Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Names of trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name Office Report agreed |
Trustee name Office Report agreed |
Trustee name Office Report agreed |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs Vivien Farrell Trustee / Treasurer Agreed by email |
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| Mrs Brenda Harris Trustee Agreed by email |
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| Mrs Anne Herbert Trustee Agreed by email |
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| Mrs Gillian Keene Trustee Agreed by email |
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| Mr Richard Harris | Trustee | Agreed by email |
Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Summary of the purposes of the charity
Regarding the purpose of St Peter’s Playgroup, the Trustees fully endorse the following as stated in the governing document:
“For the public benefit to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents / carers to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by:
(a) offering appropriate play, education and care facilities, family learning and extended hours groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children irrespective of their race, culture, religion, means or ability
(b) encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local area.”
Principles, objectives and ethos of St Peter’s Playgroup
St Peter’s Playgroup is a preschool originally established in 1983 by parishioners of the Church of the Sacred Heart Sittingbourne and was in fact a parish group before becoming independent then taking charitable status. The main objective of playgroup is that children from the local community should come and enjoy themselves whilst learning irrespective of background or financial means. The trustees are proud of the fact that playgroup always meets this objective. St Peter’s Playgroup has always endeavoured to have the lowest fees (for those not eligible for government funding) in the local area.
Access has always been offered to any child in the local community irrespective of race, culture, religion, means or ability. The playgroup management, trustees, staff and volunteers are proud of playgroup’s record of helping parents / carers to successfully prepare their children for transfer to primary school reception class.
St Peter’s Playgroup delivers education and support as specified by the National Foundation Stage Curriculum. Playgroup is fortunate to have highly qualified and experienced staff who enable this commitment to be met.
Parents / Carers are supported throughout the process by being kept up to date with the achievements / progress of their child. If necessary, any area of concern regarding progress or welfare is reviewed with them and when appropriate, guidance is given regarding where and how further support can be provided.
The trustees are pleased to report that all feedback received from parents / carers has been positive and that there is frequent repeat business with siblings coming to playgroup. There is a good relationship with primary schools who have also made positive comments regarding the readiness of children for reception class.
All staff, volunteers and trustees have had appropriate data barring service (DBS) checks that are kept up to date. The staff that look after the children receive appropriate training as required. There is also appropriate safeguarding, data protection and management policies in place.
The trustees are proud of the fact that no child has ever been refused enrolment to St Peter’s Playgroup on any grounds including special needs or financial difficulties. A concession that playgroup makes to parents / carers with children that are two years old, is that, unlike many preschool settings no fee is charged if the child cannot attend their usual session. The manager also has the discretion to take a flexible approach where a family is in obvious financial difficulty. Such circumstances are reported verbally to the trustees however the identity of those involved is never disclosed.
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Summary of the main activities and achievements
Overview of service delivered
There has been a full programme of activities for the children. The staff have worked hard and the records show that every child has made progress towards achieving their potential. The aims of playgroup are to help children develop in a number of areas as set out in the national foundation stage curriculum. We are pleased to report that every child has made progress with what they can do whilst developing from an individual to being able to take part in group activities. Most importantly they all do this whilst playing and having fun. We have qualified. experienced and professional staff who are good at both putting individual childcare plans into operation and identifying areas where help may be needed. The staff and the parents / carers are to be thanked for their patience and support.
We are pleased to report that playgroup has still been able to accommodate children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) despite the fact that “One to One” funding is no longer available. The staff are to be congratulated and thanked for their work in supporting those most in need. The removal of the oneto-one funding for SEN does impact on the number of staff we can employ and therefore limits the number of SEN children that we can help.
Parents / Carers are supported throughout the process by being kept up to date with the achievements / progress of their child. Records are kept of each child’s progress that are the property of the parent / carer, this allows them to see how their child is progressing in terms of both ability and maturity. When necessary, any area of concern regarding progress or welfare is reviewed with the parent(s) /carer(s) and when appropriate, guidance is given regarding whether or not further support is needed and how it will be provided.
Parents and Carers wishing their child to enrol with playgroup are invited to visit with the child first to ensure that the setting meets their needs. When first enrolled the child’s parent(s) / carer(s) are invited to stay until the child has settled, this usually is a very short time as we find that children settle in quickly.
In September 2023, 14 children transferred successfully to primary school and we have had good feedback that they have settled in quickly and happily with school life.
Staffing update
Playgroup has been fortunate to have had a work experience student join us as part of her childcare course. She quickly settled in and became a useful member of the team. On completion of her work experience she was offered a contract that she accepted and has joined the team as a permanent employee. She will now work as a team member while she studies for further qualifications.
In July 2023 one long-term serving member of staff retired and we all wish her well and a long and happy retirement.
