Page **1** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## Goring ## LITTLE FISHES Registered Charity No.: 1049215 GORING LITTLE FISHES TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENT Year ending 31[st] August 2021 Page **2** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## **Aim and Purpose** The aim of Goring Little Fishes is to encourage pre-school children to develop emotionally, physically and socially in a loving and caring environment which is based on Christian principles. ## **Objectives and Activities** Goring Little Fishes is a Christian-based playgroup based in Worthing, West Sussex. The Playgroup is affiliated to the Goring United Reformed Church and we welcome children from all faiths aged from two through to school-age. We are registered with Ofsted and follow the guidelines as advised by them. We support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children with English as an additional language. We may sponsor a number of children who may not be able to afford the fees prior to becoming eligible for funding from West Sussex County Council (WSCC). Although the focus of the group is on the children attending, we also take many student placements from the local Colleges to pass on our knowledge and skills to enable young people to gain essential work experience. We have also taken on an apprentice. ## **Achievements** Ofsted visited us for an inspection in September 2017 which gave a brilliant overall judgement of Outstanding :- - ‘The manager is truly inspirational. She continually reviews everything she and the staff do. The manager inspires and motivates children, their parents and the staff team in achieving the best they can. She sets exceptionally high standards for herself.’ - ‘The staff's expert knowledge and understanding of all children's abilities and developments ensure every child's uniqueness is met. The outstanding quality of teaching ensures every child is included in all activities regardless of their stage of development. The pre-school uses additional funding astutely to address gaps in learning rapidly to help children catch up quickly.’ Page **3** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## **Structure and Management** The Management Committee, who are also the Trustees, are responsible for overall management of the Goring Little Fishes Charity and usually meet once each term. They give their time freely and receive no remuneration or benefits. The Committee is made up of Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, two Church Elder Representatives and other members. We can also be joined by two non-Trustee, Parent Representatives as regulated by our Constitution. We regularly review our policies and have done so again this year incl. the Risk Management document. Current membership is: Mr Paul Redman - Chairman Mrs Susie Thomas – Secretary Mrs Gaynor Anderson-Easey – Treasurer Mrs Valerie Cooper – Church Elder Representative and Counsellor Mr Mathew Smith – Church Elder Representative Mrs Elizabeth Swierk – Member Page **4** of **10** Goring Little Fishes The vast majority of the daily running of Goring Little Fishes (GLF) is delegated to our Manager, Lesley who works closely with her other staff members. She attends our committee meetings to keep the committee members fully up-to-date with daily life at GLF. The staff consist of: Lesley Wake - Manager Val Gill - Business Administrator Ricky Mitchell - SENCO Petrina Edwardes - Early Years Educator Cia Del Greco - Early Years Educator Maddie Allen - Early Years Educator, Apprentice Julia Godrey - Early Years Educator Teresa Price – Early Years Educator Amelia Miller – Early Years Educator DBS checks are carried out prior to staff appointments. DBS checks can be carried out on the trustees but as they have no physical interaction with the children (i.e. they only meet in the evenings) the current decision is not to do so, however this is under constant review by the committee. Health and Safety, Risk Assessments and other playgroup policies are always under review to be kept up to date with current legislation. Training by staff is always ongoing including NVQ Level 5 and 6 Child care courses. Page **5** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## **Chairperson’s Report 2021** This has been another exceptional year at Goring Little Fishes (GLF). We have said farewell to our long standing manager Elouise Chowne who had been our sole manager since 2014. On behalf of the Goring little Fishes committee I would like to thank her for all she has done during her time here with us and wish her all the very best in her next adventures. The committee worked to find a new manager and the post was advertised and filled permanently by the end of March 2021, when we welcomed Lesley Wake as the new GLF Manager. We wish Lesley all the very best in her new role and look forward to working with her in the years to come. The GLF committee which is made up of volunteers continue to oversee the running of this fantastic school which has employed staff, headed by a manager. The staff are all extremely well qualified, professional and a talented team of people. The staff put so much energy and enthusiasm into Little Fishes which is very much reflected in the Ofsted rating of Outstanding in their latest inspection (2017). Please do take time to read though the Ofsted report to see for yourself some of the comments made and appreciate just what it takes to achieve this level we have. Over the past year the children have been on trips to the park and to local amenities. They have enjoyed egg hunting in the gardens around the church and had fun in the sun with water play and races. A sponsored laps at the local running track raised just over £2000 which was amazing. GLF have been involved this year with the West Sussex’s healthy eating and physical development activities where they have been able to educate both the children and their families. GLF have and put to good use a large separate sensory space in which those children who have learning difficulties, developmental