’ ’ - St Mary s Nursery Chairperson s Report for 2021
Introduction
The nursery has experienced a challenging year against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic but has responded proactively and successfully to deal with obstacles which have arisen. This year, the new staff and trustee teams have adjusted well to their new positions, creating a strong team to support staff and nursery children through the pandemic.
The nursery has remained popular within the local community with excellent numbers of children attending, increasing as the year has gone on. The nursery has been at full capacity since April 2021. Pupil numbers for the next financial year are already extremely promising which augurs well for the future.
The financial control of the nursery is very well managed and it continues to be overseen by our Treasurer. Fundraising has improved from last year through a combination of exceptional parent/career support, active staff and the local community. This has enabled the nursery to fundraise for particular large scale projects such as outdoor play equipment and improvements to the play surface area.
The Staff
The nursery team has flourished under the management of Laura Rudrum since she took up her new role as Nursery Manager. Together with the support of the new Deputy Manager, Nicola Whitehouse, the staff have built a supportive, proactive and creative environment.
The 1:1 Support Practitioner appointed in September 2020 will also continue in a Nursery Practitioner role for the coming year which brings extra strength and depth to the staff team.
Louise Adams continues as Cover staff so we have someone to call upon where needed in those circumstances. This provides additional support and flexibility for lunch cover and at times of staff sickness.
The Board
There were several changes to the Board at the last AGM which saw Jessica Bromley become Chair, Sarah Holyhead, Treasurer and we welcomed a new trustee, Nicky Summers. Diana Gibbs continued as Secretary and Nominated Person for Ofsted and Lauren Hancock remained the Safeguarding trustee representative.
We are looking to recruit new trustees to the Board as the majority of trustees have children who will be leaving the nursery in Sept 2021. We hope to appoint a new trustee at the AGM who has a child starting in September and would like the opportunity to be on the committee. We follow the recruitment procedures and undertake the necessary checks when appointing new trustees.
The Chair continues to conduct half termly appraisals with the manager. These have continued to be virtually throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, the trustees have been unable to undertake their half termly observations within the nursery setting due to covid restrictions. We will look at reintroducing these when it is safe to do so. The Board has continued to issue a Trustee newsletter on a termly basis to raise awareness of activities, events, fundraising and any other news for parents and carers.
The Board continues to meet bi-monthly to discuss any issues and this has also been conducted virtually this year. The meetings are a forum to agree actions, discuss issues and manage any actions raised by the Nursery Manager. Communication between trustees has continued to be electronically
which allows for swift decisions and a record of agreements. Board members also have specific areas of responsibility such as H&S and Safeguarding which allows trustees to provide another level of support to staff.
Financial Results
The Nursery accounts continue to be managed online which has proven to be efficient for managing the movement of funds, paying and authorising invoices and providing a clear and up to date financial overview of our accounts at any time. This is especially important when the board are discussing expenditure and forward planning. The Treasurer prepares a monthly report which is presented and discussed at the bi-monthly trustee meetings. This provides the opportunity to discuss purchasing requirements, large scale spending proposals and future spend by agreement through the Board. Over the years a priority list of spending projects has been developed. This is revisited at the trustee meetings and reviewed regularly.
The nursery is dependant on fee income, mostly in the form of local authority free entitlement funding received through Shropshire Council. Our income from parents fees were lower than normal due to reduced session uptake during the height of the pandemic. This increased during the Summer term when our sessions were at full capacity. Our income also reflects the trend of the Autumn term producing less income as pupil numbers are usually lower whilst parents wait to access the free 15/30hrs entitlement funding from January for the remainder of the year.
The nursery finances have been closely managed over the past year as always but also in light of the uncertainty arising from the pandemic. The Nursery Manager, Chair and Treasurer in particular, have monitored expenditure and limited it to essential spend. We have not had to borrow money from our Reserves this year which was positive but going forward we have decided to introduce a Sustainability Fee (a voluntary payment) from September 2021. This should help us continue to provide a full and varied Early Years Education programme including enrichment activities such as Music Sessions run by Shropshire Music Service.
We undertook the planned wage review in March 2021 which also responded to the increase in minimum wage levels which were introduced in April 2021.
Community & Fundraising
The Board, as a whole, contribute to the fundraising drive and work together on ideas and fundraising projects. Similarly to last year, Covid-19 has impacted our usual fundraising events such as the popular Summer Garden Party. However, through the excellent support of parents and local community groups we have managed to raise a substantial amount this year.
We received £500 from the Albrighton Craft Group to fund new outdoor creative toys. Staff arranged a #Walkamarathon and the Crown pub and Next Door Bar also arranged an Easter raffle, which together, funded the new sustainable garden play equipment. These kind donations are very much appreciated by the Board.
