## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 1[st ] August 2024 **Period start date To** 31[st ] July 2025 **Period end date**
**Charity name:** Whitsers Pre-School Playgroup
**Charity registration number:** 1165455
## **Objectives and Activities**
||
SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The playgroup aims to enhance the
development and education of children
under statutory school age. This is
achieved by offering appropriate play and
learning facilities while ensuring equal
opportunities for all children, promoting the
playgroup within the local community and
adhering to the Pre-School Learning
Alliance Code of practice.|
|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|Whitsers Pre-School Playgroup provides
public benefit by:
Offering playgroup sessions for local
children aged 2.5 – 4 years. Sessions are
offered 5 mornings and 3 afternoons per
week in term time.
Providing a caring, stimulating and fun
environment for play, creative and learning
activities in accordance with the Early
Years curriculum. Organising occasional
outings locally, and playgroup events.
Providing each family with a Key Worker,
responsible for ensuring the child’s welfare
and recording their development.
Working closely with local schools to
ensure a smooth transition.
The Playgroup is OFSTED registered and
employs five members of staff (part time). It
is led by a playgroup leader, and two
deputy playgroup leaders.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have|Para 1.18|The Trustees confirm that they have
referred to the guidance contained in the|
had regard to the guidance Charity Commission's general guidance on issued by the Charity public benefit when reviewing the charity's Commission on public aim and objectives and in planning future benefit activities.
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38||
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38||
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The playgroup relies on volunteers to
fulfil roles on the committee and
organise fundraising, which is often key
to the playgroup's financial survival.|
|Other|||
## **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|This year the staff and committee have
risen to the challenge of rising costs again
this year.
Admissions:
September 2024 opened with 18 children
on the register, 9 of those were under 3.
Year ended with 27 children attending, with
4 under 3.
Children:
Some of our highlights of the year included
the theme of light and dark. The children
learned about road safety and had a visit
from the local police officers, they arrived in
their police cars, and we had the chance to
see a stinger. We celebrated Halloween
and had our own haunted house, carved
pumpkins and dissected a sweetcorn plant.
The children were fascinated by the car
park relaying and enjoyed watching the big
diggers and ‘wackers’ at work.
We marked Remembrance Day by visiting
the village war memorial to lay the Whitsers
wreath. The children showed great respect
as we talked about the importance of
remembering others. As always, Christmas
brought sparkle and joy — and plenty of|
glitter! The children put on a truly wonderful nativity play, with a record number of families joining us to watch and celebrate together. We welcomed the New Year with a celebration of the Lunar New Year, making a vibrant dragon’s head for our dragon dancing. The children helped prepare vegetables for a stir-fry snack, exploring new tastes and traditions. Valentine’s Day filled Whitsers with pink, red, and plenty of love-themed crafts and activities. For Mother’s Day, the children created special surprises, and our Easter egg hunt was a huge success — helped by the generous donation of eggs Summer brought warmer weather, time spent exploring our outside area. We enjoyed a fantastic outing to Audley End, where we discovered dinosaurs, fairy houses and explored the grounds with all of our families. During VE Day, we honoured the occasion with cream teas for snack, learning a little about history while enjoying a special treat. The children also took an interest in the Women’s Euros, exploring maps and flags from around the world to learn about different countries. We ended our year with our End of Term Party before saying goodbye to our preschoolers, who were off to “Big School.” Overall, this year we raised £2,156.10
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising Para 1.41 activities against objectives set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review **|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Total Reserves stand at £44,388.|
|Statement explaining the|Para 1.22|Reserves currently equate to approximately|
|policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held||48.69% of the charity's annual expenditure.|
|---|---|---|
|Number of reserves held|Para 1.22|As above.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23||
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal Para 1.47 sources of funds (including any fundraising) Investment policy and Para 1.46 objectives including any social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|
Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution of the Pre-School
Learning Alliance.|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated
Organisation (ClO).|
|association, 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|Trustees are elected annually at the
Annual General Meeting.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures Para 1.51 adopted for the induction and training of trustees The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 structure and any wider network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Whitsers Pre-School Playgroup|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Whitsers|
|Registered charity number|1165455|
|Charity’s principal address|Memorial Hall
Mill Lane
Whittlesford
Cambridgeshire
CB22 4NE|
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Anna Genevier|Chair|||
|Jessica Reeve|Secretary|||
|Kim Holtby|Treasurer|||
|Diane Thorburn|HR|||
|Kate Thorburn|Ofsted|||
## 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 this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how these falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for 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
## **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 trustee**
|**Signature(s)**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Full name(s)**|Catharine Thorburn|BeverleyArnold|
**Position (eg** Ofsted Trustee/Playleader Administrator **Secretary, Chair etc)**
**Date:**
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