2024-08-31-accounts - Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol

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Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 August 2024

Charity number 1166766

The trustees of Cylch yn yr Ysgol present their annual report and accounts for the year 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] of August 2024 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Objectives

Our objective is to advance the education of preschool children aged 3 to 4 years in Builth Wells and the surrounding areas, through the medium of the Welsh language in a friendly, caring environment. We aim to ensure our service provides access to free, high quality Foundation Phase Education, for up to 3 hours per day (a minimum of 2), for a maximum of 10 hours per week. Building on the success of the Cylch Meithrin approach, provision is through the medium of Welsh with some English to support children entering a bilingual school.

Our aims

To advance the education of children by providing safe and satisfying play and activities through the medium of Welsh with some English to support children entering a bilingual school.
To support and preserve good mental, physical and emotional health of the children.
To provide a warm, safe and friendly environment.
To provide friendly, caring and approachable staff
To enable children to learn through play using both indoor and outdoor learning environments whilst supervised at all times
To give children the opportunity to interact with other children.
To prepare children for their transition to Primary School and in the first steps of the learning continuum.

Review of Activities and Performance

We are a high quality and friendly early years care and education setting, catering for children aged 3 to 4 years, through the medium of Welsh. We follow the foundation phase curriculum which emphasises learning through play and exploration. We have developed various strategies in both inside and outdoor spaces to create an inclusive learning environment to allow each child to thrive, this has been developed with the four purposes at the heart. We continue to provide morning and afternoon sessions for up to 24 children per session as per our registration.

We offer funded places up to 10 hours per week from the beginning of the term following a child’s third birthday via the Welsh Government’s free provision scheme through the local authority via the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP). We offer setting places for 2.5 hours from Monday to Thursday, we are closed on a Friday.

The children engage in a wide range of play activities that are adapted to meet the interests and needs of the children with a “plan on the go” approach. Thus promotes progress in all areas of a child’s development with the offering of a rich variety of free choice learning experiences. We observe, assess and record children’s development on a continual basis.

The setting has a clear focus on health and wellbeing (both physical and nutritional understanding), as evidenced with the commitment by staff to be awarded the Healthy Pre-school award 2023. The setting provides children with play opportunity as well as structure and routine.

To support the delivery of the Welsh Language and our Cynefin in our setting we are members of Mudiad Meithrin and have developed close links with their Area Worker who has attended committee meetings to offer advice and guidance. The staff have assembled creative story bags for parents to borrow, aimed at enhancing children's reading skills. Additionally, the bags created by the staff last year continue to be distributed to parents, supporting the development of both mathematics and literacy skills in children. This initiative not only fosters learning but also strengthens parental engagement. To promote physical wellbeing, sessions with Latch dance were increased.

The committee continues to be supported by the school’s governors and staff representatives all on a voluntary basis. The running of the setting continues to be supported by fundraising events held throughout the year by volunteers as well as grant income.

Staff successfully completed the Creative Learning in the Early Years course, funded by the Welsh Arts Council. This training has significantly enhanced their skills and confidence in facilitating risky play.

We also had great success in putting together a float for the local carnival in Builth Wells. Lots of children and parents took part, and we came away with 1[st ] prize for the Best Children’s float and won the award for the best overall float.

Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol was formally inspected in May 2024. This inspection was conducted jointly by Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales. Cylch was graded ‘Excellent’ in all core areas of the inspection including Wellbeing, Learning, Care & Development, Teaching & Assessment, Environment, Leadership & Management. The report highlighted one recommendation to ‘continue to develop role of the management committee so that the service is sustainable’. This report recognises the dedication and commitment of Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol staff and the previous committee members.

Financial review 2023-24

Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol received £44,262.93 of Foundation Phase funding during the seventh year of a contract with Powys County Council beginning 1st September 2017. The contract was originally awarded for three years to 31[st] August 2020 and has been extended until August 2024. This funding is used to pay our staff wages, purchase ongoing resources and cover any administrative costs.

The Early Years Deprivation Grant awarded December 2023 (£5,491.81) used to pay for sessions including Ready Steady music, Latch dance, Forest Schools, Celf o Gwmpas & Pyjama Drama.

