. Zena Sawyer who has been part of the pre-school team for the last 10 years left to pursue new avenues on 6[th] May 2022.

– Recap Preschool 2020/21

Last year (2020/21), headed up by Harinder Meinertzhagen (Chair), Nicky Fitt (Secretary) and Matt Durrans (Treasurer) we saw the pre-school navigate the third Covid-19 lockdown enforced by the Government, starting on 6[th] January 2021 and resuming, as normal, on 8[th] March 2021 with many families opting to keep their children off pre-school despite the setting remaining open. Despite the disruption caused by Covid the committee were able to successfully raise over £5k in fundraising efforts with net operating income of £254.33 for YE August 2021. The committee put to use a £10k Government grant to aid coping through the pandemic received in the previous financial year and replaced all vinyl flooring and funded increased cleaning measures and materials.

Preschool 2021/22:

We currently have 31 children, soon to be 32, attending St. John’s Preschool, 18 of which will be leaving us in September to move to the following Primary schools; St John’s, High Hurstwood, St Mary’s and Ashdown Primary. There will be 18 new starters in the next academic year, bringing our number of children attending for the academic year 2022/23 to 32.

This academic year saw us tackling the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns and the ever-changing regulations around managing Covid-19 in pre-school settings. Although challenging, we are really pleased that we have only had to close the pre-school due to staff self-isolation/covid illness on 3 occasions throughout the year. The remaining periods we have been able to remain open, largely due to strictly following Government guidance on testing and attendance, and the support of the parents in following these measures. We are proud to have maintained a full capacity schedule throughout the year.

Our cleaning regime and policies around external people entering the building have remaining strict with drop-off at gate only (no entrance of parents into pre-school building), handwashing on entry and throughout the day where required, antibacterial wiping of surface regularly, toy cleaning at the end of every day. We are looking to maintain these measures moving forward as best practice hygiene.

Registered Charity Number: 1045290

This year has also been a challenge in a number of other areas with the pre-school having to relocate for one week w/c 1[st] November 2021 when we had building issues. The staff and committee worked around the clock to ensure the children maintained a happy learning environment whilst minimising the impact on the parents/carers with sessions held at both the WI hall and St John’s Church hall. We’d like to again thank parents/carers for their support, and of course, the Church for their help in allowing us to use their hall space as an alternative.

On 18[th] February 2022 we were badly struck by a storm that saw a large tree collapse across the pre-school playground, crushing the pergola and fencing and damaging the mud kitchen. Due to electricity cables being pulled down with the collapsing tree in the playground we made the essential decision to close the pre-school on 21[st] February 2022 as we worked closely with tree surgeons and volunteer parents to clear the debris and make the area safe again. Once again, we would like to thank all that were involved in the clear-up operation.

In April 2022 we saw an enforced 6.6% increase in the Living Wage, up £0.59 per hr. This, and ongoing overhead increases seen across the board, had a significant impact on our profit and loss. A decision was taken by the committee to revise the fee structure to accommodate these cost rises with as minimal impact to our families as possible. This saw hourly rates rise from £5.50 to £6.10 for 2-year-olds and £5.25 to £5.85 for 3 & 4-year-olds from 1[st] April 2022. The snack/resource fees were also increased in line with analysis of our costs to £12 per session, per term. The fee increases were communicated with all parents in February 2022 with a Zoom call set up to manage any queries or concerns. We are pleased that the increases were received well by the pre-school community and with these changes we are now projected to finish the 21/22 financial year £1,227.09 in profit.

At the start of the year the new committee had three key objectives:

  1. Communication – simplifying and making communication more manageable for parents/carers, allowing opportunity for feedback.

  2. Building Improvements – invest in improving key spaces in the main building and the playground to positively impact children and staff for the future.

  3. Social Events – run more regular social events/fundraising events to help our children and parents/carers adapt to life after Covid-19.

