Trustees Report for Toddington Childcare & Forest School for the financial period 01 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers
Charity Registration Number – 1092562
C/O ST GEORGE LOWER SCHOOL MANOR ROAD TODDINGTON BEDFORDSHIRE LU5 6AJ
Trustees at current date
Sarah Malcolm (Chair), Shelley Tebbutt (Treasurer), Jacqueline Pearce (Secretary).
Trustee’s 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023 Sarah Malcolm - (Chairperson) Shelley Tebbutt - (Treasurer) Jacqueline Pearce – (Secretary) Katie Shanks – September 2022 Sarah White – June 2023 Claire White – until January 2023 Helena Benet – until September 2022
Structure, governance and management
Toddington Childcare & Forest School is an unincorporated, registered charity that has been operating for in excess of 20 years. The constitution was adopted on the 15[th] May 2002 and amended 17[th] April 2008.
The setting was established under a constitution, which identified the objectives and powers of the setting. The trustees are appointed by the current members of the committee/trustees and voted in at the AGM. Trustees complete DBS checks and EY2 Suitability checks through Ofsted in line with statutory requirements and give their time for free with no financial benefit. There is a trustee and indemnity insurance in place to manage risk. The environment is checked daily for H&S risk and risk assessments are used in relation to activities and equipment.
The work of Toddington Childcare & Forest School is overseen by the committee and the committee meet twice a term. They can also be in daily email contact working collaboratively with the Setting Manager who has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the setting.
The Management structure consists of a full time Setting Manager, who is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Lead SENDCo for the setting. The Setting Manager holds a Level 4 Early Years Advanced Practitioner accreditation, Level 4 SENDCo Award, a Level 3 in Supporting Children and Young People’s Speech, Language and Communication, a Principles in Forest Schooling Award, DSL Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment training and holds a full and relevant Paediatric First Aid certificate. The Setting Manager is supported in the office by the Business Administrator and a Level
3 SENDCo, who are both Paediatric First Aid trained. The Setting Manager is supported in the day to day planning and running of the setting by her Pre-School Deputy and Club Deputy for wrap around and Holiday Clubs. The setting’s Pre-School Deputy is also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and holds full and relevant training. Both Deputy Managers hold full and relevant Early Years Level 3 qualifications, Level 3 Forest School Lead certificates and full Paediatric First Aid Certificates. Our three Pre-School rooms are led by Level 3 Early Years Room Leads, who also hold full and relevant Paediatric First Aid Certificates. All staff in the setting hold an Enhanced DBS check and are on the update service as part of Safer Recruitment procedures and in line with Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.
Public benefit statement
The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Objectives and activities
Our main activity is to deliver high quality Early Years Care and Education for children aged 12 months to 5 years, Out Of School and Wraparound Care during term time for children aged 2 to 9 years and a Holiday Club for children aged 2 to 9 years out of term time. Our aim at Toddington Childcare & Forest School is to provide a safe environment which is both happy and secure where children and adults can learn and develop. We plan and provide a wide range of activities and resources which are inclusive for all children in our care, to ensure children attending our setting have access to a varied and stimulating curriculum to support them in achieving their best outcomes.
In order to do this we employ an Early Years Setting Manager and qualified Early Years Educators who undertake daily short term and medium term planning of the curriculum and activities to meet the individual needs and interests of the children attending the setting. We use a key person approach to work in partnership with parents and to track children’s progress and plan next steps to support our children’s learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. We ensure our staff have access to regular training opportunities so we can continue to successfully meet the needs of children in our care. We promote the importance of the learning environment and endeavour to make this as stimulating as possible. We develop positive relationships with parents and carers and value all children as individuals. We help the children in our care to be happy and secure. We have policies and procedures in place for all aspects of safeguarding, child protection and health and safety, and the Setting Manager holds regular monthly staff meetings and inset days for staff training purposes to ensure continued professional development of all staff. The Setting Manager meets with her staffing team regularly for Supervisions and annual Personal Development Plans. Toddington Childcare & Forest School is also a member of the Early Years Alliance.
Achievements and performance
We have a stable and proactive core committee of dedicated volunteers who continue to support our Setting Manager and Staff fundraising efforts, as well as helping hands with improvements to our Setting environment. During this period the committee have helped to organise and refresh one
of our Pre-School Rooms by helping to paint the inside environment. The classroom, children’s toilets and small office area were painted using more neutral tones for our older Giraffe Room children to create a calm and more natural learning environment. An area in the small office connected to the Giraffe Room has been furnished with large beanbags and sensory equipment to create an area to support young children regulate their emotions and a space for 1:1 SEND support.
