2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01 April 23 Period start date To 31 Mar 24 Period end date

Charity name: Peter Pan Pre School

Charity registration number: 1062788

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To manage the affairs and interests of, and act on behalf of, Peter Pan Pre School, thus enabling the Pre School to provide high quality care and education for children below statutory school age from Armed Forces families living in the local area.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	• To open bank accounts. • To raise money to pay for the Pre School’s activities. • To make such payments as necessary. • To fix and collect the fees payable in respect of children attending the Pre School. • To provide accommodation and equipment required by the Pre School. • To employ such suitable paid and unpaid staff, and volunteers ,agents and advisors as maybe required from time to time. • To offer volunteering opportunities. • To sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Pre School’s property subject to complying with the provisions of the Charities Act 1993 Sections 36 and 37. • To provide indemnity insurance to cover the liability of the Committee members. • To insure the property and assets of the Pre School against any foreseeable risk and to take out other insurance policies to protect the Pre School as required. • To work with similar Groups and support agencies and exchange information and advice with them as appropriate.

		• We forge links with other Charities and support them if appropriate.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	The Pre School has in the past offered bursaries and free places to families experiencing financial or social difficulties in order to give children the opportunity to enter a structured Early Years Environment however we have not been able to offer this during this financial year due to having very low numbers of children on role and in addition as we are not in the financial position to do so.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	Not applicable due to our current financial position
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The committee is made up entirely of volunteers. This year we have been successful in recruiting a new Deputy Chair and committee member however we have continued to find it difficult to recruit committee members from the military community and parents. They are still completing their necessary documentation. Any voluntary links that we had with the civilian community have been lost as an impact of covid, but we continue to explore options of attracting new volunteers such as working with civilian staff at the Army Training Centre who are able to use volunteer days and working with other local organisations. We can offer a variety of volunteering opportunities for people who want to come in on a more ad hoc basis to do specific tasks or read to the children, or just gain experience in the workplace before pursuing a career in Early Years. We do have parents who come into read to the children and assist with specific theme days.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	1. The Government funded extended free 30 hours for working parents continued in this F/Y capped and remains capped at 16 places although we cannot offer this number of places due to insufficient staff. We offer 15 hours free funded places for 2 years olds in line with government policy but again this is capped at 4 per day due to lack of staff to meet set ratios. This is continually reviewed and enables spouses to seek employment. 2. The Pre School continues to work collaboratively with our three local primary schools, Head Teachers, Home School Link Workers, Family Support Workers and Surrey Early Years, Home Start and other partner agencies to improve the outcomes for our children and families. 3. We celebrated with national events i.e. St Georges Day, St David’s Day, St Patricks, Diwali, Ramadan, Eid etc which represents the diverse population and ethnicity of our children. 4. We commemorate Remembrance Day with activities. 5. Staff and Children enjoy taking part in Children in Need raising money for Charity and doing various activities... 6. We held a graduation Ceremony for Children Transitioning to Year R in Primary School. Parents and carers are invited to this. 7. We held a Sports Day which is attended by parents and carers and is supported by staff from the Gymnasium Army Training Centre. 8. We run a Closed Facebook page in order to communicate with our families and showcase our activities and achievements. 9. We now have an Open Facebook page in order to tryto attract new