A part time member of staff has been recruited to help with the preparation of playgroup each morning. This has become necessary as there is limited time in the morning to prepare the hall for the children.
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Issues that have arisen during the year under review
Our staffing levels over the past year have been good although we are operating at the minimal staffing level. Staffing is a major issue in the childcare sector. Fortunately, we have been able to keep staffing at a suitable level throughout the year. On the occasions when due to unexpected circumstances there has been a staff shortage, we have been able to call in suitable staff to assist on a part time basis.
The crisis in the childcare sector has been brought about by the government promising free childcare to parents / carers then only paying a proportion of the cost to childcare settings. This results in a shortfall of income therefore staff are underpaid for the responsible work that they do. We are fortunate to have dedicated staff who effectively subsidise the setting. It is therefore unsurprising that the childcare sector is losing staff to better paid positions. Whilst we are lucky to have such dedicated team, we cannot expect this situation to remain long term.
The hall continues to be a problem with the high rent, removal of available storage and having to deal with rubbish and other issues left by other hall users. Discussions are taking place with the parish priest (our landlord) in an effort to resolve these issues and it is hoped that more storage will be provided.
Finally, the trustees would like to thank the manager Mrs Willson for her tireless efforts to keep playgroup working to such a high standard, maintaining a good relationship with parents and carers and in particular making playgroup a happy and safe place for the children in our care.
Thank you to the staff and our community
St Peter’s Playgroup is fortunate to have reliable and conscientious staff and volunteers all of whom give a significant amount of unpaid time to ensure successful outcomes for playgroup activities. These include staff getting in early to prepare the hall, staying after sessions to pack away and in their own time preparing activities for the children. The staff are to be congratulated for their conscientious approach, commitment and innovative ideas that help to provide a rich and stimulating programme of activities for the children. We thank trustees Mrs Vivien Farrell and Mrs Brenda Harris for their support when we have been short handed for a playgroup session.
The trustees would also like to thank the parents and carers for their positive contribution to group activities without this it would not be possible for playgroup to function effectively. The feedback from parents / carers and their involvement in activities helps playgroup to achieve one of its primary goals of contributing to the local community.
Challenges
The challenges faced by trustees, management and staff of playgroup have been many over the period under review, the need to support those children with special educational needs (SEN) despite the withdrawal of funding for “one to one” assistance and the inadequate government funding rate (for qualifying children) are a major concern as both these issues present long-term risks to the charity’s viability. The government claims to be providing free childcare, however this is not the case as staff are underpaid for the work that they do and playgroup relies on unpaid volunteers to carry out many backoffice tasks. Additionally, the increasing bureaucratic demands placed on childcare settings to manage the SEN process and the demands of the regulatory systems has added significantly to the effort required to meet commitments. As a result of the above there is a shortage of experienced qualified staff in the childcare industry that may impact significantly on playgroup in the future.
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Latest OFSTED inspection
The results of the OFSTED inspections carried out during the calendar year 2022. The first was carried out on 13 January 2022 and was required following the issues raised by the staff. The second inspection was carried out on 7 December 2022 and the improvements highlight the excellent work carried out by the new manager and her team with all areas found to be good. The trustees congratulate all involved in achieving the improvement.
Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspection
Inspection of St Peter's Playgroup
The O'Sullivan Centre Sacred Heart Church,
63 West Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 1AN
Inspection date: 7 December 2022 Overall effectiveness Good The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
St Peter’s Playgroup Financial Review
Summary of income and expenditure 2023 / 2024
| Income | Total | Total | Expenditure | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government funding and Fees |
£89,155 | Wages | £72,340 | ||
| Sponsorship and donations | £850 | Rent | £11,760 | ||
| Loan | £4,000 | Supplies | £3,025 | ||
| interest | £14 | Renewables, Course Fees, Equipment, Insurance, Professional Fees, Marketing etc. |
£2,630 | ||
| Total Receipts* | £94,019 | Total Expenditure* | £89,755 |
*Note: Totals rounded up to nearest pound.
The Playgroup account ended year with a balance of £6,121 compared to an end balance of £1,856 in the previous accounting year . However, the 2023 to 2024 year includes a £4,000 interest free loan from trustee Mrs Viven Farrell that was required to meet payroll commitments in December, 2023. It is noted that fees have increased by £19,757 compared to the previous accounting year. This highlights the improvement in enrolments resulting from the proper approach to encouraging two-year-old children to attend playgroup. Another important factor has been the marketing of playgroup by Manager Jenny Willson and her team along with an effective invoice system for direct fee payers.
