Lit$le Ottnrs
Children's Centre
Marshgate Camelford Cornwall PL329YN
Tel: 01840 261593 e-mail: littleotterschildrenscentre@btlnternet.com
Committee Annual report for 2024
Little Otters Children's Centre has had another successful year, remaining busy
throughout the year.
Little Otters small, staff team have remained the same over the last 12 months.
The introduction of 9 month plus funding for working parents in September
2024 has had a real positive impact on the setting. We are getting more
enquiries for this younger age group.
We have had the opportunity to extend our provision through applying for
capital grant funding. We chose not to do this as extending provision costs
money and impacts on staffing. It has not been easy to recruit Early Years staff
over the last few years and the setting has opted to employ staff through the
apprenticeship route. It takes 18 months to 2 years for staff to gain
qualification, so does not provide the immediate answer to staffing ratios.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff team for their hard work
and flexibility over the last 12 months.
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.
Staffln
The staffing remains a team of five level 3 qualified practitioners. One staff
member on an Early Years level 2 apprenticeship
Vikki Thomas- Manager- holds a BA Hons in Early Childhood Studies and
Early Years Professional Status. Level 3 Forest School Leader.
Billy Couch - Deputy Manager (Job share) returned from maternity leave in
February 2024. Billy holds a Level 3 in Childcare and Education and a level 3 in
Leadership and Management.
Nikki Furse- Deputy Manager (Job share) - holds a Level 3 in Childcare and
Education.
Registered charity 1079898
Ofsted Reglstration 103037

Lit, le Otters
Children's Centre
Marshgate Camelford Cornwall PL329YN
Tel: 01840 261593 e-mail: llttleotterschildrenscentre@btinternet.com
Alisha Holmes- Relief Deputy Manager- holds a level 3 in childcare and
education.
Holly Lashbrook- Pups Room assistant- holds a level 3 Early Years Educator.
Charlotte Waters - Otters Room assistant- holds a level 3 in Pre-school
practice. Charlotte is undertaking a level 2 Early Years Educator apprenticeship.
Children and fundin
We currently have 25 children on role.
We have 7 children with 9 month plus funding.
We have 4 children with 2 year funding.
We have 13 children with 3/4 year funding, 10 of which have 30 hour funding.
Fundralsln
re
ort
A bags to schools event raised £46.00
A sponsored sports day event which raised £380.00.
Tesco blue tokens raised £IOOO.00 towards flooring.
Bingo event at the Wilsey Down raised £1142.14
The flooring and some of the building repairs are now completed.
The soft tarmac in the front garden had to be prioritised as it had begun to
separate and break up causing a trip hazard. We were able to use the balance
from our fundraising account and our contingency fund to replace the tarmac
at a total cost of £14570.00.
Plans for the future
We still need a new canopy to be fitted over the door to replace the current
one. Drainage stones around the building to be replaced.
We are also looking at refurbishing our sleep room so we can accommodate
another cot. Due to the funding being extended for 9 months plus children to
Registered charlty 1079898
Ofsted Registration 103037

Litl.le Ottors
Children's Centre
Marshgate Camelford Cornwall PL329YN
Tel: 01840 261593 e-mall: littleotterschildrenscentre@btlnternet.com
30 hours in September 2025, we need to prioritise the sleep room ahead of the
outer building repairs.
The extended funding has changed the logistics of the setting as we are now
finding we have more demand for younger children. We are being more
flexible in meeting current demand. We have already reduced the amount of 3
& 4 year old spaces available as we now include some 2 year olds in Otters
Room and in the ratio. This enables more spaces for children under 2 in Pups
Room.
We are looking forward to the year ahead and pride ourselves on being
adaptable, sustainable and providing a valuable service for families in our local
community.
Reglstered charlty 1079898
Ofsted Regl8tratlon 103037

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CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to tho trustses
LITTL& orr&Ls crtlLDQEbJ'S cÈf4lT£
On accounts for the year
ended
Charlty no
(if any)
1019898
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ('the Trust") for the year ended
Responsibllltles and
basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Indopendent
examlner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm Ihat no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance 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
Con￿rning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter
conside￿d as part of an independent examination.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed:
Dats:
/}.V-2)-
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
6 rt ACL(¥)￿lIng D4 lee
IER
Oct 2018

(if any):
Address:
6 LLffÉiZCW G,
obJr)Sfo
723 or
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and
guidance for examiners).
Glve horo brlef details of
any ltsms that the
examlner wlsh68 to
dlscloso.
IER
Oct 2018