Growing and Learning Together
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024
Charity Name: Little Jesters Pre School
Registered Charity Number: 1161375
Charities principle address: Faldingworth School, High Street, Faldingworth, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 3SF
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) |
|---|---|
| Emma Carberry – Resigned 20-01-2024 | |
| Michelle Foster | Treasurer |
| Katie Hetherington – appointed 20-01-2024 | Chairperson |
| June Griffiths | |
| Rosina Turner – appointed 20-01-2024 | Secretary |
| Rachael Bryden | |
| Nadia Powell – Resigned 20-01-2024 | |
| Elizabeth Everton | |
| Alex Lawrence | |
| Emma Sawyer | |
| Chloe Flatman |
Type of governing document: Constitution
How the charity is constituted: Charity Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods: Appointed by committee
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document: The charity works for the public benefit, having as its objects the development and education of children and young people in particular by: (1) Promoting their care and safety;
(2) Promoting their education and promoting parental involvement;
(3) Promoting their health and wellbeing;
(4) Providing services to support them and their families and carers;
- (5) Providing services to individuals holding membership of the CIO
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects:
As a preschool, we achieve our objectives on a daily basis, primarily by providing a safe, welcoming, stimulating and engaging provision for the children aged 2 to 5 of the local community and surrounding areas, following educational guidelines (EYFS) to further the children’s development, education, health and wellbeing. We have a good relationship with parents and carers, providing them with opportunities to participate in their child’s education via open mornings and events; our open-door policy ensures parents are welcome to visit the setting and contact staff as required. We work closely with parents and carers to involve them in the running of the setting and to keep them informed of their children’s progress and development, as well as promoting local services and information which would be of benefit to families. We offer training and professional development to staff and volunteers through a variety of courses, benefitting the entire preschool community.
In setting our objectives, planning and activities, our committee has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year:
For the year up to Dec 24 we have steadily increased our numbers which has help us to remain viable and sustainable, meaning that we have been able to continue to offer 30 hours to all parents requiring these hours and ensuring that we can still offer local families access to good quality childcare and education for their preschool-age children. In March 24 we lost a member of staff through long term sickness, we advertised and were successful in employing 2 new members of staff from May 24. However, 1 of these staff members left July 24 so leaving us with 3 qualified members of staff.
We continue to have a strong and involved committee, who have supported the setting during the year with fundraising events and the general running of the setting. Our committee is a mix of long-standing and newer members, which ensures a blend of fresh new ideas to complement tried and tested practices Our fundraising has been successful again this year which has enabled the group to renew some of the older resources.
Financial Review and Brief statement of the charities policy on reserves:
During the year, our Income has increased from£47,779 to £67,196 on the previous year; expenditure has seen an increase from £54,051 to £58,892 As a result, the cash held by the charity at the year-end 2024 increased to £27,189 Little Jesters is dependent upon Early Years Funding from local government, as well as some private fees from parents, to be able to sustain its activities. Our fundraising activities are also an important source of income for us, enabling us to continue improving our setting.
Our viability is dependent upon the number of children attending our setting – low numbers could mean having to implement either a reduction in our opening hours, or a full closure. To avoid closure in case of funding difficulties, Little Jesters’ committee agrees to maintain financial reserves to ensure that main operations can continue for a period of 3 months. The main concerns of the board are to ensure:
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Staff can continue working with the children within the setting, while the committee would promote the preschool to attempt to increase the numbers of children on roll at the setting.
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We remain mindful of the regular increases in the living wage and our obligations to staff, with regard to pension payments as well as redundancy payments, should the setting be forced to close.
We are currently able to secure sufficient funding each month, but it has been calculated that if difficulties were to arise, reserves of £14,000 would be needed to continue operations for at least 3 months. The reserve should be built up from unrestricted income. The levels of reserves are monitored each year by the Little Jesters Pre School committee.
For the year 2023 We had to actually implement the plan for this year due to the reduction in number of children attending and children moving into school. By Having this plan in place, it has been successful with Supporting the group and trustees to ensure the sustainable and its security for the community for many years to come.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature ___ __ Full Name _____
Position _Trustee_& Contact _____ Date _____
Little Jeste Pre-school Income & Expenditu Report For year ended 31112124 2024 2023 Income Fees LCC Funding Fundraising 16212.27 50571.37 412.00 9138.19 37140.87 1499.88 Total Income 67195.84 47778.94 Expenditure Wages Ofsted Meals etc Admin General Insurance Rent 50793.43 51.20 758.08 766.64 4283.37 606.94 1631.71 47975.36 43.10 1188.59 1644.79 1502.74 562.57 1133.74 Total Expenditure 58891.37 54050.89 Surplus for year Surplus brought foThvard Surplus carried folan1 8304.27 18884.70 27188.97 -6201.95 25086.65 18884.70 Surplus funded by Bank Account Bank Account Bank Account Petty Cash balance Prepayments & accruals 13863.67 12798.44 651.24 25.62 -150.00 8356.34 10642.22 0.00 36.14 -150.00 27188.97 18884.70 We have examined the books and records of the above offJanisation and confirffl that the above account is a true and fair record of the transactions undertaken by the organisation in the period. CASSELLS LIMITED 2810412025
Eastfield Low Church Road Middle Rasen Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3TY Little Jesters Pre-school Faldingworth CP School High Street Faldingworth Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3SF 07572540945 er uk 2/6/25 Dear Little Jesters We have completed the requested check of the accounts of Little Jesters and confirm that the works have raised no concerns. We have enclosed the finalised income and expenditure account for your records. Yours sincerely P A Yarnell RegISted in England & Wale5 Company number 4769063 VAT number 801404778