In the Summer Term 2023, our dedicated staff team have been working hard to make improvements to the outdoor learning environments and through proactive fundraising efforts including our Christmas card project, Christmas Dinner Day, and successful bake sale, we have been able to raise funds to remove an old shed and outdoor shelter, arrange to cut some overhanging trees back and pave the area, which has enabled staff to develop a larger and safe open play space for our Giraffe Room children to enjoy. We were able to purchase some quality outdoor play equipment with funds raised, including a new combined climbing wall/slide and have obtained large tyers, cable reels, paint and wooden crates, combined with some creativity to develop a new outdoor construction and small world play area.
Our Panda Room has had a new outdoor sheltered area erected and our Zebra Room has had some new safe fencing erected to replace worn fencing, as well as repairs to a sunken sand pit in the garden.
Our Setting Manager continues to promote and encourage a culture of continued professional development within her team to support and extend their knowledge, skills and qualifications. All staff hold full and relevant Pediatric First Aid training certificates that meet the requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. All of our staffing team continue to keep their Safeguarding and Health and Safety training updated annually through the Bedfordshire Safeguarding online training platform and the Central Beds Learning Management System, including Fire Procedures, Prevent, FGM and Food Safety and Hygiene training. Our Setting Manager, Pre-School Deputy Manager and Giraffe Room Lead have also completed virtual training via TEAMS for Designated Safeguarding Leads and Safer Recruitment. We continue to have regular monthly staff training meetings, and use the HAST school inset training days to clean down and hold staff training meetings which include knowledge quizzes to keep up to date with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, any updates in Safeguarding, SEND, Health and Safety and to celebrate successes together as a whole team, as well as discuss and plan events and fundraising moving forward.
During this period, Toddington Childcare & Forest School have been able to maintain the highest Level 5 Food Hygiene Rating from an Environmental Health Inspection visit in February 2023. We continue to strive on a daily basis as a team to provide high quality care and Early Years education, planning a varied, broad, stimulating and well-sequenced curriculum for all children in our care at Toddington Childcare & Forest School, to help them achieve their best outcomes and prepare for their next steps in education and school readiness. This was reflected in our Ofsted (June 2022) report. Particular acknowledgements were made in safeguarding, making reference to the Setting Manager ensuring all children are kept safe and secure, the strong relationships Managers and staff establish from the start with families including home visits, how children benefit from the attention of kind and caring staff, knowledgeable staff who demonstrate children’s stages of development in detail, that children are happy and motivated to learn and access a broad range of experiences through a well-sequenced curriculum, that children behave well and staff support children to begin to understand and regulate their own feelings and emotions, and that all children, including children with SEND are well prepared for their next step in learning.
We continue to share in our children’s progress, achievements and successes and have hosted regular integrated Health Reviews during this period at the setting, working in partnership with our Community Nursery Nurse and our parents, hosted two successful Parents Evenings in November 2022 and May 2023 which were both very well attended. We have implemented a successful Summer Term transition program and have regularly liaised with teaching staff at Toddington St. George School to arrange visits to and from the school to prepare our children for smooth transitions and their next steps in their learning as they prepare for school. We continue to share information on our TCC Facebook page with our families and finished the year with a wonderful Summer Term 2023 Sports Morning for all to enjoy.
A financial review
The settings reserves are split between £60,000 in restricted funds and £12,000 in unrestricted funds, with total net assets £77,000. The setting has reported a deficit of £11,000 this year however, there are no current concerns over the charities going concern.
The total income for the period is £340,000. The charity’s principal sources of funds are collected from two income streams; government funded childcare and parent funded childcare. Government funded childcare comes from Central beds in relation to children aged 3-4yrs who are entitled to free 15 or 30 childcare hours and also 2 year funding (criteria must be met). Parent funded childcare is the invoiced childcare outside the government funded hours, this also includes all wraparound and holiday clubs.
The total expenditure for the period is £351,000. The main expenditure is wages for our childcare staff who deliver the EYFS and enable the setting to meet the key objectives of the charity.
Net incoming resources for the period is a deficit of £11,000.
We have no investment accounts.
