## **Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten Chairs Annual Report – Sep 22 Aug 2023** Charity Name: Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten Charity Number: 1163992 Charity address: 17, Carlingcott, Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8AN ## **Trustees:** Tania Orgil, Maysa Marques, Claire Peeters, Jessie Kazak ## **Structure** Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten (LFSK) operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a board of trustees. LFSK is an early years setting for children aged between 2.5 - 6. It is managed by a board of trustees and in addition employs a Teacher,a Teaching assistant and an operations manager. Trustees are recruited through a nomination process at one of the 6 weekly trustee meetings. ## **Activities and Objectives** LFSK addresses all the seven areas of learning and development in accordance with the EYFS. Three of these are prime areas: 1) Communication and Language 2) Physical Development 3) Personal, Social and Emotional Development In addition, we support four specific areas: 4) Literacy 5) Mathematics 6) Understanding the World 7) Expressive Arts and Design We seek to take the whole needs of the child into account: _physical, social, academic, emotional and spiritual_ . The day and week have a natural rhythm and use repetition to deepen a feeling of security. Activities include puppet plays and story-telling, creative craft, cooking, baking, sewing, building and making. We are unique in that we observe and honour the changing seasons and the life cycle of the natural world. We welcome and celebrate the gifts that nature brings us and therefore we hold festivals and gatherings throughout the year as either a family event or a kindergarten event. 1 ## **Financial Review** LFK ended the year with a strong bank balance of £17,060. Laurel Farm Kindergarten’s principal sources of funds are through government funding and fees. The principal risk to the charity is the reliance on volunteer trustees instead of a full time manager to run the organisation. Local funding increased by almost £10k due to consistently higher numbers attending. Fee’s were also increased by £1 per hour which helped increase fee income by £7k. We increased our salary costs by approximately £7,000 per year thanks to long overdue pay rises for teacher and assistant and introducing pensions. Food costs doubled due to general inflation but also reviewing all ingredients for menus and committing to 100% organic. Thanks to the small, dedicated group of trustees the leadership and management have been stronger than the previous financial year. However, there were still evident gaps of resource, knowledge and capacity which have impacted the kindergarten. Primarily, the chair of the board has been investing an unsustainable amount of time on finances, strategy, governance and recruitment. The challenge and irony has been whilst establishing more structure and effective systems in place, the professional development of the kindergarten has created more work which cannot be upheld by the current operations manager hours. A review of the operations management is urgently needed to relieve the trustees of the overwhelming level of work and return to a more quarterly input of advice once a new team structure is put in place. The previous year’s key priority for finance was to review and understand our costs and income. This was achieved by finally introducing accountancy software and having our overdue financial records audited from 2017 through to 2022. Another key area of success was understanding and resolving our apparent debts to HMRC which were significant but based on incorrect legal status. Through the efforts of the operations manager, treasurer and accountant, LFSK was finally deregistered as a corporation and able to reduce all outstanding debts to zero. This was a 5 year issue finally resolved. With this resolved, we were able to register as a charity at HMRC and become eligible to receive gift aid. A priority for the next financial year will be to review historic donations from the previous 4 years to reclaim gift aid. Charity commission has now been updated for all financial accounts and we are no longer in the red. **Achievements and Performance** 2 ## **Recruitment** A review into the current kindergarten model of Laurel Farm Kindergarten was underway at the start of 2023 when an unexpected resignation from our lead teacher, followed by the assistant. This created a new urgency to review and update the model and staff team. This left a school term to recruit two new positions during a “crisis” in Steiner teacher recruitment. It was a challenge supported fully by all trustees, operations manager and a consultant for a short period to advertise, screen, interview and review candidates. The project took a considerably longer time than anticipated and ran from April till mid July. The final outcome was a set of three new brilliant recruits but the time impact on the trustees and operations manager has been significant ## **Community** The teachers and parent representatives have successfully planned and helped the community to come together and celebrate many festivals such as Lantern Festival, the Advent Spiral, Candlemas, May Day and a Summer Fair. The attendance at community days was at an all time low however and there felt a general lack of engagement from parents to take on projects unlike years before. One