Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 31/03/2024 To 31/03/2025 Charity name: Sŵn y Don Playgroup Charity registration number: 1180784
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Sŵn Y Don Playgroup and afterschool club aims to: Create a happy, safe, and secure environment in which all children can grow in confidence and develop a wide range of skills through purposeful, first-hand experiences and play. Nurture, health, wellbeing, and children’s rights are at the heart of our provision. Children are supported to develop a sense of awe and curiosity, fostering a lifelong love of learning. We will endeavour to: Provide children with a broad range of experiences, including freely chosen, unstructured, and self-directed play, which support their physical, social, intellectual, linguistic, and creative development. We will; • Provide a warm, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere for children and families. • Ensure that every child feels happy, safe, and secure within the setting. • Offer a stimulating and enabling environment that supports and enhances children’s learning and development. • Provide funded early education for all eligible three-year- olds. • Deliver provision in line with the Curriculum for Wales framework. • Use high-quality resources to support the development of children’s skills across all areas of learning. • Continuously strive to improve the quality of the setting through reflection, evaluation, and development planning. • Promote equality of opportunity and inclusion for all children. • Support children’s understanding of healthy living, recognising its long-term impact on health, wellbeing, and life outcomes. |
| 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 |
Sŵn Y Don Playgroup is a Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) registered childcare setting, offering early years education and care for children aged 2 - 4 years. The Playgroup offers up to fifteen places per session (morning and afternoon) and operates Monday to Friday during Conwy County Borough Council term time. Sessions are delivered at the following times: Morning sessions: 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Afternoon session: 12.15 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. Through these sessions, the Playgroup delivers its charitable purpose of advancing education by providing high-quality, play based learning opportunities that support children’s development, wellbeing, and readiness for school. The Playgroup delivers provision in line with Welsh Government initiatives and expectations, ensuring that services are accessible, inclusive, and beneficial to the wider community. During the reporting period, the setting implemented and embedded the following programmes and frameworks: • Curriculum for Wales, supporting learning through play across all areas of development. • Flying Start, working in partnership with the local authority to support children and families. • Design to Smile, promoting positive oral health and lifelong healthy habits. • Trauma-Informed Schools, ensuring emotionally supportive and nurturing practice. • Rights Respecting Schools, embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into daily practice. These activities provide clear public benefit by supporting children’s early learning, social development, health and wellbeing, and by helping children develop the skills, confidence, and independence needed for a successful transition into statutoryeducation. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and activities. The trustees believe that the activities delivered during the year have been carried out in furtherance of the charity’s charitable purposes and have provided a positive public benefit through supporting the education, health, and wellbeing of young children within the local community. |
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 | During the reporting period, Sŵn Y Don Playgroup provided high-quality care and early education to over 30 children aged between 2 and 4 years. As a small, friendly, and inclusive setting, the Playgroup continues to offer a happy, stimulating, and supportive environment where children feel safe, valued, and confident to learn and develop. The Playgroup operates within the Curriculum for Wales, ensuring that children are supported to develop holistically across all areas of learning and development. The charity’s core purpose remains the Advancement of Education, and this has been delivered through a play-based approach supported by Welsh Government and local authority funding and grants. Children engaged in a wide range of learning through play activities designed to support their academic, social, emotional, and physical development in an age- and stage-appropriate way. Activities and resources promoted development in health and wellbeing, expressive arts, language, literacy and communication, mathematics and numeracy, science, and technology, supporting children’s readiness for transition into full-time education. Leadership and management continued to work effectively in partnership, maintaining high standards and clear expectations for practice. Self-evaluation and continuous improvement remained central to strategic planning, with action plans developed at the start of the year and reviewed regularly. The setting worked closely with external agencies, ensuring staff training, supervision, and appraisals were kept up to date. The quality of provision and internal processes has been commended by partner agencies, and good practice has been shared with other childcare settings. During the year, the focus shifted from physical development of the environment to embedding and refining practice within existing indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Staff continued to develop a calm, free-flowing environment, ensuring that learning experiences were purposeful, well-resourced, and responsive to children’s interests. As a result, children demonstrated increased independence,sustained |
engagement in play, and confidence in moving between learning areas to support their own choices and learning. Children were actively involved in the planning of their learning experiences. Snapshot observations and learning journeys were used to track progress over time and ensure provision met individual needs. The Playgroup worked closely with the local authority to ensure appropriate assessment processes were in place for Flying Start and three-year-old provision. Children were encouraged to make choices, direct their own play, and express their needs and views in a variety of ways. Children’s voice is central to the setting, and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are embedded throughout daily practice. Staff ensure that children feel listened to, respected, and protected from harm. Building on the introduction of digital communication tools in the previous year, the Playgroup continued to use Seesaw effectively to maintain strong partnerships with parents and carers. Regular updates, observations, and shared learning experiences supported meaningful engagement with children’s development and strengthened home-setting links. Staff continued to build on prior professional development, applying their training consistently to support safeguarding, inclusion, and positive behaviour, ensuring all children’s needs were met sensitively and effectively. Strong partnerships continued to develop with Ysgol Sŵn Y Don, supporting smooth and well-planned transitions for children moving to the school nursery. A high intake of children progressing to the school reflects the Playgroup’s important role in preparing children with the confidence, independence, and early learning skills needed for this next stage. Overall, Sŵn y Don Playgroup remains committed to delivering a high-quality, nurturing, and inclusive provision that benefits children, families, and the wider community. The dedication of the staff team to reflective practice, professional development, and partnership working continues to have a positive impact on outcomes for children.