families that are posted into the setting. 10. We celebrate World Book Day where children are invited to come in dressed as their favourite book characters. 11. We celebrate World Rhyme Week 12. We communicate regularly with parents by email and hard copy with newsletters and information for Parents and Carers. 13. We update parents regularly on any changes to our Policies and Procedures and news to keep families up to date and compliant with Policy. 14. We continue to offer employment and training opportunities to service spouses and people from the local community. 15. We focus on CPD for all members of staff to include additional training such as Makaton, Forest School and Paediatric First Aid. This was done virtually and face to face during this reporting year. 16. We sponsor a Shetland Pony at Mane Chance Sanctuary take part in their ‘Chance to Be’ programme and encourage families to attend the Charity on its open days and events. 17. At Harvest Festival we organised a collection for the Trussell Trust Food Bank Woking Branch. 18. We celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and encourage parents to attend the Pre School on these special days to take part in activities with their children. 19. We offer ‘stay and play’ opportunities to encourage parents’ interaction with their children. 20. Parents are invited to participate in reading sessions this also assists in expansion of cultural awareness for staff and children. 21. We hold regular coffee mornings as a small funding opportunity but to also enhance our relationships with parents and carers and increase their knowledge of the Early Years environment.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Whilst the introduction of 15 and the 30 hours funded by the Government has been popular and supports those parents who wish to use it our main challenge continues to be attracting new children to the setting and the continued challenge of recruiting suitably qualified staff to meet EYFS ratios. It remains a constant challenge and a fine balance between the number of staff and the number of children on role.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	The Pre School (SENCO) has been successful in gaining funding via SEN channels and through Surrey County Council to gain additional funding to specifically support our SEN cohort .
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	The number of children on role continues to be worrying low. This is due to a change in occupancy of the resident battalion in Elizabeth Barracks and the different structure of the Battalion which means that not as many families live there as in previous years. In addition, many families choose now to serve married unaccompanied which means that not so many families live in Soldiers Family Accommodation at Pirbright. This drop off in military families has had a significant impact on the number of children we have on roll which in turn has impacted our income. We continue to be in a very precarious financial position which has to be very carefully managed but ultimately threatens the continuation of the setting as a viable option.
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Pre School is operating at a monthly loss relying on its capital and grants to remain open. We are in a worryingly precarious financial position and have a very low number of children on roll which is due to the reduced occupancy of military families in Pirbright. There has been a small but Relatively insignificant increase in the hourly rate paid by Surrey County Council for funded places. This amount allocated by the government is woefully inadequate. Charges are reviewed regularly against other settings in the locality and also after seeking advice from the EY Team within Surrey County Council. Fees are realistically competitive with other local settings but we ensure we remain affordable for service families many of who are Junior Non Commissioned Officers. We have a very strict budgeting regime in place to maintain the stability and sustainability of Peter Pan Pre School. Our numbers have remained very low (Around 16 – 18), this is the lowest number of children on roll for many years and this has affected our income. The Military have reviewed our encroachment licence, and we are no longer able to offer places to civilian children that live in the Army Quarters adjacent to the Pre School or locally, this too has affected our numbers on role.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Very limited financial reserves are held primarily to cover redundancy payment for one eligible staff member should the Pre School close. We are sadly now in a position where we have very limited funds to cover future emergency expenditure. The MOD have been planning to build a new preschool for several years. The timeline has been very fluid, and timelines have slipped considerably since the plan was first mooted. It was due to be built in 22/23 with an opening in 2024. The estimated timeline for completion of this project has been cited now as 2028. We do not intend to spend any money on infrastructure projects. We will be fortunate if we can survive financially until this date.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£28,094–all unrestricted.

Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	Not APPLICABLE
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	NOT APPLICABLE
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	See para 1.46 below

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Income is derived from fees paid for the provision of childcare from Surrey County Council. This is woefully inadequate in the current climate of ever increasing cost of living and Living Wage Increases. This is set at £6.05 per hour for 3 -4 year olds and £8.13 per hour for 2 year olds. We also get income form Parental contributions £7.00 per hour and a daily £1.25 per day for snack and resources. These charges are reviewed regularly to ensure they are current and in keeping with other settings locally.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	The additional 30 hours and 15 hours funding did benefit the Pre School and did assist in maintaining financial stability for the period. We have reviewed the need for a contingency fund but are in a precarious financial position due to dwindling number of children on role so are unable to set aside funds for contingency except tor maintaining an amount to cover staff redundancy payment should/when the need arises. The Pre School will continue to offer the NEST pension scheme to all employees and encourages staff to take up this option
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The Army Training Centre Pirbright (Soldier Academy) is predicted to increase in size over the next few years which may see an increase in the number of families on base and therefore a increase in the number of children accordingly and some detailed planning has taken place around this. Initially it was envisaged that the future of the Peter Pan Pre School seemed secure as more families, would potentially mean more children. However, a number of risk factors have come to the fore in this reporting year meaning the future of the Pre School and Charity is now much more uncertain. The risks are high and are as follows: Staffing.It is becoming increasing difficult to recruit and retain staff. Working in Childcare and Early Years is not seen as the attractive career option it once was and this is a nationally recognised trend. https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2022/12/ofsted- report-highlights-impact-staffing-crisis.As a charity our wages are low in comparison to the Private Sector and with the cost of living as it is staff often cannot afford to remain and leave to find more