Outlook
St Mary’s Nursery continues to have a bright future with new staff, management and committee members all settling well into their new roles. The number of children booked to continue in September along with new pupils starting is very promising so we look forward to a successful year.
The nursery team have managed the challenges of Covid-19 over the past year and will continue to plan and prepare for the new academic year to meet any future demands, restrictions or changes which may arise. We have the financial controls in place to make sensible, informed financial decisions for the charity.
The nursery continues to have strong links with St. Mary’s CE Primary School through the Nursery Manager and school Headteacher. Unfortunately, activities such as Hall Time and lunch club, usually held at the school, have not gone ahead due to the pandemic. The transition for children to Reception class has also been impacted but nursery staff have continued to support children through this and arranged for the Reception class teachers to visit the nursery and meet the children.
The Board will continue to foster close working relations with the Nursery Manager and her team. The new staff have transitioned well into their new roles and this bodes well for whatever future challenges we face. Supporting the children and providing a safe, welcoming environment for them to flourish is fundamental to the nursery and the staff and Board will continue to fully support this.
This challenging year has proven how important the support from staff, parents, trustees and the local community is to creating a thriving education setting. We would like to thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement and we look forward to seeing the Nursery develop further.
Conclusion
St. Mary’s Nursery remains a small but popular nursery within the local area. We are positive that the nursery will be well supported and continue to thrive underpinned by a resilient, talented staff and trustee team.
ST IIARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON year ended 31ST DECEMBER 2020
ST MARY'S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Otganisatitsn St Mary's Nursery Grtsup (Albrightonl is governed in aecordanee with the Pre-Sch¢>ol Learning Allianee Pre-Seh¢>ol Constitution 120111 adopted on 17th November 2015 and is a registered charity (Number L0885841. The eharity, s address is- The Bungalow. St Mary's C E Primaty Sehool. Shaw Lane. Albrighton. Wolverhampton WV7 3DS. The Charity Trustees appointed by the Annual General Meeting held on 23rd September 2020 were Jessica Brornley Ichairl. Diana Gibbs (Secretary and Nominated Person). Sarah Holyhead (Treasurer). Lauten Hancock and Nieola Summers. Chatityl Management Trusteeu are appointed at General Meetings. unless eo-opted. Revd Roger Balkwill and Jonathan Nelson served as Custodian Trustees throughout the year. Mrs Melanie Jones eontinued in her role as manager until August 2020 when she left her post to take up a new role. Mrs Laura Ruarum was appointed as the new manager and has been in the position since. The setting's latest Ofsted assessment is "Outstanding" Aim The aim of the Group etsntinued to be the provisitsn of exeellent pre-school education. Advisets Accountants- Miss J S Slater FCA (independent examinetl Solicitors: Ellipse HR Ltd Finanees The charity is dependent on fee income. mostly in the forn of local authority funding. for nutsery places. Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown the nursery continued to receive local authority funding fot nursery places as agreed prior to the pandemic. This has helped supp¢>rt the nursery through this challenging period when income from other fees was lowet. The Charity Trustees agreed to hold the Annual General Meeting on 13th July 2021 when these aecounts will be presented. The charity banks with TSB Bank Plc. The attached financial statements show the state of the charity's finances at the end of the year. On behalf of the Trustees Sarah Holyhead Treasurer 12th July 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ST MARY'S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON ON THE ACCOUNTS I report on the aeeounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st Deeember 2020 set out on pages 3 Respeetive resp¢>nsibilities of trustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation 0£ the accounts- you consider that the audit requirement of seetion 144121 of the Charities Aet 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Aet and to state. on the basis of procedures specifiea in the General Directions given by the Charity CoTrrLission under section L45151 Ibl of the 2011 Aet. whether particular matters have co]lle to my attention. Basis tsf independent examiner, s repott My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Co]umission. An exajllination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison 0£ the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual ite]us or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and eonsequently I do not exptess an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Statement In eonnectitsn with my examination. no matter has come to my attention- la) whieh gives rLe reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements- li) t¢> keep aeeounting reetsrds in aecotdanee with seetitsn 130 tsf the 2011 Act- and lill tts prepare aeeounts whieh aeeord with the aeeounting reeordts and to eomply with the accounting requitements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. have not been met: Ib) tts which. in my opinion. attentitsn uhtsuld be drawn in order tts enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slater 28 Bradford Street Shifnal TFII 8AU 12th July 2021