In terms of communication, the committee implemented a monthly newsletter bringing to light more of the activities and focus areas for play and learning, communicating key dates and reminders from staff and updating on all fundraising activities. In October 2021 we sent out the first of our survey’s, gathering feedback from parents and carers on the drop-off process and how to improve this moving forward, we hope to follow this up with a second survey in the summer term for all school leavers to understand perceived areas for improvement. The website has been updated with weekly snacks, activity plans and Covid-19 guidance to help parents and carers better navigate their child’s time at pre-school. The committee have also looked to maximise the potential of Facebook sharing frequent imagery ‘behind the scenes’ as well as fundraising updates and celebrating key milestones i.e. birthdays/leavers etc. We believe this has built a stable framework for communication moving forward.

The second objective was to make improvements to the building and play area, and this year really has been a year of change. At the start of the year the committee gave the preschool interior and toilets a fresh lick of paint. In February half-term we were very fortunate to have a new kitchen donated and installed by past parents Michaela and Tim Lovell, and at Easter the fantastic team at Country Oak Barns, supported by BLM built a brand-new garden pergola. We will be re-fencing the garden area in May half-term

Registered Charity Number: 1045290

kindly supported by Alex Gunn, and are working towards plans to try and build an all-weather side extension (when budgets allow) to create a creative outside area for the children to enjoy in all weathers.

And, finally, in terms of Social Events we have had some really positive feedback around our Kids Disco and Easter Fete fundraisers that brought the community together to learn, play, communicate and celebrate our pre-school.

This year has really showed us the power of a tight community and we would like to thank each and every one of you that showed your support this year.

Staff:

Anne-Marie joined us as a Trainee Early Years Practitioner on 6[th] September 2021 and has settled in well to the pre-school community, proving to be a popular addition with the children and a valuable asset to the wider team. She has been working on her formal qualifications alongside her practical work in setting and hopes to complete her qualification by April 2023.

Zena, who has been with the pre-school for the last 10 years made the decision to leave the pre-school to pursue other avenues. We said our heartfelt goodbyes on 6[th] May 2022 and welcomed Jenny Carr as Early Year’s Practitioner – Level 3 Qualified on 10[th] May 2022 to take over Zena’s position. We are very fortunate to have someone of Jenny’s experience on the team. Jenny will be taking on key children in the 2022/23 academic year.

Grants and Fundraising:

For 2021/22 one of our key objectives was to provide more social fundraising events for our children and their families to try and counteract some of the negative impacts of Covid isolation. We are so pleased that we had two very successful social events; Kids Disco & Easter Fete. These helped to raise over £400 for the pre-school.

We also raised a brilliant £350 with our Xmas raffle.

Our fundraising efforts throughout the year have totalled £3,460.40 to date. These included Bags2School collections, cake sales, Mother’s Day gift packs, sweet & reindeer food cones, pumpkin sales, family photoshoots, personalised tea towel gifts, virtual balloon races and Amazon Smile and easyFundraising.

Following the storm damage, the community came together via Crowdfunder and raised a huge £821.50 plus approx. £195 in gift aid. This will allow us to re-fence the playground, extending the playground area at the same time.

We would like to say a huge thanks to all parents/carers/family members who have supported our fundraising efforts this year, you have been so brilliantly generous.

The Future:

The following committee roles are stepping down from August 2022: Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. This is due to their children leaving the pre-school to attend school. It is a requirement for these positions to be filled for the pre-school to remain open, so please step forward if you are interested in helping support the pre-school in one of these roles. We hope that the parents/carers or extended family of current children at the pre-school will consider these roles. The current committee will be in place until August to ensure an in-depth handover is fulfilled with the new committee.

We are also looking for a team of fundraisers that can take on the organisation and implementation of the fundraising events throughout the year ahead. This is fundamental to the success of the pre-school and a role that, if spread across a number of

Registered Charity Number: 1045290

people, is easy to fit around your day-to-day life. Please let us know if you would be happy to act as a fundraiser for the pre-school. We hope to have some more fundraising events actioned ahead of the end of the academic year.

In terms of the key focus areas for the future, they are as follows;

Thank you all for your support!

Closing Remarks:

Whilst this year has been one of the most challenging to date for the pre-school I’m really happy with how the committee and preschool team have worked together to mitigate the impact on the children and families of those children. I hope that the year ahead is ‘smoother sailing’ with many of the Covid-19 restrictions lifted and a return to a slightly more manageable workload for our staff.

