St Mary’s Church Nursery, Great Dunmow Registered charity no: 1120280 The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Trustees 1st September 2023 – 31st August 2024
1 Reference & Administrative Details
Address: St Mary’s Rooms, Church Street, Church End, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 2AD
Trustees: Tim Potter PCC Trustee and Chairman from 8/11/21 to date Revd Tom Warmington PCC Trustee (from 1/6/21 to date) Mrs Wendy Bowler PCC Trustee (1/4/2019 to date) Mrs Marzena Jeffrey Elected Parent Trustee (from May 2022 to date) Mrs Denise Kerwin Elected Parent Trustee (from 6/11/23 to 13/5/24) Mrs Michelle Edwards Secretary (from 1/1/2018 to date) Treasurer: Mr Malcolm Dulwich (from May 2022 to date) Independent Examiner of Accounts: Mr Mike Best Nursery Supervisors: Mrs Claire Smith with Mrs Helen Worthington Bank: Barclays Bank PLC, (Dunmow branch until closed August 2022) Solicitor: Wade & Davies 28 High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1AH
2 Structure Governance & Management
St Mary’s Church Nursery: Charitable Unincorporated Association, established 1st September 1997. Charitable Status achieved: 16th October 2006. GD3 model constitution as governing document (which will need to be updated).
Objectives and Activities
Aim: to provide education for children aged 2-5 years whose parents/guardians live or work within the Uttlesford District Council area and to advance their education in accordance with Christian principles and to do so with respect for other religious beliefs.
Management: Governing body of up to 5 Trustees who meet annually. The management committee meet once per term to discuss Nursery business. The management committee are directly responsible to the Trustees who meet as necessary but at least once per year. The PCC Trustees report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting about Nursery activities. The Parent Trustees report to parents at the Nursery Annual General Meeting in November. Ofsted & Pre-School Learning Alliance offer safeguarding advice.
3 Financial Review to 31st August 2024
The Nursery is funded from parents who pay for their child’s sessions together with government funding of Nursery places. Malcolm Dulwich continues as Treasurer (appointed from May 2022). Accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis and reported to the management committee termly. They were independently examined by Mike Best. The Nursery has a cash balance of £110,560 (at 31/8/24) of which £50,721 is held in deposit accounts.
Reserves Policy (from the Financial Policy Document)
The Nursery has a contingency reserve to £20,000 as a provision in case of sudden closure and or winding up of the charity.
Why does the Nursery need this reserve?
St Mary’s Church Nursery holds at least £20,000 in reserve as it is a requirement for winding up, continuation, or interim building replacement in case of emergency. It represents 2 terms running costs and redundancy payments for all nursery staff should the nursery have to close.
What is level of other reserves held? Some £70,000 is informally designated to provide the Nursery with options to improve the current accommodation after consultation and approval by St. Mary’s PCC or for future accommodation either in its own building or to move to another building.
Arrangements for monitoring & reviewing of this policy : Annually by Trustees.
4 Funds held as Custodian Trustees
A CAF Bank account was opened in October 2009 as an investment. This is now with Scottish Widows.
5 Activities, Achievements and Performance
This has been a busy year for the Nursery. Numbers have been very good with most sessions full. There have been no safeguarding concerns within the Nursery. However, there are a number of children who have needed extra support. There was one non-verbal child, one who is on a one plan (showing signs of autism) and a number whose speech is not where it should be for their age and stage of development. These add to the workload of the staff.
We have a great staff team ably led by Helen and Claire and all work tirelessly to provide the very best opportunities for the children to progress. Nikki Hamilton completed her training for Level 3 in the summer of 2024 and is now a full member of the staff. The Nursery is still seeking a suitably qualified fifth member of staff.
New furniture and resources have been purchased and the Trustees thank the Managers for their hard work sourcing these items which have greatly improved the learning experience for the children. The Nursery has an excellent website (www.stmarysnurserydunmow.co.uk) and also uses its Facebook page to publicise its activities.
The Trustees thank Denise Kerwin for being elected as a Parent Trustee representative from November 2023 and regret that due to family circumstances she had to step down in May 2024. We hope to fill the vacancy at the AGM in November 2024.
