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Goring Little Fishes
Goring
LITTLE FISHES
Registered Charity No.: 1049215
GORING LITTLE FISHES TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENT Year ending 31[st] August 2022
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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:-
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‘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.’
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‘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.’
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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
Mrs Rosemary Terry – Church Elder Representative
Mrs Elizabeth Swierk – Member
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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 - Early Years Educator SENCO
Amelia Miller – Early Years Educator SENCO
Petrina Edwardes - Early Years Educator
Cia Del Greco - Early Years Educator
Julia Godrey - Early Years Educator
Teresa Price – 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.
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Goring Little Fishes
Chairperson’s Report 2022
This year has seen Goring Little Fishes (GLF) under a new manager, Lesley Wake, who accepted the post permanently from the end of March 2021. The GLF committee, which is made up of volunteers, has remained unchanged and continues to oversee the running of this fantastic Early Years setting. The playgroup comprises of employed (paid) staff, headed by a manager. The staff are all extremely well qualified, professional and a talented team of people. The staff continue put so much energy and enthusiasm into Little Fishes, this was proven by our most recent Ofsted rating (2017) of Outstanding and can still be seen today. Our staff seem very happy and don’t want to leave which is very encouraging for us.
This year the GLF committee sent out a questionnaire to all parents for vital feedback, ideas and changes that could improve the GLF experience. We had a good response and have taken several actions as a result of the replies on the forms returned.
We have a good number of children attending preschool and have a small, but continuous flow of interest in viewing and signing up. On a Saturday in early July, a stay and play session was held for all children starting/returning in September, giving them a chance to play, see the setting and ask any questions.
Over the past year the children have been on trips to the park and to local amenities including the local ride-on model railway, located just over the road. In April, GLF joined with the church’s Puppet Club, who performed the story of Easter, followed by an Easter egg hunt. 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 continue to make good use of our 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. This outdoor space now has a new motorised sunshade canopy for that extra protection from the elements, funded by a generous donation.
The children leaving this year received leavers’ t-shirts with their name and a Little Fishes logo (funded by the parents). A leaver’s party with presentation for those going to school and an end of term party for the children who are not going to school was held in July.
The parents requested a fun day, this was arranged for 9th July at Goring Gap, Worthing, with fun games and mini football matches.
GLF have been working more closely with the church, with GLF staff being ‘donated’ to help lead and run the parent and toddler group formerly known as ‘The Ark’ now rebranded to ‘Mini Fishes’ held once a week at the church hall. GLF are now also getting involved more at Easter and Christmas special events held at the church, further building the relationship.
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.
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
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Goring Little Fishes
Financial Review
For our year September 2021 to August 2022, our income has decreased from £176.4K last year to £151.6K this year. This is due to WSCC reducing the inclusion funding for the year.
In conjunction, we had brought our outgoings own from £161.6K last year to £154.8K. This has given us a 2.9K loss.
This loss is less than what was forecasted. Due to many years of having an excess, we have a good contingency fund.
This year we have replaced the large computer and installed an awning over the second play area – which was covered by an anonymous donation made in the previous accounting year.
At the end of the year, we have £87.9K 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, losses, repairs or redundancy. Or late payments from WSCC. A minimum of £50K will be necessary for 2022/23.
Gaynor Anderson-Easey
Treasurer.
Page 7 of 10 Goring Little Fishes GORING LITTLE FISHES PLAYGROUP FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR 1st SEPTEMBER 2021 - 31st AUGUST 2022 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Rec 2022 2021 22.718.55 128.378.95 247.00 22,227.17 148.285.14 751.IXI 13.01 535.00 151.892.51 5.156.10 176.423.38 Total 120.6T2.83 122.816.66 8,873.18 3.%8.44 282.47 ppls Equip¥rt 10.797.17 6.G09.56 IOA99.37 536.45 pnIseS&1j(l1les I8.582. 1.4W.53 Bank >ries cth. Total 45.72 32.22 161.550.30 I¥790 Balance at binning of 20.112022 8alartt at eTrJ of 20211.022 Loss for 202112022 90.74&22 87.879.83 th•irper50n Dxe 14111RJ]22
Page 8 of 10 Goring Little Fishes CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Report lo the trustees Lth Fishes Pl On accoums for the Charity no (il any) 31108r2022 Sei out on pages I reFvM to the trustees on my eXamInatK ofthe acc(uts ofthe chty fttE Trust-) for year ended 31KJ812022 Re)(81b1lltleS and basis of repcffl AS the chwws Injstees, you are reSF•JNle fcf Ihe prepWat crfthe accounts in aCc(rdan vAlh of ts (hritEs Act 2011 he Ad-}. I reFvM in re¥ect of nry examinatK¥n crf the Tr'S aCcnts c¥rd (MA Ule[ 5edK)n 145 of the 2011 Ad mI in cang (yjl my examinat, I have fc4kyed all the aptAicaNe Directi6 gNen ty the Charity CnnSslI urwjer sectth 1495Xbl of the Ad. Independent •xamin•trs stat•mont whth gives me cae to beIVe that in. any maiefia the accounbr¥J records were Tr)t kept in %cordae th SebC 1X) ofthe Charthes Ad", c the accounts n(rt acccd wrth the acc(MJnlirKJ recuds" or accounts dKI rK)t ccrnpty the apFAicaNe requirements ccKKemirKJ the form arvj Crtent of %c(yJnts Sel ¢JJt in IalieS (Accounts and Reports) Regulab(S 2008 thr than any rU¥nent that the &cjts give a true aTrJ "rf view lch i8 a matter ccrffAdered as pat of an 1Th*dent exaninat. I have concems aThJ have CcrE acrc6S (ther matters in ttfflnectic wilh the examinatK)n to vthich atteth stthld be drawn in Ihis reFtx1 in der to enatrAe a pr(w uTrJer5tandiTrJ ofthe accounts to be rethl. . Please delete the ¥M)rdsin the br&kets rfthey do apply. Date.. 06/04r23 Jennifer H(xAt Relevant professional qI[fiCation(SI or body FWAT IER Oet 2018
Page 9 of 10 Goring Little Fishes {rf any): Adthess: Evans Weir. 25 St PanLTa5. The viCtLa, ldster. P019 7LT Onty corylele rf the examiner needs to hwJhlighl rnaterial rnattets of contem (see CC32. Independent examinab.on of charty accounts" directions and gUance examiners). Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oet 2018
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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