A detailed breakdown of income and expenditure can be found in the annual accounts.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s):
Full name (s): Sarah Malcolm, Shelley Tebbutt, Jacqueline Pearce
Position (e.g. Chair, Treasurer, Secretary):
Date: 30 June 2024
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Toddington Childcare
I report on the accounts of Toddington Childcare for the year ended 31 August 2023, which are set out on pages 2 to 9.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that the audit requirement of section144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. I am qualified to undertake that examination as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)b of the 2011 Act
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner's report
This examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items 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 consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In carrying out my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that proper accounting records are kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
accounts have been prepared which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations, or:
(2) to which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Gavin James ACCA
74 Luton Road Chalton Bedfordshire LU4 9UG
30 June 2024
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Statement of Financial Activities for the 12 Month Period ended 31st August 2023
| Incoming Resources (Note 2) Voluntary Income Activities for Generating Funds Investment Income Other Incoming resources Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended (Note 3) Costs of generating funds Activities for Generating Funds Costs Charitable activities Governance costs Total Resources Expended Net Incoming Resources Transfer to Building Fund Total Funds brought forward Total Funds carried forward Incoming resources from generated funds Incoming resources from charitable activities |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 147,187 0 147,187 119,597 2,635 0 2,635 1,472 60 0 60 2 190,062 0 190,062 197,373 0 0 0 0 339,944 0 339,944 318,445 630 0 630 475 348,139 5,272 353,411 308,307 2,203 0 2,203 3,901 350,972 5,272 356,244 312,683 (11,028) (5,272) (16,300) 5,762 0 0 0 0 22,659 65,358 88,017 82,255 11,631 60,085 71,717 88,017 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 147,187 0 147,187 119,597 2,635 0 2,635 1,472 60 0 60 2 190,062 0 190,062 197,373 0 0 0 0 339,944 0 339,944 318,445 630 0 630 475 348,139 5,272 353,411 308,307 2,203 0 2,203 3,901 350,972 5,272 356,244 312,683 (11,028) (5,272) (16,300) 5,762 0 0 0 0 22,659 65,358 88,017 82,255 11,631 60,085 71,717 88,017 |
|---|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
| TODDINGTON CHILDCARE | TODDINGTON CHILDCARE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet as at | |||||||
| 31 August | 2023 | ||||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||||
| Funds | Funds | This Year | Last Year | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Fixed Assets | |||||||
| Tangible Assets | (Note 4) | 1,755 | 50,088 | 51,843 | 57,553 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||||
| Debtors | (Note 6) | 11,096 | 11,096 | 6,825 | |||
| Stock of T Shirts | (0) | (0) | 0 | ||||
| Cash at Bank | 9,211 | 10,000 | 19,211 | 28,276 | |||
| Cash in Hand | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 20,306 | 10,000 | 30,306 | 35,101 | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within | |||||||
| one year | (Note 7) | 5,159 | 0 | 5,159 | 4,638 | ||
| Net Current Assets | 15,147 | 10,000 | 25,147 | 30,464 | |||
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities | 16,903 | 60,088 | 76,990 | 88,017 | |||
| Funds of the Charity | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds | 11,631 | 11,631 | 22,659 | ||||
| Restricted funds | (Note 9) | 60,087 | 60,087 | 65,358 | |||
| Total Funds | 11,631 | 60,087 | 71,719 | 88,017 | |||
| These accounts were approved on …………………………………..2024 | |||||||
| Chairman ………………S Malcolm | |||||||
| Secretary | J Pearce | ||||||
| Treasurer ………………S Tebbutt |
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
1 Accounting Policies
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost and in accordance with The Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014, and with the Charities Act
The accounts have been prepared on an Accruals basis.
Income is recognised when the charity becomes entitled to that income and expenses are recognised as the liability falls due. Grants and Donations are included in the SoFA when recognised .
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised where their life expectancy is in excess of 12 months and their value is considered significant by the trustees. The following rates of depreciation have been applied:
Computers 1/3 on cost per annum Other Equipment 20% on cost per annum Buildings- New 4% on cost per annum Buildings- Introduced by Toddington After School Club 10% of introductory valuation per annum.
All play equipment is treated as consumable and charged to expenditure as incurred.
