Charity Number 1136552
Montessori Education for Autism
Report of the Trustees and
Independently Examined Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Montessori Education for Autism
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees of the Charity | 1 |
| Reference and administrative details of the charity | 1 |
| Statement of Financial Acitivities | 2 |
| Balance Sheet | 3 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 4 - 5 |
| Accounting Policies | 6 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 7 |
| Report of the Trustees | 8 - 12 |
| Testimonials | 13 |
Montessori Education for Autism
Trustees of the Charity
Wendy Fidler ** Chair, Academic Director Roger Patenall ** Treasurer Shalini Modi ** Ashok Kumar Rachel Spooner David Stott Delphine Marcillaud Katalin Lovassy
** Members of the Executive Committee
Reference and administrative details of the charity
Charity Registered Number 1136552
Registered Office
Montessori House, 135 Westcombe Hill, Blackheath, London, SE3 7DP
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd
Insurance Brokers
Northern Counties Insurance LLP
page one
Montessori Education for Autism
| Statement of Financial Activities | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note Incoming resources Voluntary income 1 Activities 2 Investment Income 3 Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Charitable activities 4 Governance costs 5 Total resources expended Movement in total funds for the year Total funds at 1 January 2021 Total funds at 31 December 2021 |
Restricted Funds 2021 £ 5,985 5,985 5,985 5,985 0 0 0 |
Unrestricted Funds 2021 £ 68,399 31,096 4 99,499 94,439 500 94,939 4,580 30,132 34,712 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 74,384 31,096 4 105,484 100,424 500 100,924 4,580 30,132 34,712 |
Total funds 2020 £ 80,077 35,748 22 |
| 115,847 | ||||
| 103,960 400 |
||||
| 104,360 | ||||
page two
Montessori Education for Autism
| Balance Sheet | as at 31 December 2021 | as at 31 December 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note Current Assets Petty Cash Floats Debtors 7 Total at Bank Creditors Due within one year 8 Charity Funds Unrestricted Funds 9 Restricted Funds 9 |
£ | 2021 £ 34,712 34,712 34,712 - 34,712 |
£ | 2020 £ |
| 195 6,573 28,444 35,212 500 |
254 3,833 26,045 30,132 - |
30,132 | ||
| 30,132 | ||||
| 21,582 8,550 |
||||
| 30,132 |
The notes and policies on pages 4 to 6 form part of these Financial Statements
The Financial Statements were approved by the Trustees on 8th January, 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Roger Patenall FCA
page three
Montessori Education for Autism
| Notes to the Financial Statements | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | for the year ended 31 December 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Voluntary Income Donations Gift Aid 2 Income from Activities Registrations Donations to Nurture Groups Donations for SEN & Waldon Training MEfA Conferences & Events Other fundraising 3 Investment Income Bank Interest 4 Expenditure on Charitable Activity Summary by Fund Type: General Overheads Administration costs Nurture Groups SEN & Waldon Training MEfA Conferences & Events Summary by expenditure type: Overheads and Admin Nurture Groups SEN & WaldonTraining MEfA Conference & Events |
Restricted Funds 2021 £ 5,985 5,985 - - - - - - - |
Unrestricted Funds 2021 £ 51,667 16,732 68,399 430 23,512 6,360 - 794 31,096 4 2,603 6,067 82,901 9,178 155 100,904 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 57,652 16,732 74,384 430 23,512 6,360 - 794 31,096 4 2,603 6,067 82,901 9,178 155 100,904 8,670 82,901 9,178 155 100,904 |
Total Funds 2020 £ 65,232 14,845 |
| 80,077 | ||||
| 400 29,385 5,730 - 233 |
||||
| 35,748 | ||||
| 22 | ||||
| 1,859 9,678 85,021 7,802 - |
||||
| 104,360 | ||||
| 11,537 85,021 7,802 - |
||||
| 104,360 |
page four
Montessori Education for Autism
Notes to the Financial Statements, continued
| 2021 £ 5 Employee In 2020 there was one employee (2019 - one) involved in the provision of charitable activity There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more. 6 Governance Costs Accountancy Costs 400 Meeting Expenses - Bank charges - Postage - 400 7 Net Income This is stated after charging Accountancy Fees 400 During the year, no Trustee received any remuneration for acting as a Trustee (2019 - nil) During the year, no Trustee received any benefits in kind (2019 - nil) During the year, no Trustee received any reimbursement of expenses (2019 - nil) 8 Debtors Trade debtors, due within one year 2,750 Donation Pledged - Sundry Debtors 1,083 9 Creditors Expense accrued, due within one year ## Statement of funds Brought Incoming Resources Forward Resources Expended £ £ £ Unrestricted funds 21,582 Restricted funds 8,550 30,132 0 0 |
2020 £ 400 - - - |
|---|---|
| 400 | |
| 400 2,750 - 1,083 - Carried Forward £ 21,582 8,550 |
|
| 30,132 |
page five
Montessori Education for Autism
Accounting Policies
1. Basis of preparation of the Financial Statements
The Financial Statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and with applicable accounting standards.
