## **Chair Person’s Report – AGM – Tuesday 5[th] October 2021 – Rachel Lister** ## **Introduction** This has been my first year as chairperson of Thurston Childcare, although I have been on the committee for at least 3 years now. Stepping into the role has been slightly daunting at times but overall a pleasurable experience. I have enjoyed working with the fantastic team here at Thurston Childcare and also my fellow committee members who have given their time and energy to assist with decisions made regarding the running of the setting, and also the fundraising we have done to provide the children with some of those ‘little extras’ to ensure that their preschool experiences are memorable and full of enjoyment. Together with the great work of the team at the setting we have been able to continue to provide care, education and fun experiences to our children and also provide a valuable service to the community and the local school. The setting now has three aspects to the childcare setting which is now a new baby unit Hatchlings, a preschool called Fledglings and Zoom the out of School Club. Thurston Childcare has gone from strength to strength this last year. I want to take this opportunity to remind all parents/carers that we are a charity run setting which relies on a committee of volunteers in order to stay open, regardless of the strength of the finances and how well we perform with Ofsted, without a committee the setting cannot operate. We say thank you a committee member this evening, but not goodbye, as Kelly who has been our secretary for the past year has now joined our team of staff. I’d like to thank all our committee members for their contributions over this last year, whilst hopefully welcoming new members to the team. We are always seeking support, if any parent/carer or family member can give just a little of their time to support our committee and assist with fundraising opportunities, it would be very much appreciated. ## **Staffing** We have seen a change around in staffing at the setting, running all year through the pandemic of covid working well with families and children, ensuring disruption to the children and parents was kept to a minimum due to the hard work of the team, making the policies transparent within the pandemic. We said hello to new staff and we have a total of 15 members, they vary from apprentices, room leaders, and SENCos etc. We say thank you to them all for their hard work, positive impact and dedication to the settings in the holidays to get them up and running to full capacity before the children started back in September. We’re excited to see all members of staff taking on more areas of responsibility and covering various shifts across the setting opening hours which are now longer running 7:30-6pm. Lauran is playing a key role of Room Leader and SENCo. We also congratulate Claire Fairchild on her successful appointment to Room Leader and Deputy to support Sarah in the day-to-day management of the settings. ## **Provision** Sarah and the team have worked relentlessly since winning the build of the new preschool and wrap around care provided to the school which is now called Zoom and holiday club and we are supporting the primary school with this new provision and working well in the community. I am sure you will agree that Thurston Childcare is looking great! The children at the provisions have the option of receiving hot meals provided by the local school and we’ve invested in new facilities for the babies/toddlers at Hatchlings, children at Fledglings and Zoom for those attending the afterschool club. The numbers for the afterschool club have increased significantly meaning we have now introduced a new approach to booking in advance for requirements. Sarah and the team are continuing to build on their incredible start at the new provisions by building positive relationships within the community and with our local school in order to extend the experiences and education we can offer to our children and the services we can provide to parents. We now run a full provision operating from 7:30am-6pm across the year including a holiday club. There is a lot of hard work still to be done but the efforts so far have been incredibly promising. I would like to thank everyone involved for how far we’ve come this year. ## **Covid** The pandemic presented us with a difficult time. However, with the support of the government’s flexifurlough scheme, we were able to ensure all staff continued to be paid whilst the provision had to close due to the lockdown. This scheme really has carried the provision through this difficult time. However, we are now coming out on the other side. Numbers are very positive; the preschool is virtually full. The baby unit numbers are increasing as the weeks pass and the before and after school club numbers are also very healthy. This is unheard of for September, we have in the past started the academic year with low numbers, which increase as we move through the academic year. ## **Grants and funding** During the past year we have been lucky enough to receive some grants to assist the setting. We were awarded a grant from Mid Suffolk District Council and another charity grant from Boswell. These grants have provided valuable funds needed to enable the smooth transition to the new building and the improvements required to alter our existing preschool building to become suitable to run as a baby unit. With the recent pandemic, fundraising has not been easy. However, we have still managed to raise some funds to support the preschool in the form of a garage sale trail, last September, and we have just organised another sale trail this past weekend which has been a great success. We also organised some hamper raffles at Christmas and Easter, using kind donations of items from parents and carers these both raised funds which are always welcomed to help improve the setting and provide those little extras. We hope that going forward now restrictions are lifted we will be able to do more in terms of fundraising to support the provision. ## **Finances** Childcare income for the year ended 31[st] August 2021 has grown to just over £148k. In additional we have received grant and other fundraising income in the region of £24k during the year. The increase in childcare income was due to a higher level of child numbers. As a result of this, naturally, salaries and other running costs have also increased. As mentioned earlier in the report, grant income has been invested in the move to the new setting and the establishment of the baby unit. We have purchased new furniture, play equipment and other various items in order to prepare the provisions for opening in September. We report a surplus for the year of close to £5k which is a really positive result given the recent pandemic. Finally, I’d like to close with a word of appreciation to everyone involved in the running of Thurston Childcare, the staff and committee members. The commitment and willingness to ensure the provision continues to flourish really is wonderful. ## **Rachel Lister** Chair person 5 October 2021 THURSTON PRE-SCHOOL LTD PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Year End Aug 2021 Year End Aug 2020 Income Involced Fees EYPD Grant Sale of T-shirtslsweatshirts £ 65,228.65 £ 83,140.72 £ 40,608.68 £ 58,246.01 £ 148,369.37 £ 98,854.69 Fund Raising Interest Received Savings Account Mlscellaneous Ilncome Grants) 1.261.92 3.59 £ 22.860.95 593.LK) 42.93 1.054.67 £ 24,126.46 £ 172.495.83 1,690.60 £ 100,545.29 TOTAL INCOME LESS Fund Raising Costs GROSS SURPLUS 202.02 £ 172A89.83 É i(K).343.27 Expendlture Employers National Insurance 898.10 Employer Pension 1.768.42 Salaries £ 115.023.39 Provisions 2,910.59 Consumables 622.43 Equipmentrroy5lBook5/Fixtures £ 18,336.39 Rent 9,472.48 Administration Iprintinglstationerylpostagelph( £ 2,237.45 Subscriptions & Licences 1,327.55 Training 633.CM) Audit & Accountancy Fees 3E4).CK) Insurance Presents Health and Safety Clothing Elertricity MSDC Business Rates & Refuse Collection Water Rates DBS Checks Repairs and SeNcin8 Cleaning Miscellaneous Expenses 2.188.10 1.519.31 £ 73,656.94 2,165.30 768.07 2,686.08 6,872.48 1,808.20 413.25 647.04 360.00 598.28 62.64 228.08 615.67 893.50 1.451.88 2.594.19 1,023.35 1.360.13 3(KJ.26 481.58 2,757.71 3.735.62 638.43 1,125.71 204.97 186.97 1,186.99 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £ 165,708.07 £ 99.848.38 Surplus/Deficlt 6.781.76 494.89 Thurston Pre School Ltd 1144602 Year ended 31 Au t 2021 dent Examin In accordance with the instructions provided io me, I have reviewed the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2021 and can confirnj that they are in accordance with the books and records and inforniation and explanations supplia to me. An audit of the financial stalements has not been conductal. Sarah Place Acwunlants Ltd Unit 4b Boldero Road Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 7BS Date I l November 2021