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
| 2 Voluntary Income Local Authority fee funding Bursary Activities for Generating Funds Fundraising events (Note 5) Donations Sundry income Investment Income Bank Interest Fees Uniform Milk Refunds Other Incoming resources Grant - CJRS Grant - Small Business Grants Incoming resources Incoming resources from charitable activities |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 147,187 147,187 119,597 0 0 0 147,187 0 147,187 119,597 2,285 2,285 1,211 350 350 261 0 0 0 2,635 0 2,635 1,472 60 0 60 2 190,008 190,008 197,373 54 54 0 0 0 0 190,062 0 190,062 197,373 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 147,187 147,187 119,597 0 0 0 147,187 0 147,187 119,597 2,285 2,285 1,211 350 350 261 0 0 0 2,635 0 2,635 1,472 60 0 60 2 190,008 190,008 197,373 54 54 0 0 0 0 190,062 0 190,062 197,373 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
| 3 Resources Expended Activities for generating funds costs Fundraising events (Note 5) Charitable activities Rent & Rates Light & Heat Wages & NI Pension Scheme Costs Group Life Ins. Insurance Play Consumables Shopping HR Support Cleaning & Hygine Premises Exps: Repairs & Renewals Premises Exps: Security & Fire Computer software & maintenance Staff Training Uniform Telephone Membership Subs Depreciation of equipment Depreciation of building Provision for Doubtful Debts Governance costs Stationery Bank Charges Accountancy (Note 3a) Miscellaneous costs Depreciation of computer Uniform |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 630 630 475 1,345 1,345 1,303 6,572 6,572 4,882 280,340 280,340 247,561 12,480 12,480 10,402 558 558 494 3,658 3,658 2,764 10,134 10,134 9,000 8,015 8,015 6,566 0 0 0 3,417 3,417 4,308 5,312 5,312 6,228 0 0 0 4,410 4,410 4,718 1,194 1,194 857 668 668 0 2,934 2,934 2,962 1,013 1,013 440 439 439 549 0 5,272 5,272 5,272 378 378 0 348,139 5,272 348,139 308,307 656 656 627 102 102 92 1,445 1,445 1,884 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,298 2,203 0 2,203 3,901 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 630 630 475 1,345 1,345 1,303 6,572 6,572 4,882 280,340 280,340 247,561 12,480 12,480 10,402 558 558 494 3,658 3,658 2,764 10,134 10,134 9,000 8,015 8,015 6,566 0 0 0 3,417 3,417 4,308 5,312 5,312 6,228 0 0 0 4,410 4,410 4,718 1,194 1,194 857 668 668 0 2,934 2,934 2,962 1,013 1,013 440 439 439 549 0 5,272 5,272 5,272 378 378 0 348,139 5,272 348,139 308,307 656 656 627 102 102 92 1,445 1,445 1,884 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,298 2,203 0 2,203 3,901 |
|---|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
3a Fees for the Examination of the Accounts
All Accountancy fees were paid for the independent examination of the charities accounts.
3b Staff Costs
No employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) for the year of more than £60,000.
| 3c Average Staff Headcount Average number of staff employed in the year 3d Contributions to Pension Scheme Contributions made to a defined contributions scheme all relating to the Unrestricted Fund activities £ |
This Year Last Year 18 18 This Year Last Year £ £ 12,209 10,402 |
|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
| 4 Tangible Assets Computer and equipment Cost As at 31 August 2022 Additions Disposals As at 31 August 2023 Depreciation As at 31 August 2022 Charge for the year Disposals As at 31 August 2023 Net book value As at 31 August 2023 As at 31 August 2022 Buildings Cost As at 31 August 2022 Additions Disposals As at 31 August 2023 Depreciation As at 31 August 2022 Charge for the year Disposals As at 31 August 2023 Net book value As at 31 August 2023 As at 31 August 2022 Total Tangible Assets As at 31 August 2023 As at 31 August 2022 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 25,003 0 25,003 25,003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25,003 0 25,003 25,003 22,809 0 22,809 22,260 439 0 439 549 0 0 0 0 23,248 0 23,248 22,809 1,755 0 1,755 2,194 2,194 0 2,194 2,743 0 141,807 141,807 141,807 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 141,807 141,807 141,807 0 86,448 86,448 81,177 0 5,271 5,271 5,271 0 0 0 0 0 91,719 91,719 86,448 0 50,088 50,088 55,359 0 55,359 