The Arts Council of Wales awarded March 2024 (£2,500) used to purchase resources for cooking activities.

Further grants received include Groundwork Community Grant (£500) awarded January 2024.Raising the Attainment of Disadvantaged Youngsters (RADY) (£200) awarded January 2024.

Fundraising income was £1,453.50. The majority of this was raised from our Christmas raffle which was a big success, alongside the school summer fete refreshments stall. The success

of this relied upon the generosity of the staff, committee members and parents for their donations. A donation of £500 was received from the Dave Dixon memorial cup. Thanks to Lauren Dixon and family for this very generous donation.

The accounts show a surplus of £6,691.76. This is significantly more than the last year which is extremely positive with consideration of less grant funding received.

Financial statements are currently being prepared for the year ended 31 August 2024 and will be independently examined by Clark & Co Chartered Accountants, Builth Wells.

Structure, governance and management

Cylch yn yr Ysgol is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) run by a voluntary committee of parents, carers, school staff and school governors. The committee meets frequently to plan fundraising events. Our Annual General Meeting takes place in April after the Easter intake of new learners. All parents/carers are welcome to attend these meetings. All trustees give up their time freely and no remuneration has been paid to any trustee during the period.

In addition to half termly committee meetings, we have also been holding Management meetings, where the Responsible Individuals of the setting meet and take recommendations back to the full committee to be approved.

We would welcome support from parents/carers and family members in any way which they think they could help, this could involve becoming a trustee of the CIO or volunteering to help with fundraising events. Any help and support are much appreciated.

Steph Kinsey

Chair

26[th] April 2025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity no (if any) 1166766 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended LJ I MM I Y Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have compSeted my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below) 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 concerning the form and content of 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 no concerns and 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. Signed: Date: Name: Catrin Gaskell Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any): ACA, Chartered Accountant, ICAEW IER Oct 2018

Address: Clark & Co, Chartered Accountants 4 Broad Street, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 30T Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. Notes on page 3 below Receipts and Payments account. IER Oct 2018

Cylch Yn Yr Ysgol Charity Number: 1166766 Recei ts&Pa ments Account for the ear ended 31 Au ust 2024 Receipts Unrestricted Restricted Total 2022-23 Foundation Phase 3+ Funding Fundraising Grants 44,262.93 4,312.51 44,262.93 41,597.31 4,312.51 1,520.91 9,691.81 13,100.61 9,691.81 Donations Uniform Sales TiAFi Bank refundforfraudulent tronsoctions 22-23 Mudiad Meithrin 750.00 1,117.09 263.09 1.117.09 263.09 Total Receipts (Incomings) 49,955.62 9,691.81 59,647.43 56,968.83 Payments Unrestrirted Restricted 2,356.50 6,281.62 642.30 4,859.53 Total 8,638.12 5,501.83 2022-23 6,631.43 9,352.80 1,117.09 Materials, crafts, resources Equipment PoyPol Transartions under investigation Printing & Stationery Licences & Subscriptions Insurance Wages and PAYE NEST- Staff pensions Payroll administration Training courses Telephone Children's Uniform Staff Uniform DBS Checks/Recruitment/Medicals Sundry Total Payments (Outgoings) 27.30 27.30 150.00 36,650.73 1,429.53 432.00 19.80 120.00 150.00 156.30 36,807.03 33,865.91 1,429.53 1,461.97 432.00 600.00 19.80 20.00 120.00 258.99 179.00 220.00 42,227.16 11.297.45 53,524.61 54,602.52 179.00 220.00 315.00 979.33 Surplus for the year 6.122.82 2,366.31 Closin Balances at 31.08.2024 Main Bank Account- closing and opening Accrual - amount payable to Clark & Co for payroll services 24125 41,833.09 35,278.27 432.00 41,401.09 35,278.27 Inde endent Examination I have examined the above Receipts and Payments Account with the books and records Supplied and find it to be a true record thereof. The recommendations raised last year has seen an increased paper trail for expenses, the bank has refunded the suspected fraudelent transactions from the previous year but staff expenses sheets remain to be unathorised and this 15 something for the Treasurer to do going forward. Signed Date