Little Otters Children’s Centre
Marshgate Camelford Cornwall PL329YN Tel: 01840 261593 e-mail: littleotterschildrenscentre@btinternet.com
Committee Annual Report 2022
The setting has had a busy year with the numbers of children rising towards the Summer Term of 2022 and remaining busy in September, despite losing our school leavers.
The setting was at full capacity by January 2023, which has never happened before. We started a waiting list for places and strived to accommodate parent’s needs, although this was not always possible.
We have remained a smaller staff team and reduced the amount of places available, as this seems to work for us financially and allows more space for the children to play.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff for their hard work and flexibility, which has enabled us to operate with a small team.
I would also like to thank the committee for their support over the last 12 months. We would not be able to operate without the commitment from our parent/carer volunteers. We will once again welcome new members to join our committee and look forward to another prosperous year ahead.
Staffing
The staffing has remained the same team of six for the past 12 months.
Billy Couch (Deputy Manager) started maternity leave at the beginning of June this year and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on the 8[th] June.
Nikki Furse (Relief Deputy) took on the Deputy Manager role while Billy is on maternity leave. Alisha Holmes took on the Relief Deputy role.
Louise Carter will be leaving at the end of the Summer term to start a new enterprise in Dog Grooming. We wish Louise all the best in her new career.
Lucas Finnerty joined the team on the 3[rd] July as a Level 2 apprentice. Lucas came to the setting 12 months ago on work experience and enjoyed it so much he has embarked on an apprenticeship with the setting.
The setting has continued to reduce its intake of children and we are currently offering 23 places per day (we are registered for 29 children). This reduction allows more space and reflects the reduction in staffing.
Children and funding
We currently have 38 children on role.
We have 2 children in receipt of 2 year old funding.
Registered charity 1079898 Ofsted Registration 103037
Little Otters Children’s Centre
Marshgate Camelford Cornwall PL329YN Tel: 01840 261593 e-mail: littleotterschildrenscentre@btinternet.com
We have 13 children in receipt of 30 hour funding.
We currently have 4 children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). 1 of these children has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
One child is awaiting the outcome of an EHCP.
We are in the process of requesting an EHCP for one child.
We currently have 5 children under the Speech and Language Therapy Service (SALT).
Fundraising report
The staff team organised a sponsored sports day event which raised £670.00.
We had to use fundraising money to replace the rear fence and gate at the setting as it was blown down in the extreme winds. This cost a total of £680.00.
We held a Christmas raffle which raised £131.50.
The setting held a clothes for schools event which raised £95.00.
Our committee member, Rachel Cairns, organised a raffle and for Little Otters to be the named charity at the Coombe Barton Quiz at Easter. This event raised £900.00.
The flooring in Pups Room was replaced in April. The worn carpet was replaced with wood effect flooring which matched Otters Room and the corridor. The flooring is very hard wearing and easier to keep clean. The total cost of this project was £1360.00.
Plans for the future
We remain cautious regarding financial reserves due to the current climate of high operating costs. It is important to us that we keep fees as affordable as possible for families, whilst operating a sustainable business.
Our plans for improvement are to replace the Altro flooring in both playrooms as the Altro (non-slip flooring) was laid in 2005 and is well worn.
We are currently looking at replacing the edge tiles on the roof.
We will continue to look out for any future funding opportunities as well as organising fund raising events to enable us to make further improvements to our setting.
Registered charity 1079898 Ofsted Registration 103037
- llllllll Iiiilliiiiiiiiii:, llllllllll lll Iollllllllllllllll . Illllllllllllllll ,, IiiilliiBII IIIBIIBII IiiilliiiiBIIIII ,
- llllllllll0lllll, . Illllllllllllllll , illii lllBIBI lllllll Ill lllllll Illlll_-llll Iiill
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees LITTLÉ orr£os Cl4iLDfl 'S CÉtskrec- On accounts for the year ended 2012 Charity no (if anyl 107g-E96 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year endeds I 12 2022 Rasponsibilities and basis of report As the charitys trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth 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 carying out my examination, I havÈ followed all the aprAicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ib) of the Act. IndÉDènd@nt examinels statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than Ihat disclosed below") which gives me cause to believe Ihat in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Charities Act" or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the forn and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports} Regulats"ons 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an irKlependent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s} or body @AéI7rf /i£gA/ Z£tJ /iA</ra IER Oct 2018
(if any): Address: Ccomkx &rt-cn I n Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of tharity acwunts: directions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examingr wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018