55,359 60,630 1,755 50,088 51,843 57,553 2,194 55,359 57,553 63,373 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds This Year Last Year £ £ £ £ 25,003 0 25,003 25,003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25,003 0 25,003 25,003 22,809 0 22,809 22,260 439 0 439 549 0 0 0 0 23,248 0 23,248 22,809 1,755 0 1,755 2,194 2,194 0 2,194 2,743 0 141,807 141,807 141,807 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 141,807 141,807 141,807 0 86,448 86,448 81,177 0 5,271 5,271 5,271 0 0 0 0 0 91,719 91,719 86,448 0 50,088 50,088 55,359 0 55,359 55,359 60,630 1,755 50,088 51,843 57,553 2,194 55,359 57,553 63,373 |
|---|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended
31 August 2023
5 Fundraising events
| Income Expenses £ £ T Shirts (Note 5a) 54 54 Halloween Fun Day 17 0 Poppy Donation 0 0 Children In Need 30 30 Christmas Dinner 269 128 Christmas Cards 215 30 Valentines Day 0 0 Comic Relief 43 43 Mothers Day 0 0 Easter 0 0 Fathers Day 0 0 Easy Fundraising 159 0 Made locally 800 0 Bake Sale 512 0 Giraffe room painting/refurb 816 345 2,915 630 5a Stock of T Shirts Opening stock of T Shirts Purchased in the year Sold in the year (at cost) Staff Uniform (at cost) Stock at 31 August 2023 6 Debtors Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ Prepayments 0 Debtors 11,096 Provision for Doubtful Debts 0 11,096 0 7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Prepaid fees 1,586 Charitable activities 0 Governance costs 0 Pensions payable 1,107 Accrued expenses 2,467 5,159 0 |
Surplus Last Year £ £ 0 405 17 20 0 0 0 0 141 69 185 350 0 312 0 0 0 121 0 97 0 25 159 261 800 261 512 0 471 0 2,285 1,920 This Year Last Year £ £ 0 405 668 0 (54) (405) (615) (0) 0 Total Total This Year Last Year £ £ 0 0 11,096 6,825 0 0 11,096 6,825 1,586 1,693 0 0 0 0 1,107 1,042 2,467 1,903 5,159 4,638 |
|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
8 Analysis of income and expenditure
| Income Fees Local Authority fee funding Grants-General Bursary and Apprentiship Funding Donations Fundraising Bank Interest Sundry Sales of uniforms Expenses Rent & Rates Light & Heat Wages & NI Pension Scheme Costs Group Life Ins. Insurance Play Consumables Shopping HR Support Cleaning & Hygine Premises Exps: Repairs & Renewals Premises Exps: Security & Fire Computer software & maintenance Staff Training Uniform Telephone Sundry expenses Membership Subs Depreciation of equipment Depreciation of building Provision for Doubtful Debts Surplus before Governance costs LESS Governance costs (Note 3) Surplus / (Deficit) for the year Reconciliation with Statement of Financial Activities Surplus/(Loss) for the year as per above Grants Received General Net Incoming Resources as per Statement of Financial Activities |
Total Total This Year Last Year £ £ 190,008 197,373 147,187 119,597 0 0 0 0 350 261 2,285 1,211 60 2 0 0 54 0 339,944 318,445 1,345 1,303 6,572 4,882 280,340 247,561 12,480 10,402 558 494 3,658 2,764 10,764 9,475 8,015 6,566 0 0 3,417 4,308 5,312 6,228 0 0 4,410 4,718 1,194 857 668 0 2,934 2,962 378 0 1,013 440 439 549 5,272 5,272 0 0 348,768 308,782 (8,824) 9,663 2,203 3,901 (11,028) 5,762 (11,028) 5,762 0 0 (11,028) 5,762 |
|---|---|
TODDINGTON CHILDCARE
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended
31 August 2023
9 Restricted Fund
| Restricted Fund | |
|---|---|
| The Restricted Fund is made up of three components as follows: Fund for the purchase of the Old Building in 2007/08 (10 year life) Less Amortised to date Fund for the purchase of the New Building in 2007/08 (25 year life) Less Amortised to date Transfer from Unrestricted Fund in 2015 for the replacement of the Old Building Total Fund as at 31 August 2023 |
Total Total This Year Last Year £ £ 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 0 0 131,806 131,806 81,719 76,448 50,087 55,358 10,000 10,000 60,087 65,358 |
Trustees Report for Toddington Childcare & Forest School for the financial period 01 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers
Charity Registration Number – 1092562
C/O ST GEORGE LOWER SCHOOL MANOR ROAD TODDINGTON BEDFORDSHIRE LU5 6AJ
Trustees at current date
Sarah Malcolm (Chair), Shelley Tebbutt (Treasurer), Jacqueline Pearce (Secretary).