The books of account are kept on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with Charity Commission advice for a charity of this size. The Financial Statements have been prepared making adjustments to reflect timing differences between the receipt and payment of monies and the year in which the activity takes place.
Payments of deposits to landlords in respect of rent obligations have been carried forward as debtors.
2. Fund Accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for specific purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with the specific restrictions imposed by donors and which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.
3. Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with accuracy. Gifts in Kind donated to the charity are included at valuation (subject to de minimis) and recognised as income at the time of receipt.
No amounts are included in the Financial Statements for services donated by volunteers. Donated services or facilities are included in income (subject to de minimis) at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such cost is quantifiable and measureable. Income Tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time funds are received from HMRC.
4 Resource expended
All expenditure is accounted for at the time the funds are expended, except where detailed in note 1 above. Where costs cannot be be directly attributed to one particular activity they have been allocated, so far as is practicable, on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Governance costs are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and in compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
page six
Montessori Education for Autism
Report of the Independent Examiner to the trustees of Montessori Education for Autism for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Respective Responsibilities of the trustees and of the Examiner .
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
(1) examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
(2) follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and
(3) state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s statement.
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records 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 the 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 connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to:
keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act, have not been met, and furthermore, there are no matters to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Richard W Carey London.
26[th] March, 2022
Page seven
Montessori Education for Autism
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021
The trustees present their Annual Report together with the Financial Statements of Montessori Education for Autism (‘the charity’ also ‘MEfA’) for the year ended 31 December 2021. The trustees confirm that the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the charity comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”.
Covid 19
In 2020 we broke with tradition by starting our Trustee Report with what we hoped would be a one-off review of the charity’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic. Sadly, this subject remains the dominant factor that has affected all of our activities again in 2021, and already our return to school in January 2022 has been marked by Covid 19 related changes and complications.
In line with all educational establishments in England we remained closed during January and February 2021, and reopened in March. Due largely to the strict protocols that we had in place, and the unrelenting efforts of the staff to constantly clean and disinfect every item after every class, MEfA was then able to remain open throughout the remainder of 2021.
This availability was much appreciated by many families for whom MEfA is their weekly ‘life-line’. However, from the point of view of the charity this came with a heavy financial cost. Numbers of families attending were varying from under one half of the normal enrolment to just under two thirds. However, the costs remain fixed for the most part regardless of numbers, and, once again, the HM government furlough scheme provided the difference between remaining solvent and having to close.
As in 2020, we were unable to hold any of our usual conferences and other events, again with a negative impact on our finances.
Page eight
Montessori Education for Autism
Structure, governance and management:
a) Organisational structure and decision making:
Trustees
All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity in their role as Trustees.
The trustees consider that the Board of Trustees provides a wide spectrum of experience to MEfA. This experience covers autism, special needs education, the principles of learning devised by Dr Maria Montessori and others and also provides an insight into care and education in countries other than the United Kingdom.
b) Risk Management
The trustees are aware of their obligations and the need to provide a safe, healthy environment in which staff, volunteers, visitors and clients and their families can have confidence.
Policies are in place, and are reviewed on a regular basis, covering, inter alia, Protection of Children and Vulnerable People; Health and Safety, Use of Cameras and Mobile Recording Devices, Data Protection and Staff, Trustee and Visitor protocols, which include induction into the ethics, standards and procedures of MEfA.
Objectives and Activities:
a) Aims and Objectives
Our charity’s objectives are as set out in The Objects clause of our constitution which was adopted on 28 February 2009. In summary, these are to benefit the public by advancing the education of children with autism (and conditions related to autism) through methods of learning and education developed by Dr Maria Montessori
A full report on our activities in 2020 and how we have strived to achieve these objectives appears at the section headed Achievements and Performance below and in our Covid 19 report above.
b) Public Benefit
This year, again, all of our activities have provided immediate and visible benefit to those with special needs (principally autism related), their families and their carers. MEfA aims to keep its objects under review and to continue directing its energies to those who may benefit from the expertise of its people.
