Chairperson report for AGM – 10[th] July 2024 8pm
I am very pleased to report that it has been another successful year at Buttercups.
The staff have continued to build the offering and have continued to provide high quality care for all of the children who have attended. The staff are the engine at this wonderful setting and they are always committed and enthusiastic no matter how challenging the role may be some days. As parents we all rely on these ladies and they don’t let us down. I would like to thank them all for their hard work.
Buttercups continues to retain the quality of small rural setting which is at the heart of every decision made by staff and by the committee.
Yet again, we are filling up fast for the next year and there are only a few spaces left for September.
Attendance has increased again this year and there was another big increase to minimum wage which we reflected for all our staff. This always has an impact on our running costs. It is likely there will be another minimum wage increase next year which will have an impact on the setting’s costs again. However, as the setting is thriving, we are looking to how we can start paying staff more and have completed some projections already with decisions to be made next year. However, one of the most important values I have tried to promote is that our staff are worth investing in.
There has also been a change to funding with higher rates and an extended offering for 2 year olds for working families. This has also allowed the setting to keep up with increases in running costs. I am pleased to see that the government have realised that early education is an important investment. This also allowed us to keep a fee increase to a minimum.
Having mentioned early years funding I would like to draw all parent’s attention to 30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). It is so important that all families consider what funding they will be entitled to and make the most of it. Children flourish when they are given opportunity to socialise and develop at preschool and this sets them up for school and gives them a huge head start.
As a setting we are certainly in a good position and we have gone from strength to strength each year but the challenges that the cost of living increase has continued to set us will continue to be difficult to navigate.
This makes the committee one of the most important factors to ensure that this charity run preschool continues to thrive. The more members we have who actively contribute the easier it will be, so please join if you can. It is a wonderful way to gain some skills for your CV and help you get back into the workplace after a career break or to add to your skill set.
We have had lots of input this year from parents attending the committee meetings and we will have a new treasurer and chairperson next year as myself and Sarah Watts are stepping down.
I would like to thank Sarah for all her support as the treasurer role is very busy with lots of regular tasks that run to deadlines. I would also like to thank each of the parents who have attended meetings but especially Tonicha and Louis and Jess who have always given valuable opinions and always step up for fundraising and decision making and Jess has recently filled in as secretary. We all have young families and its very hard to commit to these roles. It really is appreciated.
Before Sarah Jacob took on her role as a staff member her valuable contribution as secretary was much appreciated. Her husband Jerole will now take on the treasurer role and he certainly has the skills for it and has already been committed to the handover from Sarah.
Rachael Gadsby has also provided valuable contributions to our recent meetings and her husband John Gadsby has also agreed to be chairperson and there is much work ahead over the summer to introduce him to the role. I will of course support whenever necessary as he settles into this.
We desperately need a new secretary and this role is centred mainly around being the organiser of the committee meetings so is less onerous. I hope that someone will step forward for this vital role.
Recently the possibility of the setting being taken over and run privately has been discussed and input from parents on this subject would be appreciated. At the moment this is just a discussion as there has been some interest now that the business is sustainable and is producing surplus income. The VMP are open to it being hired by a private company so this is positive too. Keeping options open is important.
Thoughts on this at the meeting and afterwards by email if you would prefer are welcome.
Lastly it is so important to thank all the wonderful children who have attended this year. Well done to each and every one of them and once again thank you to the staff and committee for all their tireless work.
Buttercups Pre-school
(registered Charity No: 1169880)
Receipts and Payments account for the year ended 31 August 2024
| Income NCC - funding SEN funding Fees and snacks Donations and fundraising proceeds Other income Expenditure Wages Rent and rates Activity and material costs Other costs Staff training Uniforms Bookkeeping services Insurance Advertising and marketing IT costs Donations and fund raising proceeds applied Profit for this year |
£ 67,591 6,646 18,768 528 470 |
|---|---|
| 94,004 65,549 6,247 4,458 1,234 - 170 936 - 307 240 - |
|
| 79,142 | |
| 14,862 |
| Cash movements: Current account Fundraising account Reserve account |
Balance brought forward Defict/profit for the year Balance carried forward £ £ £ 24,998 13,204 38,202 1,937 528 2,465 16,054 1,130 17,184 |
|---|---|
| 42,989 14,862 57,851 |
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Buttercups Pre-school (Registered Charity No: 1169880)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of this report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: . ……Neil Harries.............
J N H Harries, ACA
Address: 23 Common Lane, North Runcton, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE33 0RD
Date: ...22 June 2025