From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 31/03/2025
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
Period end date
Charity name: Earlybirds Playgroup
Charity registration number: 1165010 Objectives and
Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 support the care, educaton and wellbeing of young children of pre-compulsory school age within the Gloucestershire Local Authority area and surrounding communites. Our aim is that, through purposeful play, preschool children are supported to reach their full potental and work towards the Early Learning Goals as set out in the government’s_Early Years Foundaton Stage_ (EYFS) framework. Earlybirds values imaginaton, creatvity, independent decision-making and child-led learning. We place a strong emphasis on providing a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment that supports the development of self-confdence, independence, social skills and efectve communicaton. By fostering these skills, we enable each child to thrive and be well prepared for their transiton to primary school. We contnue to work in line with the_Curiosity_ _Approach_accreditaton achieved in the previous year. |
| Summary of the main actvites in relaton to those purposes for the public beneft, in partcular, the actvites, projects or services identfed in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Earlybirds currently operates during school hours, from 9.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday during term tme, and is the only playgroup serving the Ruspidge and Buckshaf area. Due to limited local transport links, Earlybirds is the only early years setng accessible to many parents and carers within the local community. Earlybirds receives Local Authority funding for eligible three-year-olds, for up to a maximum of 30 hours per week. Funding is also available for two-year-old children who meet specifc |
| eligibility criteria. For children who are not eligible for funded hours, or who require additonal sessions, fees are set below Gloucestershire County Council funding rates wherever possible. Trustees recognise that Cinderford is an area of economic deprivaton and are commited to keeping fees as low as possible to ensure the setng remains inclusive and accessible to all families. To help cover running costs, trustees and staf also organise fundraising actvites. We are fortunate to be able to hold a small number of events that allow parents and carers into the setng. Examples include Christmas sponsored sing-alongs and sponsored woodland walks. Actvites provided at Earlybirds are led by the children’s needs and interests and include, but are not limited to, outdoor play, cooking, and arts and crafs. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confrming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public beneft |
Para 1.18 | Trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the charity commission on public beneft and have had due regard in relaton to this. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contributon made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Earlybirds playgroup is lucky to have been supported throughout the year by several parents, carers, and volunteers who have given their tme and expertse free of charge. The playgroup welcomes a small number of volunteers into the setng. The trustees meet every half term formally or informallyto helpsupport the setng. |
| Other | N/A |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identfying the diference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its benefciaries and any wider benefts to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | We contnue to be able to provide local families with a safe, secure and nurturing setng 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 investgate and explore the outdoors and natural world. It encourages them using recycled and natural materials to become aware of the importance of sustainability from a young age. It also encourages imaginaton and interventon, rather than reliance on plastc toys with one use or purpose. During this period, as a setng we have supported the local food bank as part of our Harvest Festval celebratons. We are also keen to involve our children in local community events such as the annual Christmas Tree Festval. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectves set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising actvites against objectves set |
Para 1.41 | We applied for the Tesco grant and aligned our fundraising work with the objectves set for the project. All actvity has supported the planned outcomes, and we remain on track for full project completon in late 2025. |
| Investment performance against objectves |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s fnancial positon at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We contnue to set budgets and report on the fnances at each trustee meetng. A separate Fundraising account remains open so that all monies that have been fundraised from parents, carers and the public can be separated and used purely for resources that will beneft the children. We can then demonstrate to parents and carers how their generosity is being enjoyed by the children at Earlybirds. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves statng 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 fulfl our redundancy obligatons to staf if the setng ever had to close. |
| Total amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £17,696.60 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in defcit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanaton of any uncertaintes about the charity contnuingas 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 objectves including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A descripton of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The principal risk facing Earlybirds fnancially would be that children do not join the setng. Another risk that the setng faces are increasing utlites. This is a risk every year but due to the positve reputaton, communicaton, and good advertsing, 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 | Consttuton |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity consttuted? (e.g unincorporated associaton,CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selecton methods including details of any consttutonal provisions e.g. electon to post or name of any person or body enttled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The setng has an applicaton form for trustees. Potental trustees are invited to atend a meetng 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 meetng, and the potental trustee is elected by the board of trustees for a period of one year. Key roles - Chair, Treasurer and Secretary are agreed at each AGM as well as Vice-Chair, if possible,unless a vacancyarises. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the inducton and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisatonal structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relatonship with any related partes |
Para 1.51 | On of our commitee member atends the Local Authority Early Years Forum, which enables our setng 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 natonal events and awareness of early years trends, policy and development. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Earlybirds Playgroup |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1165010 |
| Charity’s principal address | Earlybirds Playgroup |
|---|---|
| Buckshaf Road | |
| Cinderford | |
| GL14 3DL | |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Ofce (if any) | Dates acted if not for wholeyear |
Name of person (or body) enttled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhiannon Trillo | Chair | Moved to Treasurer 24/11/24 |
|
| Margaret Hewis | Chair | From 24/11/24 | |
| Nicola Giles | Joined 07/11/2024 | ||
| Jodie Bishop | |||
| Mat Bishop | |||
| Sarah Jones | Secretary | ||
| Wendy Lewis | Joined 1/09/2024 | ||
| Hannah Tufnell | Treasurer | Lef 24/11/2024 | |
| Sally Reader | Lef 9/12/2024 |
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 |
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|---|---|---|---|
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Descripton of the assets held in this capacity |
N/A |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregaton of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
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 executve or names of senior staf members (Optonal informaton) | ||
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, etc)[Treasurer]
Date 18.01.2026
Financial Statements for the year ended
31 March 2025
for
Early Birds
Early Birds
Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| General Informaton | 1 |
| Accountants' Report and Client Approval Certfcate | 2 |
| Income and Expenditure Account | 3 |
Early Birds
General Informaton for the year ended 31 March 2025
ADDRESS: Early Birds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 3DL
ACCOUNTANTS: SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET
Page 1
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
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 Certfcate
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 2025
| Gross receipts Fees Grants Fund raising Sundries Donatons Interest received TOTAL INCOME Expenditure Pupil premium Resources and equipment Premises expenses Rates Salaries and HMRC Computer expenses Printng Subscriptons Insurance Professional fees Training Sundry Trips Pety cash EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE Balance at 01 April 2024 52,965 Balance at 31 March 2025 |
31.03.25 31.03.24 £ 1,407 782 1,731 4,737 75,805 104 2,405 250 1,296 352 573 1,377 65 750 36,295 42,808 |
£ £ 4,460 92,619 - 350 520 198 98,147 1,326 2,760 5,060 2,200 82,506 92 2,567 1,847 1,330 179 1,039 480 - 550 91,634 6,513 (01.04.23) (31.03.24) |
£ 6,359 77,465 845 286 - 311 85,266 101,936 (16,670) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36,295
| Current Account 18,674 Fundraising Account Reserves Account Total funds |
25,106 5 17,697 42,808 |
121 17,500 36,295 |
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