## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 01/04/2023 Period start date To** ## **31/03/2024 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Earlybirds Playgroup** ## **Charity registration number: 1165010** ## **Objectives and Activities** |**Objectives and Activities**||| |---|---|---| ||SORP
reference|| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The object of the CIO is to promote and
facilitate the care, education, and wellbeing
of young children under compulsory school
age within the Gloucestershire Local
Authority and surrounding areas.
Our objective is that through play, preschool
children will be able to reach their
maximum potential and achieve their early
learning goals as set out in the
government’s Early Years Foundation
Stages framework. Earlybirds embrace
imagination, creativity, independent
decision-making and child-led learning. The
focus is very much on providing a safe,
caring and welcoming environment in
order to allow the development of self-
confidence,
independence, and social skills
and being good communicators so that
each child can thrive and be prepared for
the transition to primary school. We achieved
CuriosityApproach accreditation.| |Summary of the main activities
in relation to those purposes
for the public benefit, in
particular, the activities,
projects or services identified in
the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Earlybirds currently operates during school
hours of 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday during
term time and is the only playgroup
operating in the Ruspidge/Buckshaft area.
The lack of local transport means that it is
the only setting accessible to many
parents and carers in the vicinity.
Earlybirds receive funding from the Local
Authority for up to a maximum of 30 hours
per week for 3-year-olds. Funding is also
available for 2-year-old children who meet
certain criteria. For those children not
eligible for funding or who require
additional hours, the fees are kept below
GCC fundingrates. Trustees recognise that| |||Cinderford is an economically deprived area and
we try to keep fees as low as possible so that it
can remain accessible. In order for Earlybirds to
cover running costs trustees and staff also
arrange fundraising activities, for which we are
lucky enough to be able to arrange a few events
to allow parents and carers into the setting.
Examples of these events are Christmas
sponsored singalong and sponsored woodland
walks.
Activities provided are led by the children's
interest which include, but not limited to,
outdoorplay,cookingand arts & crafts.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Trustees are aware of the guidance issued
by the charity commission on public
benefit and have had due regard in relation
to this.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Earlybirds playgroup is lucky to have been
supported throughout the year by a number of
parents, carers, and volunteers who have given
their time and expertise free of charge.
The playgroup welcomes a small number of
volunteers in to the setting.
The trustees meet every half term formally or
informallyto helpsupport the setting.| |Other||**N/A**| ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference ||Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a whole.|Para 1.20|We continue to be able to provide local families
with a safe, secure and nurturing setting for
their 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Some of our
parents/carers would not have access to a
provision if we were not available for them.
We now fully operate the Curiosity Approach
into our curriculum. This enables children to
investigate and explore the outdoors and natural
world. It encourages them through the use of
recycled and natural materials to become aware
of the importance of sustainability from a young
age. It also encourages imagination and
intervention, rather than reliance on plastic toys
with one use or purpose.
During this period, as a setting we have
supported the local food bank as part of our
Harvest Festival celebrations. We are also keen
to involve our children in local community
events such as the annual Christmas Tree
Festival.| |---|---|---|---| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set|Para 1.41|| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s financial
position at the end of the
period|Para 1.21|Earlybirds have had to dip into the reserves to
allow certain large maintenance to be
completed such as having the fence repaired.
We continue to set budgets and report on the
finances at each trustee meeting. A separate
Fundraising account remains open so that all
monies that have been fundraised from parents,
carers and the general public can be separated
and used purely for resources that will benefit
the children. We can then demonstrate to
parents and carers how their generosity is being
enjoyed bythe children at Earlybirds.| |Statement explaining the policy
for holding reserves stating why
they are held|Para 1.22|A reserves policy is in place. This will cover
the cost of any unforeseen major works to
the building as well to enable us to fulfil our
redundancy obligations to staff if the setting
ever had to close.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£17,500| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the charity
continuingas agoingconcern|Para 1.23|N/A| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal sources
of funds (including any
fundraising)|Para 1.47|The primary source of funds is the funding
for childcare from the Local Authority.| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any social
investment policy adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The principal risk facing Earlybirds financially
would be that children do not join the setting.
Another risk that the setting faces are increasing
utilities. This is a risk every year but due to the
positive reputation, communication, and good
advertising, luckily this has not been an issue as
yet.| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed,royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution| |How is the charity constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association,CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more trustees|Para 1.25|The setting has an application form for
trustees. Potential trustees are invited to
attend a meeting to see if they would be
willing to commit and to meet the trustees.
Trustees are normally elected at an AGM,
However, if the need arises, trustees can be
elected as part of a meeting, and the potential
trustee is elected by the board of trustees for a
period of one year.
Key roles - Chair, Vice-Chair etc are agreed
at each AGM unless a vacancyarises.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|Our manager attends the Local Authority Early
Years Forum, which enables our setting to
contribute to Early Years Policy and Procedure
within the county.
We are members of the Early Years Learning
Alliance, giving us a broader outlook and access
to national events and awareness of early years
trends, policyand development.| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charityname|Earlybirds Playgroup| |---|---| |Other name the charityuses|| |Registered charitynumber|1165010| Charity’s principal address Earlybirds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford GL14 3DL ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Nam**
**e of**
**pers**
**on**
**(or**
**bod**
**y)**
**entit**
**led**
**to**
**app**
**oint**
**trust**
**ee**
**(if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Rhi Trillo|Chair||| ||Hannah Tuffnell|Treasurer||| ||Sarah Jones|||| ||Matt Bishop|||| ||Jodie Bishop|||| ||Margaret Hewis|||| ||Sally Reader|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |20||||| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name** **Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in N/A this capacity Name and objects of the charity N/A on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** ||||| |---|---|---|---| ||**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| ||Accountant|SA Accountancy|5 Victoria Street,
Cinderford, GL14 2ET| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||| ||||| ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details Other optional information **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Rhiannon Trillo **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Chair **etc) Date** 27.1.2025 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 for Early Birds Early Birds Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 ||Page| |---|---| |General Information|1| |Accountants' Report and Client Approval Certificate|2| |Income and Expenditure Account|3| Early Birds General Information for the year ended 31 March 2024 ## **ADDRESS:** ## **ACCOUNTANTS:** Early Birds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 3DL SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET Page 1 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 ## Accountants' Report to ## Early Birds In accordance with instructions given to us we have carried out a full examination of the records, bank statements and invoices provided to us and certify that the attached financial statements be a true and accurate record of the transactions of the Early Birds Accounts. SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET Date: ............................................. ## Client Approval Certificate We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation. ........................................................................ On behalf of Early Birds Date: ............................................. Page 2 Early Birds ## Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2024 |**Gross receipts**
Fees
Grants
Fund raising
Sundries
Interest received
**TOTAL INCOME**
**Expenditure**
Pupil premium
Resources and equipment
Premises expenses
Rates
Salaries and HMRC
Computer expenses
Printing
Subscriptions
Insurance
Professional fees
Training
Sundry
Petty cash
**EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE**
Balance at 01 April 2023
Balance at 31 March 2024
Current Account
18,674
Fundraising Account
121
Reserves Account
17,500
Total funds
36,295|31.03.24
£
1,326
2,760
5,060
2,200
82,506
92
2,567
1,847
1,330
179
1,039
480
550
52,965
36,295


