COMBERTON PLAYGROUP CIO ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
Registered Charity no: 1175029 Registered address: Green End, Comberton, Cambridge, CB23 7DY
Comberton Playgroup Trustees Annual Report
Comberton Playgroup is a registered charity with Trustees elected in accordance with our Constitution. The Trustees are legally responsible for the overall management and decision making, along with the direction and performance of Comberton Playgroup.
On a day to day basis the playgroup is run by the Playgroup Management team, supported by all staff members.
We are required to ensure that the playgroup runs in accordance with our Constitution, within the law and to make major decisions jointly.
We are required to provide the Charity Commission with an Annual Report which is available to all parents/guardians attending the charity’s Annual General Meeting and on request.
Trustees and Volunteers: 1[st] September 2023 – 31[st] August 2024
| Chair of Trustees: | Gareth Lane (stepped down 3rd July 2024) |
|---|---|
| Ruby Davies (from 4th July 2024) | |
| Trustees: | Miranda Horvath |
| David Newton (stepped down 28th Feb 2024) | |
| Ruby Davies | |
| Lynn Pettit |
Playgroup Management Team: September 2023 – August 2024
(Reporting directly to the Management Committee)
Playgroup Leader & Senior Room Leader: Rachel Lowing Deputy Playgroup Leader: Julia Chandler Senior Room Leader: Emma Smith (to July 24)
Comberton Playgroup: Our objectives
The aim of the playgroup is to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age by encouraging parents/guardians to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by:
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PROVISION – offering play facilities for the development and education through different activities/education for different age groups, including Fun for Ones and Twos, and Playgroup for age 2 years to 5 years, with advanced activities for children in their last year before attending primary school.
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CHILDREN & COMMUNITY – encouraging the study of needs of the individual children in their development and education, and to give additional support to the children and parents, when required. This includes the promotion of public interest in, and the recognition of such needs in the local areas, with the aim to be accessible to children and families from the local community, regardless of race, culture, religion or means.
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POLICIES & ENVIRONMENT – creating an environment in which children are safe from abuse, and in which suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to according to the playgroup’s Child Protection Policy.
These objectives are in line with the constitutional objectives of the CIO:
The charity works for the public benefit having as its objectives the development and education of children and young people in particular by:
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Promoting their care and safety;
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Promoting their education and promoting parental involvement;
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Promoting their health and wellbeing;
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Providing services to support them and their families and carers;
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Providing services to individuals holding membership of the CIO; and
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Furthering the aims of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
Comberton Playgroup: The last 12 months
Children
There were more children of all ages attending playgroup this year; with 65 children on roll throughout the summer term and all three playgroup rooms opened in the afternoon.
Outdoor Explorer sessions and PE lessons debuted in the Autumn term and continue to help enrich learning and development within the current curriculum.
The annual Nativity was a great success and remains a firm parent favourite, enjoyed by all.
Staffing
We were pleased to welcome Eileen Cahill and Ann Simpson to the playgroup team in April 2024, with Rebecca Tarring and Purnima Nishanth also commencing roles within the playgroup team from June 2024.
Emma Smith stepped down as Senior Room Leader in July 2024, but continues to stay on in her role as Early Years Practitioner.
Laura Anderton left in July 2024. We thank Laura for her commitment to playgroup over the last year.
Fundraising
Fundraising activities have returned to normal with successful Christmas, Easter, and Summer BBQ events.
Finances
The year’s accounts are appended to this report and as can be seen there was a surplus of £5,368 this year. This will be retained for future capital expenditure. The lease was agreed and renewed in March 2024 with costs covering the one-off expenses of lease renewal and backdated rent from 28th September 2018 absorbed within this financial year.
Due to the proportion of income which comes from grant-funded hours the trustees’ ability to influence the amount of income through the level at which fees are set remains limited. The trustees continue to monitor the impact of this but actively seek to avoid any ‘add on’ fees/contributions being charged.
Comberton Playgroup: The last 12 months
Premises
No major works to the buildings were undertaken during the year. A new rubber mulch surface was laid in the playground, and on-going general repairs undertaken as needed to ensure the building was maintained in line within the lease requirements.
As noted previously, talks with the Diocese regarding the lease were successfully concluded; with the lease renewal agreed in March 2024 for a further 5 years.
Provision
Holiday club and late leavers continued to be popular and well used. Messy play sessions became busier, with children attending from a variety of local areas.
Permission was granted by the Parish council for a Forest school space within the wooded area at the Comberton recreation ground. Forest school will be piloted from September 2024 with preschooler groups - this initiative has been very well received by parents.
Summary
Comberton Playgroup has had a successful year with the staff continuing to provide a high quality, safe, educational setting for children under the expert management of Playgroup Leader, Rachel Lowing.
We would like to thank all of the playgroup staff for their hard work and continued dedication in the day-to-day running of the playgroup, as well as organising the annual fundraising events, which the children and families enjoy so much. All do a remarkable job, and their dedication ensures that we are able to provide a safe, friendly and much needed community facility for Comberton and the surrounding villages.
