**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||
|---|---|---|
|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.|
|---|---|---|
|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||
|---|---|---|
|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||
|---|---|---|
|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)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
36,295
|Current Account
18,674
Fundraising Account
Reserves Account
Total funds|25,106
5
17,697
42,808
|121
17,500
36,295|
|---|---|---|