|£
6,359
77,465
845
286
311
85,266
101,936
(16,670)
(01.04.22)
(31.03.23)|
£
3,340
5,262
3,766
2,311
74,415
178
2,262
1,178
388
-
553
-
2,104





|31.03.23
£
6,763
92,740
1,763
2,132
73
103,471
95,757
7,714
45,251
52,965
4,109
181
48,675
52,965| |---|---|---|---|---| ||



|||| Page 3 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 for Early Birds Early Birds Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 ||Page| |---|---| |General Information|1| |Accountants' Report and Client Approval Certificate|2| |Income and Expenditure Account|3| Early Birds General Information for the year ended 31 March 2024 ## **ADDRESS:** ## **ACCOUNTANTS:** Early Birds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 3DL SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET Page 1 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 ## Accountants' Report to ## Early Birds In accordance with instructions given to us we have carried out a full examination of the records, bank statements and invoices provided to us and certify that the attached financial statements be a true and accurate record of the transactions of the Early Birds Accounts. SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET Date: ............................................. ## Client Approval Certificate We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation. ........................................................................ On behalf of Early Birds Date: ............................................. Page 2 Early Birds ## Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2024 |**Gross receipts**
Fees
Grants
Fund raising
Sundries
Interest received
**TOTAL INCOME**
**Expenditure**
Pupil premium
Resources and equipment
Premises expenses
Rates
Salaries and HMRC
Computer expenses
Printing
Subscriptions
Insurance
Professional fees
Training
Sundry
Petty cash
**EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE**
Balance at 01 April 2023
Balance at 31 March 2024
Current Account
18,674
Fundraising Account
121
Reserves Account
17,500
Total funds
36,295|31.03.24
£
1,326
2,760
5,060
2,200
82,506
92
2,567
1,847
1,330
179
1,039
480
550
52,965
36,295


|£
6,359
77,465
845
286
311
85,266
101,936
(16,670)
(01.04.22)
(31.03.23)|
£
3,340
5,262
3,766
2,311
74,415
178
2,262
1,178
388
-
553
-
2,104





|31.03.23
£
6,763
92,740
1,763
2,132
73
103,471
95,757
7,714
45,251
52,965
4,109
181
48,675
52,965| |---|---|---|---|---| ||



|||| Page 3