ST IL4RY' S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Inetsme Dtsnations (none speeif ie) School fees Shropshire Ctsunty Couneil Other Fundraising Interest reeeived 30 1.855 53.229 5.L54 871 38 59.173 9.351 2.057 106 Ttstal income 59.322 72.542 Direct charitable expenditure Ftovision of nursery schooling Rent and rates Insurance Light. heat and water Teachers, wages and ancillary costs Activities and Treals Telephone and broadband Stationery and postage Advertising and website Repairs Cleaning Sundries Depreciation Buildings insurance Amortisation of play area. kitchen and fencing Aceountancy 1.000 521 1.299 49.363 409 768 400 54 580 2.401 704 895 461 685 600 1.000 536 1.556 53.269 887 1.056 621 1.284 3.080 673 949 441 686 600 Ttstal expenditure 60.140 67.815 Net (deficit) Isurplus for the year Fund balanee brought forward 8181 23.096 4.727 18.369 Fund balance earried ftsrwatd 22.278 23.096
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Tangible assets Ftoperty refurbishment Equipment Intangible assets Gtsodwill 3.068 4.247 3.753 5.017 8.771 Current assets Debtots and prepaid expenditure Cash at bank Cash in hand 966 29.728 988 30.694 18.736 Creditors Creditors amounts falling due within one year 1.911 Net current assetu 16.825 Ttstal assets less eurtent liabilities 24.788 25.596 Represented by: General purpose fund Repairs fund EYFP fund 22.278 2.500 23.096 2.500 24.788 25.596 For and on behalf of the trustees Jessiea Brtsmley 12th July 2021
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Basis of accountin8 The aecounts have been prepared in aceordanee with the historical eost convention and th8 Staternent of Recornmended Ftaetice on Aeeounting by Charities. Depreciation Depreciation is provided on the cost of tangible assets in order tts write off those assets over theit antieipated lives. The rates used are as follows.. Prtsperty Equipment 10 year8 10 year8 enditure on nurser schoolin Rent and rates The sehool premises are held on a twelve year lease from Shropshire Council commencing in 2011. The group has been granted exernption from rates . Employees remunerat ion There were an average of five part-time teaehing staff employed during the year (2019 an average of six part time). A part- tine cleaner was also employed. Costs in respect of these employees: Wages and salaries Stscial security cost Pension cost 48.850 53.329 1.070 49.920 54.457 Nts remuneration was paid ot payable either diteetly tsr indirectly to any trustee or person known to be connected with any of the]u 12019 £nil) No reimbursement of expenses has been made or is due to be made tts any of the trustees in tespect of the year.
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Ref urbishment trLent Total Ctsst At 1st January 2020 Additions Disposals Dtsnation 15.547 15.466 125 31.013 125 15.547 31.138 Depreciation At 1st January 2020 Charge for the year Disposals 10.449 895 22.243 1.580 685 12.479 11.344 23.823 Net book value At 31st Deeember 2020 3.068 4.247 At 31st December 2019 3.753 5.017 8.770 Additions are stated at cost or at valuation where gifted. Creditors amounts fal lin due within one ear Creditors include £11.596 teceived in the year frtsm Shropshire County Council relating to the year ending 31st December 2021 12019 £nil ) airs fund Nts transfer was made tts the fund in 2020 120L9 £nil) A small balanee of funds reeeived in 2020 remains in hand at 3Lst Deeejllbet 2020 12019 £nill
ST IIARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON year ended 31ST DECEMBER 2020
ST MARY'S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Otganisatitsn St Mary's Nursery Grtsup (Albrightonl is governed in aecordanee with the Pre-Sch¢>ol Learning Allianee Pre-Seh¢>ol Constitution 120111 adopted on 17th November 2015 and is a registered charity (Number L0885841. The eharity, s address is- The Bungalow. St Mary's C E Primaty Sehool. Shaw Lane. Albrighton. Wolverhampton WV7 3DS. The Charity Trustees appointed by the Annual General Meeting held on 23rd September 2020 were Jessica Brornley Ichairl. Diana Gibbs (Secretary and Nominated Person). Sarah Holyhead (Treasurer). Lauten Hancock and Nieola Summers. Chatityl Management Trusteeu are appointed at General Meetings. unless eo-opted. Revd Roger Balkwill and Jonathan Nelson served as Custodian Trustees throughout the year. Mrs Melanie Jones eontinued in her role as manager until August 2020 when she left her post to take up a new role. Mrs Laura Ruarum was appointed as the new manager and has been in the position since. The setting's latest Ofsted assessment is "Outstanding" Aim The aim of the Group etsntinued to be the provisitsn of exeellent pre-school education. Advisets Accountants- Miss J S Slater FCA (independent examinetl Solicitors: Ellipse HR Ltd Finanees The charity is dependent on fee income. mostly in the forn of local authority funding. for nutsery places. Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown the nursery continued to receive local authority funding fot nursery places as agreed prior to the pandemic. This has helped supp¢>rt the nursery through this challenging period when income from other fees was lowet. The Charity Trustees agreed to hold the Annual General Meeting on 13th July 2021 when these aecounts will be presented. The charity banks with TSB Bank Plc. The attached financial statements show the state of the charity's finances at the end of the year. On behalf of the Trustees Sarah Holyhead Treasurer 12th July 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ST MARY'S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON ON THE ACCOUNTS I report on the aeeounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st Deeember 2020 set out on pages 3 Respeetive resp¢>nsibilities of trustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation 0£ the accounts- you consider that the audit requirement of seetion 144121 of the Charities Aet 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Aet and to state. on the basis of procedures specifiea in the General Directions given by the Charity CoTrrLission under section L45151 Ibl of the 2011 Aet. whether particular matters have co]lle to my attention. Basis tsf independent examiner, s repott My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Co]umission. An exajllination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison 0£ the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual ite]us or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and eonsequently I do not exptess an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Statement In eonnectitsn with my examination. no matter has come to my attention- la) whieh gives rLe reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements- li) t¢> keep aeeounting reetsrds in aecotdanee with seetitsn 130 tsf the 2011 Act- and lill tts prepare aeeounts whieh aeeord with the aeeounting reeordts and to eomply with the accounting requitements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. have not been met: Ib) tts which. in my opinion. attentitsn uhtsuld be drawn in order tts enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slater 28 Bradford Street Shifnal TFII 8AU 12th July 2021
ST IL4RY' S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Inetsme Dtsnations (none speeif ie) School fees Shropshire Ctsunty Couneil Other Fundraising Interest reeeived 30 1.855 53.229 5.L54 871 38 59.173 9.351 2.057 106 Ttstal income 59.322 72.542 Direct charitable expenditure Ftovision of nursery schooling Rent and rates Insurance Light. heat and water Teachers, wages and ancillary costs Activities and Treals Telephone and broadband Stationery and postage Advertising and website Repairs Cleaning Sundries Depreciation Buildings insurance Amortisation of play area. kitchen and fencing Aceountancy 1.000 521 1.299 49.363 409 768 400 54 580 2.401 704 895 461 685 600 1.000 536 1.556 53.269 887 1.056 621 1.284 3.080 673 949 441 686 600 Ttstal expenditure 60.140 67.815 Net (deficit) Isurplus for the year Fund balanee brought forward 8181 23.096 4.727 18.369 Fund balance earried ftsrwatd 22.278 23.096
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Tangible assets Ftoperty refurbishment Equipment Intangible assets Gtsodwill 3.068 4.247 3.753 5.017 8.771 Current assets Debtots and prepaid expenditure Cash at bank Cash in hand 966 29.728 988 30.694 18.736 Creditors Creditors amounts falling due within one year 1.911 Net current assetu 16.825 Ttstal assets less eurtent liabilities 24.788 25.596 Represented by: General purpose fund Repairs fund EYFP fund 22.278 2.500 23.096 2.500 24.788 25.596 For and on behalf of the trustees Jessiea Brtsmley 12th July 2021
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Basis of accountin8 The aecounts have been prepared in aceordanee with the historical eost convention and th8 Staternent of Recornmended Ftaetice on Aeeounting by Charities. Depreciation Depreciation is provided on the cost of tangible assets in order tts write off those assets over theit antieipated lives. The rates used are as follows.. Prtsperty Equipment 10 year8 10 year8 enditure on nurser schoolin Rent and rates The sehool premises are held on a twelve year lease from Shropshire Council commencing in 2011. The group has been granted exernption from rates . Employees remunerat ion There were an average of five part-time teaehing staff employed during the year (2019 an average of six part time). A part- tine cleaner was also employed. Costs in respect of these employees: Wages and salaries Stscial security cost Pension cost 48.850 53.329 1.070 49.920 54.457 Nts remuneration was paid ot payable either diteetly tsr indirectly to any trustee or person known to be connected with any of the]u 12019 £nil) No reimbursement of expenses has been made or is due to be made tts any of the trustees in tespect of the year.
ST MARY, S NURSERY GROUP ALBRIGHTON Ref urbishment trLent Total Ctsst At 1st January 2020 Additions Disposals Dtsnation 15.547 15.466 125 31.013 125 15.547 31.138 Depreciation At 1st January 2020 Charge for the year Disposals 10.449 895 22.243 1.580 685 12.479 11.344 23.823 Net book value At 31st Deeember 2020 3.068 4.247 At 31st December 2019 3.753 5.017 8.770 Additions are stated at cost or at valuation where gifted. Creditors amounts fal lin due within one ear Creditors include £11.596 teceived in the year frtsm Shropshire County Council relating to the year ending 31st December 2021 12019 £nil ) airs fund Nts transfer was made tts the fund in 2020 120L9 £nil) A small balanee of funds reeeived in 2020 remains in hand at 3Lst Deeejllbet 2020 12019 £nill