My tenure has been about navigating the pre-school through the last phase of Covid-19 and setting it up with a strong foundation to start thriving; strong and stable workforce, smart fee structure, strong communication plan. I’m pleased to say that I believe we are in a strong position for 2022/23.

I want to end by saying a huge thank you;

To the amazing staff who, when at times it’s felt like wading through treacle, have always given their all in order to maintain a stable and loving environment for the children. Before starting in the position of chair I was oblivious to just how much work and time they dedicate to the pre-school. Every evening, weekends, holidays. They are all amazing and wonderful people. A special thank you to Linda and Lisa who have been the best team mates this year. You have been patient, kind, supportive and so generous. I’m going to miss you both so much.

Thank you to the committee, Sharon and Natalie and all the Fundraisers who have become firm friends. It’s been a fun ride and you’ve all been so generous with your time. Sharon and Natalie, I want to thank you for everything you have done for the preschool this year, you’ve been amazing. I’d also like to mention Yvette Hutchinson who has very kindly worked to update our website in her free time to ensure it is optimised for the future.

Finally, a huge thank you to the parents and carers who have been understanding, supportive and have always been happy to help. It’s your kindness and humility that helps make St John’s Pre-school such a special place.

Rachel Pullen – Chairperson

Registered Charity Number: 1045290

Financial Statements St Johns Pre-school & Toddler Group For the period ended 31 August 2021 Prepared on 16 May 2022 Registered Charty Nufflber 1045290

Table of Contents Financial Activi118S..............................................................................-.-.............................-....-........................ Balanee Sheèl..................................................................................................................-........ Slai8menl ol Cash Flows..............................................................................-.....-... -.. AIR Ag8ing Delail................................................-................................................................-.. AIP Ageing Delail............................................................................................- ..-.-.

Financial Actlvitles Sep 2020. 2021 Sep a)19. ￿ 2020 IPY) INCOME COVID 19 Grani Fees Fundraising Irurne. General Miscellaneou&Thhef Ir¢orne Nursery Grant ptK)lography In¢om8 Snack Donation Totd I￿1)m• COST OF SALES Consurnables IFco¢VCleaniNJl Equiprnènt & Maierials Fundraising Costs Co8t of Sol•B 10,000.00 24.399.79 5.062.27 33.49 40,984.78 27.453.02 5,003.61 54,317.66 540.00 1.￿5.00 89.220.40 780.75 1.836.45 1,845.16 665.60 4347.21 84￿￿.1# 1,215.80 1,367.74 252.17 2,&￿.71 78,425.37 TOTAL EXPENDITURES Aecouniing Fees Bookkeeping Fee$ Cleaning COVID 19 Grant Expanth'lur• Eleciri¢ilylGas Employers P•nsion5 Enlertainm¢nt Gross Wages Gross Wages- CJRS Grant Insuran¢$ IT Cgsts Office Siaiionery P051age and Camag8 Refuse Raies RenVGeneral Rales Repairs and maintenar￿e- ExFons& Staff Training CostslDBS Che¢ks Subscriptions Subsisten¢è Telephone and Fax Totsl Ex¢•NI￿rn8 NET OPEAA TING INCOME NET INCOME'IEXPENDITUREI 360.00 1,981.OD 2.212.17 772.91 4.432.60 764.43 180.00 2.160.00 382.50 457,68 4,000.00 547.17 62.81 67,061.36 52,690.99 -3,643.62 622.86 7.19 355.87 30.84 711.31 2,041.63 721.07 462.00 208.80 48.00 553.36 62,537.65 15,887.72 £15.887.72 641.61 8.34 433.97 13.22 821.68 3,499.92 496.11 211.53 211.20 21.94 612.06 84,618.86