lucratively paid employment out of the Childcare Sector. Having discussed this with our colleagues in Surrey Early Years this is a common theme across the industry. Also, the fact that we are ’behind the wire’ on a barracks location can be off putting for potential civilian employees who have no experience of the military. We are not easily accessed by public transport. We have tried to engage with local colleges to attract Apprentices, but our location makes this an unattractive option compared to other settings in the locality. We do employ suitably qualified dependents of serving soldiers and officers however with this there is the risk of constant ‘churn’ as they are often only at Pirbright for a posting of maximum of 2 years duration. We have noticed a continued trend this year of poor mental health amongst many of our staff many of whom are young and service dependents. This in turn impacts our staffing levels and ratios as there has been a lot of staff absence this year due to sickness and poor MH. Whether this is as a result of the ‘Lived Experience’ of service families is hard to quantify. Volunteers for the Committee. We are a committee run Pre School and some of our committee members left this year as they were either posted with their serving partner or Spouse or they retired from work and no longer wished to fulfil a voluntary role. Again, the long term impact of COVID has been a factor in this with people reassessing how they spend their time. It has been a real struggle to recruit the require minimum number of volunteers this is something that the Chairperson has addressed with Ofsted and Surrey Early Years. We have managed to find a number of volunteers to fulfil committee roles and they are now in the process of completing their DBS and EYFS paperwork to satisfy the requirements of Ofsted. Children on roll. Our numbers are at the lowest they have been for a number of years (around 16) in addition over one third of our children have been assessed as having addition SEN or requirements. Many children have delayed development again in line with current trends in other settings and nationally as a result of lack of socialization during COVID. This has increased the workload of the Manager and SENCO and requires an uplift in staffing on order to work one: one with specific children. Infrastructure issues The Pre School is predominantly accommodated in modular buildings some of which are in a very poor state of repair due to their age (over 30 years old) and a historical lack of proper investment by the

MOD. Despite a major renovation project in 2019 where a grant of 250k did improve some facilities recent surveys have found subsidence in one of the buildings which has resulted in its closure. Fortunately, this has not impacted our ability to remain open as the numbers on role are so low that they can be safely accommodated on other buildings. Whilst a considerable amount of work has been carried out by the Quartermasters department to look at repair and maintenance options alongside exploring grant options to fund building work against a backdrop of low numbers it has been deemed that this may not be necessary. Building of a new facility For a number of years there has been a proposal that a new Pre School/Childcare Setting would be built on the Defence Estate at Pirbright. When this plan was first mooted it was anticipated that this facility would be open in 2024. For a variety of reasons this date has continually slipped, and it is now projected to be opened by 2028. However various needs analysis by Surrey Early Years has identified that there may be enough childcare settings in the local vicinity to mean that this new facility may not be required. The location of this new setting ‘outside of the wire’ would have meant that the facility would have been accessible to a wider number of people both military and civilian meaning that the future of a Childcare setting at Pirbright would be secured. However as previously stated the dwindling number of children on roll combined with the date of the new build continually being put back presents a major risk to the settings continued viability. Rise in Living Wage and National Insurance Contributions The rise in the National Living wage and NI contributions mandated by the UK Government present a challenge for the setting. Against a backdrop of low numbers and a difficult recruiting environment we are constantly reviewing our income and expenditure. Whilst there has been a small increase in the funding, we receive from Surrey County Council, and we have reviewed our charges to ensure that they are competitive with other settings in the local area the inability to significantly increase our numbers on role places the future of the setting in jeopardy Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Elected and appointed by members of Peter Pan Pre School

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	All Trustees complete a DBS check and annual disclosure form, an EY2 Ofsted suitability application and a Charity Commission declaration. They are issued with an induction pack detailing the Code of Conduct, Management Committee Constitution, Job Description for the Officers positions, minutes of the last meeting and AGM. It also provides links to the key childcare and safeguarding legislation and guidance documents. Peter Pan Pre School adopts the Policies and Procedures advised in the guide to Occupational Standard for Management Committee Members of Small Voluntary organisations and Groups and the Charity Trustees Handbook. Trustees have completed training run by Surrey Early Years Business Team for Pre Schools in the Charitable Sector and attend meetings with Surrey Early Years advisors as appropriate.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The Pre School operates in a building owned and maintained by the Ministry of Defence under an Encroachment Licence. The Management Committee consists of serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, as well as parents of current and former children who attend the Pre School. All the Trustees are volunteers and do not receive any payments of expense for their time and commitment. All major financial decisions including staff salaries and wage increases, pensions and bursary applications are decided by the management Committee. The Manager adheres to a strict budget and all additional