possibility is due to attracting more working families who have less time to offer to the community. In March 2023 we conducted a parent questionnaire, the response rate was very low but from the feedback received the parents are either happy or very happy. ## **Fundraising** The summer Fair hit a fundraising record of £1600. This was thanks to a dedicated parent representative who put in a significant amount of time and energy to organising multiple stalls and parents. Although the attendance on the day was not as high as previous years, the income generated through raffle tickets, food and sold goods was £200 more than the target. As this fair’s purpose is also to showcase the kindergarten, taking these learnings and ensuring a focus on attendance, publicity and atmosphere on the day will be integrated in to next year’s plans. ## **Green Sprouts** The Green Sprouts sessions have continued to be a successful and nourishing offering to the community. Dominka Baran has created a real sense of community with the group and the majority of intakes throughout the year and coming up in September 23 are from this group (7 children). With Dominika set to take on a lead teacher position from September 23 and the majority of Green Sprouters now enrolled, there will be a need to build this group back up again with a new facilitator. ## **Woodland Club** 3 An afterschool woodland club was set up for Thursdays due to a new recruit, Emma McGuinness. This has been very popular with excellent feedback on the sessions and allowed outside families to experience Laurel Farm. Emma, has now been recruited as full time assistant but we hope to continue this popular offering in the next year. ## **Landlords** We have held 3 open days in 2023. They were well attended and the return to welcoming parents into the kindergarten space post Covid was a nice addition. For 2024 open days, the planned format will include the current parent representatives to attend to enable new parents to have more probing conversations. ## **Ofsted** Laurel Farm Kindergarten received an Ofsted outstanding report in August. The report reflects the hard efforts of all staff and parents to make Laurel Farm Kindergarten a thriving setting for the community. Due to the registration being linked to a former legal status, Laurel Farm Kindergarten was informed they would need to have an additional inspection to have it linked to the updated legal status. We are awaiting news from Ofsted on when this will happen. 4 LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN Charity number: 1163992 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Page Trusle8 Annual Report Independent Examiners Report statement of Financial Activf(ies Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Charlty Name: Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten Charlty Number: 1163992 Charity address: 17 Carlingcott Peasedown St John Bath BA2 8AN Trustees: Tania Orgil Maysa Marques Claire Peeters Jessie Kazak Structure Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten (LFSK) operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) wtth a board of trustees. LFSK is an early years setting for children aged between 2.5 - 6. It is managed by a board oftruslees and in addrtion employs a Teacher,a Teaching assistant and an operations manager. Trustees are recruited through a nomination process at one of the 6 v￿eklY trustee meetings. ctiviti LFSK addresses all the seven areas of leaming and development in a¢¢ordan¢e with the EYFS. Three of these are prime areas.. 1 } Communication and Languag& 2} Physical Development 31 Personal, Social and Emotional Development In addition, we support four specific areas.. 4) Literacy 5) Mathematics 6) Understanding the World 7) Expressive Arts and Design We seek to take the ￿ole needs of the child into account: physical, social, academic, emotional and spintual. The day and week have a natural rhythm and use repetition to deepen a feeling of security. Activities include puppet plays and story-telling, creative craft, cooking, baking. sewing, building and making. We are unique in that we observe and honour the changing seasons and the life cycle of the natural worfd. We welcome and celebrate the gifts that nature brings us and therefore we hold festivals and gatherings throughout the year as either a family event or a kindergarten event. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Flnancial LFK ended the year with a strong bank balance of £17,060. Laurel Farm Kindergarten's principal sources of funds are through govemment funding and fees. The principal risk lo the charity IS the reliance on volunteer trustees instead of a full lime manag8r to run the organisation. Local funding increased by almost £1 Ok due to consistently higher numbers attending. Fee's were also increased by £1 per hourwhich helped increase fee income by £7k. We increased our salary costs by approximately £7,000 per year thanks to long overdue pay rises for teacher and assistant and introducing pensions. Food costs doubled due to general inflation bul also reviewing all ingredients for menus and committing to 1000/0 organic. Thanks to the small, dedicated group of trustees the leadership and management have been stronger Ihan the previous financial year. However, there were still evident gaps of resource, knowledge and capacity which have impacted the kindergarten. Primarily, the chair of the board has been investing an unsustainable