Trustee’s 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023 Sarah Malcolm - (Chairperson) Shelley Tebbutt - (Treasurer) Jacqueline Pearce – (Secretary) Katie Shanks – September 2022 Sarah White – June 2023 Claire White – until January 2023 Helena Benet – until September 2022
Structure, governance and management
Toddington Childcare & Forest School is an unincorporated, registered charity that has been operating for in excess of 20 years. The constitution was adopted on the 15[th] May 2002 and amended 17[th] April 2008.
The setting was established under a constitution, which identified the objectives and powers of the setting. The trustees are appointed by the current members of the committee/trustees and voted in at the AGM. Trustees complete DBS checks and EY2 Suitability checks through Ofsted in line with statutory requirements and give their time for free with no financial benefit. There is a trustee and indemnity insurance in place to manage risk. The environment is checked daily for H&S risk and risk assessments are used in relation to activities and equipment.
The work of Toddington Childcare & Forest School is overseen by the committee and the committee meet twice a term. They can also be in daily email contact working collaboratively with the Setting Manager who has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the setting.
The Management structure consists of a full time Setting Manager, who is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Lead SENDCo for the setting. The Setting Manager holds a Level 4 Early Years Advanced Practitioner accreditation, Level 4 SENDCo Award, a Level 3 in Supporting Children and Young People’s Speech, Language and Communication, a Principles in Forest Schooling Award, DSL Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment training and holds a full and relevant Paediatric First Aid certificate. The Setting Manager is supported in the office by the Business Administrator and a Level
3 SENDCo, who are both Paediatric First Aid trained. The Setting Manager is supported in the day to day planning and running of the setting by her Pre-School Deputy and Club Deputy for wrap around and Holiday Clubs. The setting’s Pre-School Deputy is also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and holds full and relevant training. Both Deputy Managers hold full and relevant Early Years Level 3 qualifications, Level 3 Forest School Lead certificates and full Paediatric First Aid Certificates. Our three Pre-School rooms are led by Level 3 Early Years Room Leads, who also hold full and relevant Paediatric First Aid Certificates. All staff in the setting hold an Enhanced DBS check and are on the update service as part of Safer Recruitment procedures and in line with Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.
Public benefit statement
The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Objectives and activities
Our main activity is to deliver high quality Early Years Care and Education for children aged 12 months to 5 years, Out Of School and Wraparound Care during term time for children aged 2 to 9 years and a Holiday Club for children aged 2 to 9 years out of term time. Our aim at Toddington Childcare & Forest School is to provide a safe environment which is both happy and secure where children and adults can learn and develop. We plan and provide a wide range of activities and resources which are inclusive for all children in our care, to ensure children attending our setting have access to a varied and stimulating curriculum to support them in achieving their best outcomes.
In order to do this we employ an Early Years Setting Manager and qualified Early Years Educators who undertake daily short term and medium term planning of the curriculum and activities to meet the individual needs and interests of the children attending the setting. We use a key person approach to work in partnership with parents and to track children’s progress and plan next steps to support our children’s learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. We ensure our staff have access to regular training opportunities so we can continue to successfully meet the needs of children in our care. We promote the importance of the learning environment and endeavour to make this as stimulating as possible. We develop positive relationships with parents and carers and value all children as individuals. We help the children in our care to be happy and secure. We have policies and procedures in place for all aspects of safeguarding, child protection and health and safety, and the Setting Manager holds regular monthly staff meetings and inset days for staff training purposes to ensure continued professional development of all staff. The Setting Manager meets with her staffing team regularly for Supervisions and annual Personal Development Plans. Toddington Childcare & Forest School is also a member of the Early Years Alliance.
Achievements and performance
We have a stable and proactive core committee of dedicated volunteers who continue to support our Setting Manager and Staff fundraising efforts, as well as helping hands with improvements to our Setting environment. During this period the committee have helped to organise and refresh one
of our Pre-School Rooms by helping to paint the inside environment. The classroom, children’s toilets and small office area were painted using more neutral tones for our older Giraffe Room children to create a calm and more natural learning environment. An area in the small office connected to the Giraffe Room has been furnished with large beanbags and sensory equipment to create an area to support young children regulate their emotions and a space for 1:1 SEND support.