Page nine
Montessori Education for Autism
Achievements and Performance:
a) Activity Report
All our child and parent activities, and assessments, are held at Montessori House. These groups continue their evolution from an Early Intervention Class for very small children and their parents with a strong focus on developing children’s social, sensory, communication, language and coordination skills. Our flagship project, the Montessori Moles after-school nurture group for children ages 4-11 years, often operating at capacity, helping children who are struggling to access their education at primary school because of difficulties associated with autism, such as sensory issues, social, communication and physical difficulties, anxiety, low self-esteem and poor self-regulation which often leads to behavioural problems.
We now have the following groups running each week during term time:
-
Baby Montessori (children aged up to 12-15 months);
-
Toddler Montessori (children aged from 15–36 months: 2 weekly groups);
-
Montessori Inclusive School (children aged from 2-9 years: 3 weekly groups);
-
Montessori Moles: After-School Nurture Group (aged 4-12 years: 1 weekly group);
-
Forest School / Wellbeing Sessions (two weekly groups);
-
After School Montessori Enrichment Group (aged 4-12 years: This group is temporarily suspended).
We are hugely indebted to the number of volunteers and interns who have supported our activities this year; we have a continuing stream of interest and enquiries about this aspect of our work. We are grateful also to the young people from overseas who have spent time with us in spite of the cumbersome procedure of obtaining the necessary visas.
By 31[st] December 2021 we had completed 22 cohorts of the MEfA Montessori post-graduate SEN CPD Short Course: Part 1 - A Blueprint for Observation, and as a result we have trained teachers, psychologists, social workers, early years educators, parents, a choreographer, an environmental designer, and other mastersgrade students so they can apply Montessori special education methodology and philosophy to their work, thus providing other avenues for reaching out to children and adults with autism. We are also justifiably proud of our increasing professional links with mainstream organisations.
In 2021 a reduced number of children registered to our various sessions at Montessori House which was to be expected, and it seems that there will be an ongoing requirement for social distancing in the coming months, which will again limit the numbers that register with us and thus enable us to meet the restrictions.
b) Financial matters
b.1) Funding
The total income of MEfA for 2021 was £105,484 (2020 - £115,847). Expenditure amounted to £100,904 (against £104,360 in 2020). General overheads in 2021 amounted to £2,103 (2020 - £1,859). The Trustees believe that this level of overhead is acceptable for a charity of this size and includes: Subscriptions made, Insurance, Fundraising, Bank and credit card charges and Professional Fees. The increase in 2021 includes a small increase in the fee of the Examining Accountant, the first such increase since 2012.
These financial results reflect the exceptionally challenging fundraising climate faced by MEfA in 2021, but also demonstrate the responsive manner in which the trustees have been able to match the expenditure to the income available.
Page ten
Montessori Education for Autism
The trustees attach great importance and commensurate effort into raising as much of our financial needs from the activities run on a regular basis, and thereby minimise our dependence upon grants from outside donors. This policy will continue during 2022 Nevertheless, MEfA is extremely grateful to the donors listed below, and acknowledges that such donations will continue to be a vital part of our funding programme.
b.2) Donations
During 2021, grants, donations (including in kind) and funds were received from the following:
The Julia & Hans Rausing Charitable Trust (Special Covid Fund) The Kelly Family Charitable Trust (Special Covid Fund) The Stephen Taylor Foundation The Bimal Family Royal Borough of Greenwich (Neighbourhood Growth Fund) Greenwich GoodGym (who were unable to visit in 2021, but whose previous work continued to enhance the MEfA environment throughout 2021) The Page Family Design for Print
MEfA is grateful to all donors, including many whose time has been freely given but are not acknowledged above.
b.3) Expenditure
As noted elsewhere, trustees are not reimbursed in respect of their activities as trustees and no expenses have been reimbursed to trustees during the year.
In accordance with Charity Commission guidelines the accounts have been kept using the receipts and payments method. In the Financial Statements, Deposit rents paid to agents of the landlord in respect of the properties at 135 and 135A Westcombe Hill are carried forward as prepayments. Payment of certain expenses (principally Insurance) for 2022 has been made in December 2021 and is carried forward as a prepayment.