We would also like to extend our thanks to all the parents, grandparents, carers, children and community members for their support throughout the year, and continued support of our fundraising activities and social events.
We welcome any suggestions from parents, grandparents, carers and others if there are ways in which you feel we can improve our service in the future. The more voices we have, the more representative the playgroup can be for the local community.
Comberton Playgroup: Looking forward
Playgroup is thriving and we are already planning ahead for the future. Here are some of the initiatives the playgroup team and CIO are looking to work towards over the next year and beyond - we are excited to get going!
Forest School
Further develop and expand Forest school to benefit more playgroup children.
Sensory garden
Transform the current garden space into a ‘sensory garden’ to stimulate the senses, enabling children to interact and help make sense of the world around them.
Dynamic outdoor classrooms
Create a series of outdoor classroom spaces to enable learning to move from an indoor setting to the outdoors.
Playground update
Re-develop the current playground area to allow children to play and explore more extensively.
Building upgrades
Open up the main rooms for improved communication, upgrade the external doors and refresh the washroom facilities. Create additional storage and a Manager’s office to allow for more practical administration.
Comberton Playgroup is a charitable organisation and relies on volunteer trustees to be able to keep the playgroup doors open for all. We desperately need further support with both fundraising and management committee roles to ensure that the playgroup is able to continue to provide its services to the local community. No previous experience is necessary. If you would like to help or get involved please speak to Rachel or get in touch: chair.combertonplaygroup@gmail.com
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Comberton Playgroup CIO
On accounts for the year 31 August 2024 Charity no 1175029 ended (if any)
Set out on pages
8-9 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~Pe~~ 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 As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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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: Date: 2nd June 2025 Name: Christopher Dougherty ~~Ce~~ Relevant professional Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Lakin Rose Limited Cambridge House, Camboro Business Park, Girton Cambridge, CB3 0QH
October 2018
7
IER
| Charity number | Charity number | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comberton Playgroup CIO | 1175029 | ||||||||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||||||||
| For the period from ~~ee~~ |
1 September 2023 Period start date ~~ee~~ |
To | 31 August 2024 Period end date ~~ee~~ |
||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||
| Fees 104,985 Grants 134,837 Interest receivable 507 Donations andgifts - Sub total(Gross income for AR) 240,329 ~~———~~ |
- - - - - |
- - - - - |
- - - - - |
104,985 134,837 507 - 240,329 |
77,732 121,835 70 267 199,904 |
||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 240,329 - - 240,329 199,904 ~~——_————~~ |
|||||||||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||
| Wages and salaries | 179,643 | - | - | - | 179,643 | 158,925 | |||||
| Teachingmaterials | 2,211 | - | - | - | 2,211 | 1,539 | |||||
| Insurance | 1,991 | - | - | - | 1,991 | 1,876 | |||||
| Water rates | 1,168 | - | - | - | 1,168 | 1,473 | |||||
| Light and heat | 8,772 | - | - | - | 8,772 | 7,335 | |||||
| Cleaning | 2,666 | - | - | - | 2,666 | 1,948 | |||||
| Telephone and fax | 744 | - | - | - | 744 | 407 | |||||
| Staff training | 1,288 | - | - | - | 1,288 | 301 | |||||
| Legal andprofessional | 6,629 | - | - | - | 6,629 | 334 | |||||
| Dues & subscriptions | 1,386 | - | - | - | 1,386 | 1,115 | |||||
| Staff hospitality | 424 | - | - | - | 424 | 522 | |||||
| Equipment expensed | 15 | - | - | - | 15 | 283 | |||||
| Repairs and maintenance | 7,846 | - | - | - | 7,846 | 854 | |||||
| Sundryexpenses | 2,449 | - | - | - | 2,449 | 1,480 | |||||
| Accountancyfees | 2,413 | - | - | - | 2,413 | 1,687 | |||||
| Rates | 216 | - | - | - | 216 | 205 | |||||
| Rent | 15,073 | - | - | - | 15,073 | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 234,934 | - | - | - | 234,934 | 180,284 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Computer 27 - - 27 160 - - - - Sub total 27 - - 27 160 Total payments 234,961 - - 234,961 180,444 ~~——————~~ |
|||||||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) 5,368 - - 5,368 19,460 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 106,744 - - 106,744 87,284 Cash funds this year end 112,112 - - 112,112 106,744 ~~===>~~ |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
02/06/2025
8
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Petty cash Current account Building Society account Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Petty cash Current account Building Society account Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 78,629 33,323 160 112,112 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 78,629 33,323 160 112,112 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| OK | |||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||||||
| Trade debtors | 14,228 | - | - | ||||
| Prepayments | 1,042 | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Details Details |
Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) |
Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Current value (optional) |
|||||||
| Computer equipment | 187 | 117 | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Signature Trade creditors Accruals Deferred income PAYE / National Insurance Details |
Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted - Unrestricted 1,200 Unrestricted 24,590 Unrestricted 3,995 - Print Name SuzyKoo |
When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
|||||||
| SuzyKoo | 02/06/25 | ||||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
02/06/2025
9