		expenditure must be justified fully to the Committee before agreement is given. All grant applications are generally completed by the Chairperson or Treasurer.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	A real positive this year has been a complete change in the relationship the Pre School now has with the Commanding Officer and Chain of Command at Pirbright. This has now reestablished itself on the same secure footing that it was prior to 2021. The relationship is now once again collaborative and open, and the Chain of Command at Pirbright have been extremely proactive in a number of ways for example raising the profile of the setting and conducting a number of surveys to try and establish the need and increase the number of children on rol. They have represented the setting on meetings in the wider Community (Surrey County Council for example to raise our profile). They have made us aware of any funding opportunities and have the Community Engagement and Development Officer (CEDO) has been instrumental in assisting us with making contacts for volunteer days and recruiting opportunities. We now feel that we have a very supportive and collaborative working relationship which will help us navigate the challenges and difficulties ahead of us.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Peter Pan Pre School
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	10622788
Charity’s principal address	Peter Pan Pre School Alexander Barracks Pirbright Brookwood Woking SURREY GU24 0QQ 01483 798264

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Carol Miller MBE	Chairperson
	Lena Breunig	Secretary
	Michelle Loubser	DeputyChairperson

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Carol Miller Full name(s) Carol Miller MBE (Major Retired) Position (eg Secretary, Chairperson Chair, etc) Date 9 Jan 2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ The Peter Pan Pre-School Pirbright members of

On accounts for the year 31 March 2024 Charity no 1062788 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 and 2

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 25/01/2024 ~~J~~ Name: L J Dunford ~~Po~~ Relevant professional FCCA CTA qualification(s) or body:

Address: 4 Marigold Drive

Bisley

GU24 9SF

~~ee~~

October 2018

1

IER

CHARITY COMM15510N I FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Peter Pan Pre School Pirbright Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perfod from Perhjd art date 0110412023 Period end date 3110312024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fundg Restricted funds Endowment funds Tolal funds Last year trthe nearB £ to th nearest£ lo the nearest £ A1 Recelpts Fees Bank Intarest her Fundralsi Donations to the nearest£ 559 183 122.771 243 213 559 11800 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 87A80 136.027 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Sub total 87.480 87.48Q 136,027 A3Pa Salaries Pensions Other *endltur8 sU￿Y CC- lunding redaim Sn8¢ks lrnsuranee CourEes Resources & Actrvlties Gard8n equipmont Uniform Offl¢e Expenses IT and PFwJne Bank and other tharges TTrvel Fees Refund Aceountarty f•es Stsff Loan Donations to Charities Clèaning Events & FLindrai8ing 8ookkeèping ents 119,994 3,535 292 50 3,924 1A14 1.414 495 2.055 8,110 360 240 1.639 1510 2.$10 2,954 1,501 5.881 10 617 617 738 61 399 200 Sub total 105A74 105,5T4 149,774 A4 Asset and investrnenl pur¢hases. (see table) Sub total 105.574 1DS.574 149.774 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash fvnds this year end 18,1194 18.094 13,747 46,188 28. 46.188 28,1)94 59,935 46.188 CCXX R1 accounts (SSI 0610112025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest£ Restricted funds to rt•arest£ Endowment nds to nearest £ B1 Cash funds 5.000 De￿t 4059 Total cash funds 28,094 51) Unr•str•cW Restrictod funds funds lo ne4rnst£ to n•r•st £ Endowment funds to n•ar•$t £ Details B2 Oth&r monetary assets Details Fund to thich Cost {optlonal) Cutr•nt value tional JetrAiIS Fund to which CunEnt y￿u• n•1 B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Cost (op￿ne 3et2ils Fund to whl¢h liabll Artsount du• B5 Liabilities When du• Signed by one or t￿ trustees on behaff of all the trustees Sjgnature Print Name Date of proval CCXX R2 accounts {SS) 06n)112025