amount of time on finances. strategy, governan￿ and recruitment. The challenge and irony has been whilst establishing more structure and effective systems in place, the professional development of the kindergarten has created more work which cannot be upheld by the current operations manager hours. A review of Ihe operations management is urgently needed to relieve the trustees of the overwhelming level of work and return to a more quartedy input of advice once a new team structure is pul in place. The previous yearfs key Pfiority for finan￿ was to review and understand our costs and income. This was achieved by finally introducing accountancy software and having our overdue financial records audited from 2017 through to 2022. Another key area of success was understanding and resolving our apparent debts to HMRC which were signrfi¢ant but based on incorrect legal status. Through the efforts of the operations manager, treasurer and accountant, LFSK was finally dereg1Ste￿d as a corporation and able to redu￿ all outstanding debts to zero. This was a 5 year issue finally resolved. With this resolved, we were able to registef as a charity at HMRC and become eligible to receive gift aid. A priority for the next financial year will be to review historic donations from the previous 4 years to reclaim grft aid. Charity commission has now been updated for all financial a¢counts and we are no longer in the red. vemonts and P rnianc ReGruilmant A review into the Current kindergarten model of Laurel Farm Kindergarten was underway at the start of 2023 when an unexpected resignation from our lead teacher, foll0v￿d by the assistant. This created a new urgency to review and update the model and staff team. This left a school temi to recrutt two new positions during a 'crisis" in Steiner teacher recruitment. It was a challenge supported fully by all trustees, operations manager and a consultant for a short period to advertise, screen. interview and review candidates. The project took a considerably longer time than anticipated and ran from April till mid July. The final outcome was a set of three new brilliant recruits but the time impact on the trustees and operations manager has been significant LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Community The teachers and parent representatives have successfully planned and helped the Community to Come togelher and celebrate many festivals such as Lantern Festival, the Advent Spiral, Candlemas, May Day and a Summer Fair. The attendance at community days was at an all time low however and there felt a general lack of engagement from parents to take on projeGts unlike years before. One possibility is due to attracting more working families who have less time to offer lo the community. In March 2023 we conducted a parent questionnaire, the response rate was very low but from the feedback received the parents are either happy or very happy. Fundraising The summer Fair hit a fundraising record of £1600. This was thanks to a dedicated parent representative who put in a significant amount of lime and energy to organising multiple stalls and parents. A5though the attendance on the day was not as high as previous years. the income generated through raffle tickets, food and sold got)ds was £200 more than the target. As this fairfs purpose is also lo showcase the kindergarten, taking these learnings and ensuring a focus on attendance, publicity and atmosphere on the day will be integraled in to next year's plans. Green Sprouts The Green Sprouts sessions have continued to be a successful and nourishing off8ring to the community. Dominka Baran has created a real sense of communTrty with the group and the majority of intakes throughout the year and coming up in September 23 are from this group (7 children). Wrth Dominika set to tske on a lead teacher position from September 23 and the majority of Green Sprouters now enrolled, there will be a need to build this group back up again with a new facilitator. Woodland Club An afterschool woodland club was set up for Thursdays due to a new recruit, Emma McGuinne$$. This has been very popular with excellent feedback on the sessions and allowed outside families to experience Laurel Farm. Emma, has now been recruited as full time assistant but vle hope to continue this popular offering in the next year. Landlords We have held 3 open days in 2023. They were ￿￿11 attended and the return to welcoming parents into the kindergarten Spa￿ post Covid was a nice addition. For 2024 open days, the planned fomiat will include the current parent representatives to attend to enable new parents to have more probing conversations. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Otsted Laurel Farm Kindergarten received an Ofsted outstanding report in August. The report reflects the hard efforts of all staff and parents to make Laurel Farm Kindergarters a Ihriving setting forthe community. Due to the registration being linked to a former legal status, Laurel Farm Kindergarten was informed they would need to have an additional inspection to have it linked to the updated legal status. We are awailing news from Ofsted on when this will happen. This report has been approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by.. Signature.. Date.. oz ZOZY Name.. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 I report on the accounts of Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten for the year ended 31 August 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 9. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Charty's Trustees 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 Charrties Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act. To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent examiner's Statement My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the General Directions given by the Charty 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 considerations of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees Con￿rning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's Statement In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fonn and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have Come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. David Courtier FMA4T AATQB for and on behalf of.. Community360 Winsley's House, High Street, Colchester, Essex Date 23/02/21k LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Note 2023 Total 2022 Total Incoming resources Donations Charitable activities Total incoming resources 1,686 78,865 80,551 1,330 63,609 64,939 Resources expended Charitable adivities Total resources expended 71,385 71,385 61.991 61,991 Net incoming resources 9,166 2.948 Funds at 1 September 2022 7,894 4,946 Funds at 31 August 2023 17,060 7,894 Notes on pages 8 to 9 form part of these financial statements LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023 Note 2023 Total 2022 Total Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors 16,702 4,376 21,078 9,894 9,894 Current Liabilities Creditors 4,018 4.018 2,000 2,000 Net current assets 17,060 7,894 Funds Unrestricted funds 17,060 17,060 7,894 7.894 The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above. Signed Date LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 l. Accounting Policies Basls of the preparation of the accounts The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement on Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their a¢¢ounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) {effective 1 January 2019). (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Rebulic of Ireland {FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Cash flow ststèment The directors have taken advantage of the exemption in Finan¢ial Reporting Standard 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the Company is small. Income Income from donations and grants, including capital grant$, is inGluded in incoming resour￿8 when these are receivable, except as follows.. When donors specify that donalions and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods. When donors impose Conditions, which have lo be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in incoming resources until the pre-conditions have been met. When donors specify that donalions and grants, including capital grants, a￿ for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this income is included in the incoming resources of restricted funds when ￿Ceivable. Expenditure Expenditu￿ on projeGts is treated as direct charitable expenditure. All expenditure is unrestricted. Golng conc•rn These accounts have been prepared on a going concem basis. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 2. Incoming resources from charitable activities 2023 2022 Funding Fees 41,734 37,131 78.865 32,450 31,159 63,609 3. Costs of charitsble activlties 2023 2022 Salaries Advertising Professional fees Dues and subscriptions Repairs and maintenance Food, supplies, etc Insurances Printing, postage and stationery Rent or lease of buildings Telephone Training Sundry expense 53,516 25 490 469 46,571 83 228 195 1,021 496 380 11,908 110 245 110 61,991 2,635 1,090 721 11,549 87 545 258 71,385 4. Stsff An average of 4 (2022.'4) staff were employed during the year. No employee earned over £60,000 during the year. 5. Debtors 2023 2022 Debtors 4,376 4,376 6. Credltors 2023 2022 Creditors & ac¢wals PAYE 1,175 2,843 4,018 2.000 2,000 LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN Charity number: 1163992 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Page Trusle8 Annual Report Independent Examiners Report statement of Financial Activf(ies Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Charlty Name: Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten Charlty Number: 1163992 Charity address: 17 Carlingcott Peasedown St John Bath BA2 8AN Trustees: Tania Orgil Maysa Marques Claire Peeters Jessie Kazak Structure Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten (LFSK) operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) wtth a board of trustees. LFSK is an early years setting for children aged between 2.5 - 6. It is managed by a board oftruslees and in addrtion employs a Teacher,a Teaching assistant and an operations manager. Trustees are recruited through a nomination process at one of the 6 v￿eklY trustee meetings. ctiviti LFSK addresses all the seven areas of leaming and development in a¢¢ordan¢e with the EYFS. Three of these are prime areas.. 1 } Communication and Languag& 2} Physical Development 31 Personal, Social and Emotional Development In addition, we support four specific areas.. 