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
At the end of the period, the charity’s income and expenditure were broadly balanced, enabling the Playgroup to continue operating and delivering its charitable activities. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 |
The trustees’ policy is to hold a modest level of reserves sufficient to support the short-term financial stability of the Playgroup. Reserves are maintained to enable the charity to meet essential commitments, including at least one month’s staffing costs, and to provide contingency funding to cover potential redundancy costs should this be required. This approach ensures the charity can continue to operate responsiblywhile managingfinancial risk. |
| Amount of reserves held |
Para 1.22 |
Approx £10,000.00 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 |
N/A |
| Details of fund materiallyin deficit |
Para 1.24 |
N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a goingconcern |
Para 1.23 |
N/A |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
The charity’s principal sources of income during the year were Welsh Government and local authority funded childcare schemes, including: • Flying Start funding • Funded early education for three-year-olds • 30-hour Childcare Offer funding These funding streams support the delivery of the Playgroup’s charitable purpose by enabling families to access high-quality early years education and care. |
|---|---|---|
| Other | During the year, the Playgroup focused on sustaining and strengthening the improvements and good practice previously identified through Estyn and CIW inspection processes. The provider continued to work effectively towards agreed targets, ensuring that improvements were embedded into everyday practice rather than treated as isolated initiatives. Positive professional relationships with Flying Start and the Local Authority were maintained, and ongoing feedback continued to recognise the quality and consistency of provision. Practitioners further consolidated their understanding and application of the Curriculum for Wales,with increased |
confidence in planning meaningful, child-led learning experiences. The learning environment continued to be used effectively to provide purposeful and engaging opportunities, with a strong emphasis on authentic resources and real-life experiences that support children’s curiosity and independence. Sustainability and the promotion of shared responsibility remained central to the setting’s ethos. Children were encouraged to develop an understanding of caring for their environment and working collaboratively with others, helping to foster positive attitudes and values that support their long-term wellbeing and citizenship. Policies and procedures continued to be regularly reviewed and embedded into daily practice, ensuring that health, safety, and safeguarding remained robust and well understood. Staff demonstrated confidence in following procedures, contributing to a safe and secure environment for all children. Action planning and self-evaluation were used consistently to drive ongoing improvement. Clear targets were reviewed throughout the year, supporting reflective practice and measurable progress. Effective collaboration with local schools ensured smooth and well-supported transitions, which continued to positively impact children’s independence, early learning skills, and readiness for the next stage of education.
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: | The charity is established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation(CIO). |
|
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document(trust deed, royal charter) |
Para1.25 |
The charity is governed by its CIO Constitution, adopted on registration with the Charity Commission. |
| How is the charity constituted?(e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Sŵn y Don Playgroup is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. |
| 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 appointed in accordance with the charity’s constitution. New trustees are recruited as required to ensure an appropriate balance of skills, knowledge, and experience to effectively govern the charity. Any appointments are made in line with the charity’sgoverningdocument. All trustees are |
volunteers and are required to act in the best interests of the charity.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | All policies and procedures have been revised and updated. Any new starters, including Trustees receive an Induction with the Responsible Individual to ensure all stakeholders are informed. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Sŵn Y Don Playgroup is governed by a board of trustees who hold overall responsibility for the strategic direction, governance, and financial oversight of the charity. Day-to-day management of the setting is delegated to the Responsible Individual and senior practitioner, who report to the trustees. The charity works in partnership with a range of external organisations, including the local authority and Flying Start team and Ysgol Sŵn Y Don, to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and smooth transitions. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Trustees confirm that any potential conflicts of interest are declared and managed in line with the charity’s policies and constitution. |
| Other | The trustees continue to ensure that governance arrangements remain appropriate for the size and nature of the charity. Meetings are held to review performance, compliance, and risk, supporting the effective and responsible running of the Playgroup. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Sŵn Y Don Playgroup |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses | |
| Registered charity number | 1180784 |
| Charity’s principal address | Sŵn Y Don Playgroup Ysgol Sŵn y Don Parc Peulwys Sŵn y Don Road Old Colwyn Colwyn Bay Conwy LL29 9LL |
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) ** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Fox | Chair | 12.09.22- present | |
| Elen Salisbury | Trustee | 22.12.22 – present | |
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 this 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 |
Name | Address adviser |
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 trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) |
ESalisbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Elen Salisbury | ||
| Trustee |
Date 27/04/26
| Swn y Don Playgroup |
Swn y Don Playgroup |
Swn y Don Playgroup |
No (if any) | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||
| For the period from | 01/04/2024 | To | 31/03/2025 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| 57,565 | - | - | 57,565 | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 57,565 | - | - | 57,565 | - |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | |||||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||
| 57,565 | - | - | 57,565 | - | |
| 64,265 | - | - | 64,265 | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | 64,265 | - | - | 64,265 | - |
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) | |||||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||
| 64,265 | - | - | 64,265 | - | |
| - 6,700 | - | - | - 6,700 | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 17,414 | - | - | 17,414 | - | |
| 10,714 | - | - | 10,714 | - |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| Bank Account | 10,714 | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
10,714 | - | - | |
| OK | OK | OK | ||
| Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs | Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) | |
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs | Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) | |
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates | Amount due (optional) | When due (optional) | |
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Signature | Print N | ame | ||
| Date of approval | ||||
I