In the Summer Term 2023, our dedicated staff team have been working hard to make improvements to the outdoor learning environments and through proactive fundraising efforts including our Christmas card project, Christmas Dinner Day, and successful bake sale, we have been able to raise funds to remove an old shed and outdoor shelter, arrange to cut some overhanging trees back and pave the area, which has enabled staff to develop a larger and safe open play space for our Giraffe Room children to enjoy. We were able to purchase some quality outdoor play equipment with funds raised, including a new combined climbing wall/slide and have obtained large tyers, cable reels, paint and wooden crates, combined with some creativity to develop a new outdoor construction and small world play area.
Our Panda Room has had a new outdoor sheltered area erected and our Zebra Room has had some new safe fencing erected to replace worn fencing, as well as repairs to a sunken sand pit in the garden.
Our Setting Manager continues to promote and encourage a culture of continued professional development within her team to support and extend their knowledge, skills and qualifications. All staff hold full and relevant Pediatric First Aid training certificates that meet the requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. All of our staffing team continue to keep their Safeguarding and Health and Safety training updated annually through the Bedfordshire Safeguarding online training platform and the Central Beds Learning Management System, including Fire Procedures, Prevent, FGM and Food Safety and Hygiene training. Our Setting Manager, Pre-School Deputy Manager and Giraffe Room Lead have also completed virtual training via TEAMS for Designated Safeguarding Leads and Safer Recruitment. We continue to have regular monthly staff training meetings, and use the HAST school inset training days to clean down and hold staff training meetings which include knowledge quizzes to keep up to date with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, any updates in Safeguarding, SEND, Health and Safety and to celebrate successes together as a whole team, as well as discuss and plan events and fundraising moving forward.
During this period, Toddington Childcare & Forest School have been able to maintain the highest Level 5 Food Hygiene Rating from an Environmental Health Inspection visit in February 2023. We continue to strive on a daily basis as a team to provide high quality care and Early Years education, planning a varied, broad, stimulating and well-sequenced curriculum for all children in our care at Toddington Childcare & Forest School, to help them achieve their best outcomes and prepare for their next steps in education and school readiness. This was reflected in our Ofsted (June 2022) report. Particular acknowledgements were made in safeguarding, making reference to the Setting Manager ensuring all children are kept safe and secure, the strong relationships Managers and staff establish from the start with families including home visits, how children benefit from the attention of kind and caring staff, knowledgeable staff who demonstrate children’s stages of development in detail, that children are happy and motivated to learn and access a broad range of experiences through a well-sequenced curriculum, that children behave well and staff support children to begin to understand and regulate their own feelings and emotions, and that all children, including children with SEND are well prepared for their next step in learning.
We continue to share in our children’s progress, achievements and successes and have hosted regular integrated Health Reviews during this period at the setting, working in partnership with our Community Nursery Nurse and our parents, hosted two successful Parents Evenings in November 2022 and May 2023 which were both very well attended. We have implemented a successful Summer Term transition program and have regularly liaised with teaching staff at Toddington St. George School to arrange visits to and from the school to prepare our children for smooth transitions and their next steps in their learning as they prepare for school. We continue to share information on our TCC Facebook page with our families and finished the year with a wonderful Summer Term 2023 Sports Morning for all to enjoy.
A financial review
The settings reserves are split between £60,000 in restricted funds and £12,000 in unrestricted funds, with total net assets £77,000. The setting has reported a deficit of £11,000 this year however, there are no current concerns over the charities going concern.
The total income for the period is £340,000. The charity’s principal sources of funds are collected from two income streams; government funded childcare and parent funded childcare. Government funded childcare comes from Central beds in relation to children aged 3-4yrs who are entitled to free 15 or 30 childcare hours and also 2 year funding (criteria must be met). Parent funded childcare is the invoiced childcare outside the government funded hours, this also includes all wraparound and holiday clubs.
The total expenditure for the period is £351,000. The main expenditure is wages for our childcare staff who deliver the EYFS and enable the setting to meet the key objectives of the charity.
Net incoming resources for the period is a deficit of £11,000.
We have no investment accounts.
A detailed breakdown of income and expenditure can be found in the annual accounts.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s):
Full name (s): Sarah Malcolm, Shelley Tebbutt, Jacqueline Pearce
Position (e.g. Chair, Treasurer, Secretary):
Date: 30 June 2024