or sensory impairments can learn to interact with the world around them, but within a safe, controlled environment that builds up their confidence and abilities. There is also space outside this room that has been made a safe outdoor second playground with a soft play surface. A summer holiday club this planned this year with trips out to shops and a bakery. Next year, 2022, it is hoped that a summer fayre can be held to raise funds for the preschool. The children leaving this year will receive leavers’ t-shirts with their name and a Little Fishes logo. Medals will be presented with the children stepping up on a podium to receive them to make it all the more special and memorable occasion. We have a good number of children attending preschool and have a small, but continuous flow of interest in viewing and signing up. Our numbers are very close to where we want them to be at this time. GLF are looking forward to working more closely with the church and hope that something can be arranged for Christmas 2021 joining in with the church activities and services maybe. There are also plans to start a baby and toddler group in the adjacent church hall, running once a week using a mix of GLF staff and volunteers to run it. Finally I’d like to thank the rest of the Little Fishes Committee for their time and input into meetings, with again a special thank you to Gaynor, who does so much work for the GLF group in her own time outside the Committee meetings in her role as treasurer. Sadly, Mr. Matthew Smith who has been a committee member since 2015 has stepped down, we thank you Matthew for your commitment and support over the past years. I do hope and pray that the good work that Goring Little Fishes is doing in and for our local community continues and I wish all here another happy and successful year going forward. Paul Redman GLF Chair Page **6** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## **Financial Review** For our year September 2020 to August 2021, our income has decreased from £191.4K last year to £176.4K this year. This is due to having less children on the roll for the year. In conjunction, our outgoings decreased from £179.9K to £161.6K. However, we still ended with a £14K excess. This excess has been put aside to replace the large computer and to have an awning over the second play area. At the beginning of the year, we bought a 6-seater perambulatory cart. At the end of the year, we have £90K in the bank. The accounts will be independently examined by J Cozens, who is a chartered Accountant. ## **Reserves Policy** We have a contingency fund to accommodate unforeseeable events, repairs or redundancy. Or late payments from WSCC. A minimum of £48K will be necessary for 2021/22. Gaynor Anderson-Easey Treasurer. Page 7 of 10 Goring Little Fishes RIN TTLE FI HE PLAY FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR 1st SEPTEMBER 2020- 31st AUGUST 2021 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Recei Fees Receiv 2021 2020 22.227.17 148.2B5.14 751. 3.97 13,455.61 177,B77.01 39.29 74.82 wscc RefiJTr45 DonatiQD5 Total 5.156.10 176,413.38 1*1,440.73 Pa ments staffing Suppl￿5 Eq￿Fffjent L49al R4qlAdrninisti7tty)n Prernjse5&Ublitie5 122.816.66 8.873.18 3.568.44 6.282.47 18.582.80 1.4CQ.53 138.782.C 9.195.72 3.797.23 3.237.43 18.857.62 1.956.13 118. Mwknting Bank 32.22 101.556.30 39.ts) £ 173.983.93 Total Balance at beginnino of 202012021 Balance at end of 20.012021 Excess for 202012021 75,879.14 90,740.22 14.867.08 l ¥rnr• olwyrn¥Wt ar¢d￿b￿*Sf GwfftgknttleFIshesTr4￿t*EI man /8/1//2021 Page 8 of 10 Goring Little Fishes (HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLA￿) ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Report to the tnjstee members of Gorng Lrttle Fishes Playgro On accounts for the ￿aT ended 31K18f2021 Charity no Irf anyl Set out on pages I rewjrt to Ihe Iruslees rny examinaticffl of the acCO￿ts of the atJ)ve chartyllhe Trusfi the year ended 31m8r2021 Responsibilities and basis of report s the chanvs trustees. you are responsib￿ for the preparaticm of Ihe accounts in accordance vnth the requirements of the Charrties Act 2011 Ilhe Acr). I rewrt in respect of my examinab¢J) of the Tnjsfs acc(xJnts carr￿d ¢YJt under secth)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryino out my examinati￿, I have followed all the applicaNe Direct]ons given by the ChaTity Commissic uThJer SeC￿n 14S5Mb) of the Act. Independent exarniner's statement I have compkted my exarninatw. I ccmfirm that no material rnatters have cotne lo rlly attentK>n in connecbon wrth the examinat￿￿ which gives me cause lo beI￿ve that in. any maleiial Tespect." the aCcoun￿.￿j records were not kept in accordance ￿ sectw 130 ol the Charrt￿S Act., or the accounts dmj Th)1 accord with the accounb.ng records, the accounts dh1 Th)1 compty the applicab￿ requirements concerning the form and ccmlent of accounts set oul in the Charitws {AccI￿nIS and Reports) ReguLalions 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts gNe a 'twe and fwf which is not a matter consK1ered as part of an mdependent examinati(￿. I have m concems and have come across no other matters in connec wrth the examinab.¢￿ lo which atten￿n should be drawn in thi5 report in order to enabk a prO￿r under51arMlry of the accounts to be Teached. ' Please delete the w0￿S in the br&kels rfthey r*) not appty. SwTred: Date: 08103r2022 Name: Jennrfer Hoult Relevant professional qualtficationlsl or body FMMT IER Oct 2018 Page 9 of 10 (il any): Address: Evans Weir, 25 St Pancras, The Viclona Chichester P019 7LT Section B Dt5closwe Oiili conipl4lo Il Uiti k.. J_iiir'4r i)èar< lft .i.a_"_i Jlil n'.21o:121 _'J12-"tsfi Jl c.)_".c¢rii Isee CC32, Independent examinalion of charity accounts.. directsc￿S and guidance for examiner51. Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018 Page **10** of **10** Goring Little Fishes ## **Contact Details** Goring Little Fishes Goring United Reformed Church Shaftesbury Ave Worthing BN12 4EA 01903 244453 or 07803 001018 or Little.fishes@live.co.uk Registered Charity No.: 1049215