Balanc8 Sheet AB ol 31, 2021 A8 ofAwJ 31. 2020 IPY) FIXED ASSET TaNJlt40 as8•ts Equipmeni Equipmènt Oeprviaiion Tth TarVJ1￿• aB8•ts Tclal CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND Petty Cash Sanlander Bank Accounl Saniander Savings Account C48h at b￿k In DE8TORS Debtors Control A¢¢ounl 6,821.02 .6.611.03 6,811.03 -6,811.03 159.73 12.470.50 13.440.86 26,071.L 166.07 16,632.86 8,550 25 25249.18 77.25 n25 2114824 350,60 350.60 25,699.78 NET CIJRRENT ASSETS CREDITORS. AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trndo Cmdtto Creditors Control Attount Tow Trada Cr•Jttcrf• Curr•nt LI￿11￿•$ Ac¢ruais Pension Fund Totd Curr•nt UAIM•• Totd Crodttorn: arnounts Idtlr¥J dLW thln y••r NET CURRENT ASSETS ILIA81LITIESI TOTAL ASSETS LESS CUFIRENT LIA81LITIES TOTAL NET ASSETS I LIABILITIESI CHARITY FUNDS R658rves Rètained Eamin95 Surplu￿￿o8f1CI1￿ Total Charity fvrK 320.82 304.60 304.80 325 30 3TI.30 698.12 25,45022 25,4e021 £2S,460.21 189.30 189.30 493.90 25,205.88 25,205.88 £25205.88 24.382.33 823.55 254.33 £2S,46021 24,382.33 -1 S.064.17 15,887.72 £25205.88

Statemant of Cash Flows OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net I￿orne 254.33 Adjustmenis to reconcilo Net IT￿￿rne lo Nei Cash provided by opwaiKJn$'. Oeblots Control Account Creditors Contrd AcC￿jftt Accruals Pènsion Fund 273.35 16.22 S2.LhJ 136.00 477.57 731.90 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Equiprnenl Not ¢a8h wovthd ***lMo1 NET CASH INCREASE FOR PERIOD Cash ai beginning of period CASH AT END OF PERIOD 721.91 25.349.18 £26,071.0

AIR Ageing Detail 91 or fflor• past du• 291031%)21 Inv 517 Solh Nichdls 1W0412021 97.xl T(rtal for 91 or mty• dtys ptt8t du• £n25 TOTAL tKk#er G

AIP Ag8lng Detail OY07QO21 C607￿￿1 315 31IOW2021 31K40928 S&02 $5 180 00 18000

Th• firbawaal sthtellWts werg opwoved by th• Boafd ol TWSWS •vJ wwo swJn8d On rts boho11 by". Rachel Pul ChalrnNsIo•

East Sussex County Council St John’s (Aided)Preschool The Reading Room School Lane Crowborough East Sussex TN6 1SB Tel: 01892 664214

St John’s Preschool is a registered charity no: 1045290 E-mail: stjohnspreschool-crowborough@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk Manager: Linda Scott Deputy: Lisa Weait

- Treasurer report September 2021 july 2022 Natalie Peers

– Recap September 2020 August 2021

Fundraising £5003.61

Total income £89,220.40

Total expenditures £84,618.86

Total wages £67,061.36

Last year’s prediction was a £700 profit when it actual fact it it was only £254.33

– September 2021 April 2022

So far we have raised £3460.40

The income total was £61,333.11

Costs for equipment/consumables, including cleaning products etc £2816.73

All other costs including staff wages, electric, telephone line, rent etc £52,222.42

It leaves us with a profit currently showing as £6293.96 however this figure excluding any fundraising money we might raise for May,June,July and August.

The budget prediction is looking like we will end up with a profit of £1227.09 on the 31[st] of August however we need to replace the fencing which is looking like it will cost the pre school around £1000.00 so means we could only end up with a profit of £227.09.

Closing Remarks:

As you can see we rely on fundraising to help the pre school out I can’t stress that enough. We would love to keep going with the fundraising to get the outside classroom that we desperately need for more room ect but with the fundraising that we do, we can dip into it when things are needed. I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved this year with the fundraising events we’ve organised for the children we’ve all had a lot of fun along the way.

Thank you to everyone involved in the preschool. We are so lucky to have the amazing teachers who create a fun learning environment for the children to grow up in. Rachel our chair has been absolutely amazing she has been incredible helping out managing the pre school so a massive well done and thank you to her. And finally the fundraisers who put on the events for everyone are helping the preschool to stay open and have done amazingly well so far.

Natalie Peers – Treasurer 2021/2022

St John’s Preschool is a registered charity No: 1045290