Expenditure has been tightly controlled during 2021. The one major item purchased was a 12ft by 6ft quality greenhouse constructed in wood and toughened glass, which is already transforming the range of activities within the Forest School. This project was funded for the most part by The Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund, with the balance, being the earthwork and concrete base, funded by a private donation.
Page eleven
Montessori Education for Autism
Investment Review
MEfA funds not immediately required are held on a bank deposit account. In this time of continuing negligible investment returns, the trustees consider that any extra returns that may be earned by seeking other uses for funds are outweighed by the inherent risks in taking such action.
Plans for the future and Appreciation
At the time of preparation of this report, the outlook for 2022 remains very unclear, in spite of the success of the Covid vaccines programme. Our Forest School continues to be developed with an eye to the longer term future. Elsewhere our plans are all focussed on ensuring the more immediate future of the charity.
The gratitude of our MEfA families that we are still there to offer them support has been gratifying. We are confident that, whatever challenges are encountered, we will continue to offer as full a range as possible of activities through 2022. MEfA, in turn, could not operate without the continuing efforts of our staff, volunteers, donors and families for which we place on record our heartfelt thanks.
This report was approved by the Trustees on XXXX XXXXXXXX 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Wendy Fidler
Page twelve
Montessori Education for Autism
Testimonials - 2020
The MEfA session texts and great articles gave me all the ideas and guidance on how to start my research and I will keep these treasures in a very precious place on my shelf and forever in my heart.
I have thoroughy enjoyed the MEfA course, which helped me not only gain more knowledge on different special educational needs, but also gave me great confidence to talk about it to parents, as well as share my knowledge with my colleagues.
A Cohort 20 student
Dear Wendy,
Thank you very much for the programme (for M, during Lockdown) . It is fantastic, we are implementing it well.
. . . .
Thank you very much for all your help, support and reassurance, having you in our lives is a great privilege!
M’s Mum (June 2020)
Dear Wendy,
I just wanted to send you, Rathi and the rest of your team a huge thank you for your support and tutelage since September. We really appreciate the time you have spent planning the sessio and personalising the activities for R. I think this has made an enormous difference and helped R to make some progress this term.
Thank you also for making J (sibling) so welcome.
Moreover, even in these uncertain waters, MEfA has always remained a steady and constant vess Your commitment and bravery is incredibly admirable and we have been very grateful for this.
L - a Mum (December 2020)
"I have such fond memories of your Montessori preschool at Mycenae House. I remember you introduced me to the concept of children working hard through observation, that they are constantly learning even when they don’t appear to be actively engaged."
The Mum of a former toddler pupil reaching his 11th birthday.
I discovered Montessori’s Method, fell in love with it and qualified as a Montessori teacher. After that I did a post grad diploma with Montessori Education for Autism. What I learnt gave me the confidence to dismantle the various methods, choose what I needed, and re- build them into my own version. . . ( Thank you Wendy Fidler)
Chi Boakye (SEN Training, Cohort 4)
Montessori Education for Autism
Testimonials - 2021
I Am currently pursuing my diploma course in SLD from India and just cannot forget the journey I had in MEFA. Thank you for the immense knowledge that you shared. As I'm doing my project I just can't stop thinking about my time in your school. Thank you so much
Sapna U. (SEN graduate)
Dear Wendy,
Thank you very much for the programme (for M, during Lockdown) . It is fantastic, we are implementing it well.
. . . .
Thank you very much for all your help, support and reassurance, having you in our lives is a great privilege!
M’s Mum (June 2020)
Dear Wendy,
I just wanted to send you, Rathi and the rest of your team a huge thank you for your support and tutelage since September. We really appreciate the time you have spent planning the sessio and personalising the activities for R. I think this has made an enormous difference and helped R to make some progress this term.
Thank you also for making J (sibling) so welcome.
Moreover, even in these uncertain waters, MEfA has always remained a steady and constant vess Your commitment and bravery is incredibly admirable and we have been very grateful for this.
L - a Mum (December 2020)
"I have such fond memories of your Montessori preschool at Mycenae House. I remember you introduced me to the concept of children working hard through observation, that they are constantly learning even when they don’t appear to be actively engaged."
The Mum of a former toddler pupil reaching his 11th birthday.
I discovered Montessori’s Method, fell in love with it and qualified as a Montessori teacher. After that I did a post grad diploma with Montessori Education for Autism. What I learnt gave me the confidence to dismantle the various methods, choose what I needed, and re- build them into my own version. . . ( Thank you Wendy Fidler)
Chi Boakye (SEN Training, Cohort 4)