The Trustees thank Malcolm Dulwich for being honorary treasurer and Mike Best who was appointed as Independent Examiner and gave the Nursery accounts a clean report.
From January 2022 the Trustees decided that at least the National Living Wage should be implemented annually with a corresponding percentage increase for the Managers. The Trustees, fully aware of the current cost of living crisis, reviewed and increased wages in January 2024 and will review all wages again in January 2025.
The Trustees are grateful for the fundraising efforts of staff and others which help to provide the best equipment possible for the children.
The Trustees value the support of the church PCC and are grateful for the redecoration of the Church Room’s Hall during the summer holidays and for the new stackable chairs.
6 Public Benefit
The nursery’s benefits to public include evidence that primary children gained from us, settle quickly and easily into reception classes. Consequently, their work and development there is enhanced. By providing the appropriate early years foundation education, excellent preparation for school is achieved along with the satisfaction of receiving good external assessment from parents, primary schools, St Mary’s Church PCC, Ofsted and the Pre-School Learning Alliance which are all measurable.
7 Future Plans
• To continue to monitor the Nursery role, income levels and careful use of resources • To look to achieve the best possible accommodation for the Nursery.
Tim Potter Chairman of Trustees (as at 31 August 2024)
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|St Mary's Church Nursery Great Dunmow|1120280|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|01/09/2023|31/08/2024|
|To|
|from|
|e|e|e|
|Section A Receipts and payments|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Total funds|Last year|
|funds|funds|funds|
|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|
|Fees from Parents|11,950|-|-|11,950|13,770|
|Fees from Essex County Council|74,563|-|-|74,563|48,126|
|Interest|638|-|-|638|315|
|Consumable contributions|1,329|1,329|616|
|Grants|500|-|-|500|
|Fundraising|305|-|-|305|437|
|Miscellaneous|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|(Gross income for|
|-|-|89,285|63,264|
|AR)|[ 89,285 ]|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|(see table).|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|—————_——|Total receipts|89,285|-|-|89,285|63,264|
|A3 Payments|
|Premises - Rent|4,464|-|-|4,464|4,158|
|Repairs|4,411|-|-|4,411|-|
|Staffing|56,938|-|-|56,938|55,042|
|Insurance and PSLA|861|-|-|861|822|
|Ofsted|50|-|-|50|50|
|Equipment|10,739|-|-|10,739|1,099|
|Admin|107|-|-|107|331|
|Course Fees|-|-|-|26|
|Childrens supplies|2,644|-|-|2,644|1,812|
|Website|432|-|-|432|-|
|EE Internet|637|637|1,127|
|Sub total|[ 81,283 ]|-|-|81,283|64,467|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases,|(see table)|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-|
|—|Total payments|—————|81,283|-|-|81,283|64,467|
|Net of receipts/(payments)|8,002|-|-|8,002|-1,203|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|- -|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|102,558|- -|102,558|103,761|
|Cash funds this year end|===|110,560|-|- 110,560|>>|102,558|
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
14/11/2024
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities |
Details Cash Current Bank Account Barclays Reserve Account CAF Bank Bond (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Total cash funds Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - 59,839 - 30,721 20,000 - 110,560 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
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| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
14/11/2024
2
Inde endent Examiner, $Re Great Dunmow Essex ort to the Trustees of St Ma 's Nurse I report on the accounts of St Mary's Nursery. Dunmow (Registered Charity No. 1120280) for the year ended 31 st August 2024 which are set out on the following page. Res cctive res nsibilities of trustees and examiner. The charity's trustccs are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 201 l Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responstbility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 . follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Mb} of the 2011 Act state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of inde ndent examinevs r • My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 next statement. Inde endent examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: ( l ) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material r¢S¢t the requirem ents: • to keep accounting records in accordance with sedion 130 of the 201 l Act and section 44{ I Xa) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements ofthe 201 l Act and section 44( I Xb) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 9 of the 2006 Regulations have not bcen met or (2) which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of th¢ accounts to be rea¢h¢d. Michael C Best 19, Lower Millfi¢ld, Dunmow CM6 1 EN October 23, 2024