Mordiford Dragons Playgroup
Portacabin
Mordiford CE Primary School
Mordiford HR1 4LW Charity Number 1051057
’ - Managers report 2024 5
This year has been very successful one. We have increased our numbers to 18 children per day and have been full since January. We are already booking into 2026 and are completely full for the academic year 25/26. Being open 5 days a week is working very well and we have a number of ‘full time’ children. All children come to us for at least 2 sessions per week to help with continuity.
We have continued with our very successful phonics programme and have done some lovely topics based on children’s interests. We have had a visiting pony, a tortoise and a baby. Children have loved these hands-on experiences. We have focused heavily on maths sessions this academic year after noticing a gap in some children’s learning. Again, this has been well received from parents who have supported via ‘homework activities’.
After stopping the learning journey books in September (these are no longer required or recommended by OFSTED) we have been ‘feeling the way’ with regards to sharing photographs of the children with their family. Initially we trialled a ‘closed’ Facebook group, but due to some parents not being on social media, we realised that this was not going to be the way forward. We have now set up a successful Dragons what’s app group which allows important dates and messages to be shared quickly. We are then sending individual children’s photographs to their parents via what’s app so that they can keep track of achievements and progress. Parents regularly share photographs of holidays and special events and children
love looking at these on the interactive whiteboard. Parents remain committed to supporting their child’s learning at home and still enjoy the ‘sound of the week’ and other home-based activities. Gerald the dragon remains a much-loved member of Dragons and children really look forward to their turn to take him home.
Our parent partnership remains strong and we had a super Christmas carol service and an Easter event, where the children performed the now classic ‘Spring Chicken’ and went on an egg hunt. We have invited parents into Dragons to share their own religious ceremonies and have had a sponsored walk to raise money for premature babies. We have had dressing up days, had Year 5 children come and read stories with us and have walked around the local area and visited the church. We will plan a trip for after May half term and look forward to sports day, our graduation and a leavers party to finish the year off!
We have had some wonderful donations this year from parents, including chalks, crayons, bubbles, bird seed, sand and a selection of toys and books. We feel very blessed to have such supportive parents.
We have continued to improve the garden and have created a new outdoor vehicle track and stone pit for car play. We have had the addition of the shredded tyre around the side of the building which adds further outdoor space. School have now successfully re-routed the main footpath and so now school is far more secure, especially when we play on the field. We have acquired the footpath section by the garden fence which is great for bikes, trikes and ride on’s, especially when the garden is muddy.
We use the garden everyday and the children love being outside. We have worked really hard to get the RSPB Silver award and are now only one activity away from achieving the gold award!
We have all undertaken plenty of training this year, including ADHD, floor books, continuous provision and assessment as well as a real focus on the learning styles of 2 year olds. We continue to work amazingly well as a team and Liv’s virtual role, as always, is invaluable!
17.02.2+ fvIORDIFDRD D1i44DNS PLAY4RDbiP ACCOblNTS FOR fkFE YEAR 2023 -2024 PEEPAIiED WITPtDHT AWDIT FROM TrFE RECORDS INCOME 023 -2+ 2022 .23 NEF FEES £ 46,610.45 £ 14.025.00 £ 26,335.42 8,1.00 OTHER FEES BDDLIN4 FEES MILK REFHNDS 625'.00 451.63 REFRESPIMENTS Z225.00 L116.00 DEPOSIT A/e 1,000.00 239.00 650.00 ONAnONS 400.00 R4ISIN4. 4pANrs LOANS gu.g5 650.00 1.336.00 1.593.75 10.00 MISC. ESALE TRIPS 70.09 £ 40,1&.31 £ 67,240.03 EXPFNDITbiRF WA4ES ENT £ 47,052.73 Z035.00 £ 355+3.31 1.31g.00 4RDttERI ES MIL 733.46 3.6g 613.24 265.51 ADMIN 703.26 i.00 ART + cE4Frs 94.31 ZO96.6 300.L)O TOYS / EQHIPMENT MISC. TE41NIIN4 REFbiNDS 6.20 L75.00 792.72 654.1? INSHTi4NCE R41SIN4 56.56 433.45 Trips 60.00 REPAY LOAN DEPOSIT A/C 10,000.00 £ 65.290.72 19+9.31 L£)SS £ 4Z205.45 PROFIT ZG53.L+ PREPARED AND CHECKED EY P.F.C. COWELL 17.ok
Minutes of Dragons A.G.M. Monday 20th. May, 2024
Present:- Annabelle, Sian, Liv, Ray and Emma.
Apologies :- Ceri, Michelle, Janie.
Managers Report:- ( Annabelle) was read and comments were mainly about the footpath. Liv suggested we need a gate for parents accessing from Woolhope side, possibly with code and button to open from Dragons. It was noted number are healthy for September and booking fees a great success.
Fees:- The general consensus was to increase snacks to £2 per day as fruit and dairy had increased considerably. As most parents are now funded this would not cause too much hardship.
Opening and finishing times were discussed. Annabelle to liaise with the school. Possibly charge extra from 8.45a.m.
Accounts:- were looked at. Sian queried the short fall. Liv said we are no longer in the red and had paid the insurance ourselves this year. Also despite minimum wage increasing, due to the number of children on role and good housekeeping things are looking up. There are no outstanding debts.
A.O.B:- the fridge is on the blink and we need to replace. Ray has kindly offered to fund a replacement. Many thanks.
Membership: Annabelle, Ray and Liv happy to stay on committee. Need to check DBS up to date. Suggested recruiting Georgie as an extra. Sadly it is Emma’s last meeting as she is moving on. We are grateful for all she has done to support us.
Meeting closed at 2p.m.