Inflation continues to be a major concern along with inadequate government funding however the playgroup manager and staff are to be congratulated for keeping the increase in wages costs to a minimum (£3,091). The rising cost of wages is accounted for by the increase to minimum wage and additional staff costs due to the need to employ part time help to assist with the daily setup of equipment.
The cost of the rent for the hall has increased from £11,400 to £11,760 this is an issue as much of playgroup’s storage has been taken away and there is also a problem regarding staff having to deal with equipment and rubbish left by other hall users.
A summary of the audited accounts with the independent examiners report (completed by Lyndens Accountants [ Kent] Ltd) is provided in Appendix 1.
Whilst this is an improved financial position and the increased enrolment offers a more promising year ahead, playgroup like many other childcare settings is vulnerable to the current economic situation. Future increase to the minimum wage and rising inflation are a major risk to viability. However, planned improvements to the government funding process in September 2025 offers a possible solution to the ongoing problem of matching income with needs.
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Report summary and conclusions
1. Delivery of childcare
The manager Mrs Jennifer Willson and her deputy, working with the team and the trustees, has improved the marketing of playgroup significantly. Additionally, a more effective and cost- conscious regime has been implemented. This is demonstrated by keeping the increase in the cost of wages at a reasonable level despite the rise in the minimum wage. Mrs Willson and the staff are to be thanked and congratulated.
Mrs Willson and her team have welcomed two-year old children and created a friendly and welcoming setting. This has resulted in an improvement in the rate of enrolment. Additionally, she has developed an effective invoice system for fee payers that is operating well.
The manager and staff have developed an excellent Facebook page that is supported by a website and google account entry which combined capture considerable interest of potential customers.
A major issue is the increasing weight of bureaucracy when applying for funding, dealing with the autocratic demands of OFSTED and when applying for special education needs (SEN) support. This can involve dealing with multiple agencies who all seem to want the same information on different forms.
Another concern is the removal of storage used by playgroup by the landlord. This has added considerably to the work required to set up and put away equipment each day. It has been necessary to employ someone to assist the manager to set up play equipment each morning. It is also noted that the state of the hall is less than that expected, discussions with the landlord are continuing regarding these issues. A meeting was held with Father Arbo (parish priest / landlord) attended by Mrs Vivien Farrell (trustee), Mr. John Farrell (secretary to the trustees) regarding the storage problem and a way forward was agreed. Mrs Farrell has put in a request to Kent County Council for a grant to enable necessary work on the hall, and the provision of additional storage.
The delivery of childcare by Mrs Willson and her team has been to the highest standards and it is clear that the team has an ethos that puts the children first and there is a clear determination to ensure that they provide a safe environment where children learn through play.
2. Finances
A number of issues are being monitored by treasurer Mrs Farrell including the increasing cost of wages / staff training as well as the inadequate government funding that has not kept pace with inflation. The government expects childcare settings to make up the difference between the funded rate and a viable rate by charging parents / carers for other services (for example, provision of meals, nappy changing etc.). There is of course, a limit to how much income you can raise this way. For example, we have stopped providing a hot lunch and children bring in a packed lunch box as to provide hot lunch was uneconomic. We have never charged for nappy changing as we consider it part of the care we provide for the child. A free breakfast and snacks are offered so children are not hungry. Increasing costs due to inflation impacts on parents / carers ability to pay and playgroup’s ability to charge a realistic rate for these services. The loss of “one to one” funding for children with special needs is a major problem as staff costs are so high.
The coming financial year will be challenging with increasing costs due to inflation, the inadequate government funding and the increase in the minimum wage being just some of the issues impacting on all aspects of childcare and could result in playgroup ceasing to be able to continue to provide the service to the community that has been available for over 40 years. Continued on page 8:
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Continued from page 7:
However, with the current team of committed professionals it is possible that we may overcome these challenges and build again for the future. Much will depend on the number of children who enrol at the start of the academic year (September 2024) as the new joiners are needed to replace those who move on to primary school. The uptake of potential enrolments for September 2024 does at the moment look promising.
There is a proposal that from September 2025 all children, in our care aged 2 to school age, will receive, government funded, 30 hours of child care per week for 38 weeks of the year, an increase of 15 hours per week per child. This should increase the fees received and fill any available capacity.
Acknowledgements
The trustees wish to thank the staff and volunteers who did all they could to reduce the financial burden by volunteering their services free of charge for session preparation and back-office activities. Without this support playgroup would not be viable.
Additionally, the trustees would like to thank those who have made donations over the year and trustee Mrs Farrell for an interest free loan of £4,000 to enable wages to be paid in December 2023.
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
Appendix 1
St Peter’s Playgroup Financial Summary and
Independent Examiners report
Financial Year
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
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Draft Trustees’ annual report for period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 Charity name: St Peter’s Playgroup Charity registration number: 1167833
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