4) Literacy 5) Mathematics 6) Understanding the World 7) Expressive Arts and Design We seek to take the ￿ole needs of the child into account: physical, social, academic, emotional and spintual. The day and week have a natural rhythm and use repetition to deepen a feeling of security. Activities include puppet plays and story-telling, creative craft, cooking, baking. sewing, building and making. We are unique in that we observe and honour the changing seasons and the life cycle of the natural worfd. We welcome and celebrate the gifts that nature brings us and therefore we hold festivals and gatherings throughout the year as either a family event or a kindergarten event. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Flnancial LFK ended the year with a strong bank balance of £17,060. Laurel Farm Kindergarten's principal sources of funds are through govemment funding and fees. The principal risk lo the charity IS the reliance on volunteer trustees instead of a full lime manag8r to run the organisation. Local funding increased by almost £1 Ok due to consistently higher numbers attending. Fee's were also increased by £1 per hourwhich helped increase fee income by £7k. We increased our salary costs by approximately £7,000 per year thanks to long overdue pay rises for teacher and assistant and introducing pensions. Food costs doubled due to general inflation bul also reviewing all ingredients for menus and committing to 1000/0 organic. Thanks to the small, dedicated group of trustees the leadership and management have been stronger Ihan the previous financial year. However, there were still evident gaps of resource, knowledge and capacity which have impacted the kindergarten. Primarily, the chair of the board has been investing an unsustainable amount of time on finances. strategy, governan￿ and recruitment. The challenge and irony has been whilst establishing more structure and effective systems in place, the professional development of the kindergarten has created more work which cannot be upheld by the current operations manager hours. A review of Ihe operations management is urgently needed to relieve the trustees of the overwhelming level of work and return to a more quartedy input of advice once a new team structure is pul in place. The previous yearfs key Pfiority for finan￿ was to review and understand our costs and income. This was achieved by finally introducing accountancy software and having our overdue financial records audited from 2017 through to 2022. Another key area of success was understanding and resolving our apparent debts to HMRC which were signrfi¢ant but based on incorrect legal status. Through the efforts of the operations manager, treasurer and accountant, LFSK was finally dereg1Ste￿d as a corporation and able to redu￿ all outstanding debts to zero. This was a 5 year issue finally resolved. With this resolved, we were able to registef as a charity at HMRC and become eligible to receive gift aid. A priority for the next financial year will be to review historic donations from the previous 4 years to reclaim grft aid. Charity commission has now been updated for all financial a¢counts and we are no longer in the red. vemonts and P rnianc ReGruilmant A review into the Current kindergarten model of Laurel Farm Kindergarten was underway at the start of 2023 when an unexpected resignation from our lead teacher, foll0v￿d by the assistant. This created a new urgency to review and update the model and staff team. This left a school temi to recrutt two new positions during a 'crisis" in Steiner teacher recruitment. It was a challenge supported fully by all trustees, operations manager and a consultant for a short period to advertise, screen. interview and review candidates. The project took a considerably longer time than anticipated and ran from April till mid July. The final outcome was a set of three new brilliant recruits but the time impact on the trustees and operations manager has been significant LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Community The teachers and parent representatives have successfully planned and helped the Community to Come togelher and celebrate many festivals such as Lantern Festival, the Advent Spiral, Candlemas, May Day and a Summer Fair. The attendance at community days was at an all time low however and there felt a general lack of engagement from parents to take on projeGts unlike years before. One possibility is due to attracting more working families who have less time to offer lo the community. In March 2023 we conducted a parent questionnaire, the response rate was very low but from the feedback received the parents are either happy or very happy. Fundraising The summer Fair hit a fundraising record of £1600. This was thanks to a dedicated parent representative who put in a significant amount of lime and energy to organising multiple stalls and parents. A5though the attendance on the day was not as high as previous years. the income generated through raffle tickets, food and sold got)ds was £200 more than the target. As this fairfs purpose is also lo showcase the kindergarten, taking these learnings and ensuring a focus on attendance, publicity and atmosphere on the day will be integraled in to next year's plans. Green Sprouts The Green Sprouts sessions have continued to be a successful and nourishing off8ring to the community. Dominka Baran has created a real sense of communTrty with the group and the majority of intakes throughout the year and coming up in September 23 are from this group (7 children). Wrth Dominika set to tske on a lead teacher position from September 23 and the majority of Green Sprouters now enrolled, there will be a need to build this group back up again with a new facilitator. Woodland Club An afterschool woodland club was set up for Thursdays due to a new recruit, Emma McGuinne$$. This has been very popular with excellent feedback on the sessions and allowed outside families to experience Laurel Farm. Emma, has now been recruited as full time assistant but vle hope to continue this popular offering in the next year. Landlords We have held 3 open days in 2023. They were ￿￿11 attended and the return to welcoming parents into the kindergarten Spa￿ post Covid was a nice addition. For 2024 open days, the planned fomiat will include the current parent representatives to attend to enable new parents to have more probing conversations. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Otsted Laurel Farm Kindergarten received an Ofsted outstanding report in August. The report reflects the hard efforts of all staff and parents to make Laurel Farm Kindergarters a Ihriving setting forthe community. Due to the registration being linked to a former legal status, Laurel Farm Kindergarten was informed they would need to have an additional inspection to have it linked to the updated legal status. We are awailing news from Ofsted on when this will happen. This report has been approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by.. Signature.. Date.. oz ZOZY Name.. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 I report on the accounts of Laurel Farm Steiner Kindergarten for the year ended 31 August 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 9. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Charty's Trustees 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 Charrties Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act. To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent examiner's Statement My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the General Directions given by the Charty 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 considerations of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees Con￿rning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's Statement In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fonn and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have Come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. David Courtier FMA4T AATQB for and on behalf of.. Community360 Winsley's House, High Street, Colchester, Essex Date 23/02/21k LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Note 2023 Total 2022 Total Incoming resources Donations Charitable activities Total incoming resources 1,686 78,865 80,551 1,330 63,609 64,939 Resources expended Charitable adivities Total resources expended 71,385 71,385 61.991 61,991 Net incoming resources 9,166 2.948 Funds at 1 September 2022 7,894 4,946 Funds at 31 August 2023 17,060 7,894 Notes on pages 8 to 9 form part of these financial statements LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023 Note 2023 Total 2022 Total Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors 16,702 4,376 21,078 9,894 9,894 Current Liabilities Creditors 4,018 4.018 2,000 2,000 Net current assets 17,060 7,894 Funds Unrestricted funds 17,060 17,060 7,894 7.894 The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above. Signed Date LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 l. Accounting Policies Basls of the preparation of the accounts The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement on Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their a¢¢ounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) {effective 1 January 2019). (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Rebulic of Ireland {FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Cash flow ststèment The directors have taken advantage of the exemption in Finan¢ial Reporting Standard 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the Company is small. Income Income from donations and grants, including capital grant$, is inGluded in incoming resour￿8 when these are receivable, except as follows.. When donors specify that donalions and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods. When donors impose Conditions, which have lo be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in incoming resources until the pre-conditions have been met. When donors specify that donalions and grants, including capital grants, a￿ for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this income is included in the incoming resources of restricted funds when ￿Ceivable. Expenditure Expenditu￿ on projeGts is treated as direct charitable expenditure. All expenditure is unrestricted. Golng conc•rn These accounts have been prepared on a going concem basis. LAUREL FARM STEINER KINDERGARTEN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 2. Incoming resources from charitable activities 2023 2022 Funding Fees 41,734 37,131 78.865 32,450 31,159 63,609 3. Costs of charitsble activlties 2023 2022 Salaries Advertising Professional fees Dues and subscriptions Repairs and maintenance Food, supplies, etc Insurances Printing, postage and stationery Rent or lease of buildings Telephone Training Sundry expense 53,516 25 490 469 46,571 83 228 195 1,021 496 380 11,908 110 245 110 61,991 2,635 1,090 721 11,549 87 545 258 71,385 4. Stsff An average of 4 (2022.'4) staff were employed during the year. No employee earned over £60,000 during the year. 5. Debtors 2023 2022 Debtors 4,376 4,376 6. Credltors 2023 2022 Creditors & ac¢wals PAYE 1,175 2,843 4,018 2.000 2,000