**Little Rascals Preschool Limited Address** :Cwm Golau Integrated Children’s Centre Duffryn Road, Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil. CF48 4BJ **Tel No:** 07760227106 ~ **Email:** littlerascalspreschool@live.co.uk **Facebook:** Little Rascals Preschool **Registered Company Number:** 06750544 **Registered Charity Number:** 1181400 ## **Little Rascals Preschool** ## Dated July 2022 ## Annual Report For the year September 2021 – July 2022 After ending the term in July 2021, Little Rascals offered the parents four weeks childcare, mornings only. This was very popular with most sessions reaching 16 children. September saw Little Rascals returning reasonably normally after the last 18 months of Covid 19 restrictions. Numbers of children attending were low, but with Furlough continuing until end of October, although staff were working less hours, Little Rascals were still in a position to financially support the staff. We continued to work within the Welsh Government guidelines for Childcare Settings, strict hygiene and cleaning measures continued to remain in place. The Autumn term saw numbers of children attending increase, which in turn allowed staff to work the hours they wanted by Christmas. Little Rascals were fortunate with no children or staff contracting Covid 19, but as Christmas approached, it was felt to close early to allow a clear 10 days to Christmas should anyone need to isolate. The new year started with no disruptions to Little Rascals due to adverse weather conditions and although Covid 19 was still about, throughout the year Little Rascals remained open despite many staff contracting Covid 19, fortunately at different times. Looking back over the year, staff have felt it has been a difficult year as many of the children have struggled with socialising, boundaries and routines. We have seen a lot of children with fewer speech, language and communication skills. We have had many children needing enhanced support, but have been fortunate to have the staff to take on this support for the children. The academic year ended very positively with many gifts given to the staff from parents as a thankyou for everything they have done for their children. **1** The following information includes the annual running of the setting: **Regulatory Procedures ~** Little Rascals is a Company limited by Guarantee but not for profit, with Charitable Status. Little Rascals continue to run within the CIW guidelines on ratios of 1:4 children who are 2 years old, 1:8 with 3 year olds providing children with quality care. We are CIW registered, our last inspection was in May 2018 (report online). Little Rascals are also registered with ESTYN as Early Years Education providers providing children also with quality education (last inspection 2015 report online). Being ESTYN registered provides parents of children, in the term after their third birthday, with part funded places. Also, for eligible parents we can provide 30 hours per week of Education and Childcare if the child does not attend school. Little Rascals is also registered as a Flying Start setting, allowing children in the term after their second birthday free access of up to 12.5 hours per week. 17[th] March, 2020 would have seen us being inspected by both ESTYN and CIW in a joint inspection. Unfortunately, on 16[th] March, we were informed that this was not going to go ahead due to Covid 19. We are still awaiting information as to when our inspection will next go ahead. We have an up to date, July 2022, Self Evaluation Report and CIW Quality of Care Report. We have also put together a Development Plan for September 2022 to July 2023. **Management Structure** ~ Hannah Hughes is a past parent who continues to be our Chair of the Committee. Karen Roberts, again a past parent, also continues to be our Treasurer. Myself as Secretary on the Committee, Manager for the Preschool. Leadership and Management **2** **Staff** ~ Angie (myself) continues in a managerial role (behind the scenes) but am on occasions seen within the setting. Sarah Mathias is the Room Playleader Lauren continues to be part time deputy, with the support of our full time deputy, Hannah who has now completed her Level 5. Hannah has also taken on the role of Enhanced Support CoOrdinator. Tara, Denise and Ceri are qualified to level 3. Sadly in December a member of staff moved on to pastures new where she was able to access full time employment. Anna who is also qualified to Level 3, returned to us after an extended maternity leave in May. Kali and Ellie, level 2, continue to work towards Level 3. In January, a new member of staff, Sarah McCarthy, joined our team and has begun her Level 3 qualification. Then in March, another new member of staff, Natalie, joined us with much experience in childcare and Level 3 qualified. **Weekly Topics/Planning ~** We continue to plan for children’s learning and experiences based on weekly topics. Photos of these activities are posted on the Facebook Closed Group Parent page at the end of the week. Due to Covid 19 guidelines, we have not been in a position to ask parents to come into the setting to support these topics. **Children’s Progress ~** In normal times, this is the process: All children are allocated a keyworker. Within the first six weeks of them starting in Little Rascals, the child’s keyworker will have arranged to meet with the parent to discuss assessments that have been carried out over the six weeks and the children’s next steps. At any time the child is with us, parents are more than welcome to arrange a meeting with their child’s keyworker to discuss progress or at the beginning and end of each session if parents wish to know, the keyworker will be available to inform of progress or about how the child’s day has been. All staff are happy to talk to parents so at any time parents can feel free to talk to any member of staff about their child’s day. At time of the child’s transition to school, a One Page Profile is completed, which is discussed with the parent and is then sent to the school the child is attending. In the past we have completed workbooks and children’s development profiles, going forward there will be a change to this. Parents will continue to receive a workbook with the child’s work in, but we have now set up an online learning journal called Seesaw, which gives weekly photographs and development information to parents. **3** **Links with Outside Agencies ~** This year the Leader has had some good links with the following schools: Abercanaid, Caedraw, Troedyrhiw, Helogerrig, Ysgol Y Graig. In the past we have also had good links with Merthyr college supporting students and work experience. Other links include Early Years Wales, Cymryd Rhan, Business Wales, EY Advisory Teacher, Health Visitors, Speech and Language, Barnardos, Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist and The Flying Start team. Due to Covid 19, we have had essential visitors into the setting mainly, but on occasions other visitors to the outside area. **Training Undertaken** ~ All staff continue to undertake mandatory training (every three years) and optional training (resulting in some closure days). Mandatory training includes: Safeguarding, Paediatric First Aid and Food Hygiene. Staff also undertake their own Continuous Professional Development attending courses. Enhanced Support CoOrdinator and Leader attended regular forums. Most training this last year has been carried out online. **Running Costs ~** This year’s fees increased by 50p to £14. We continue to strive to provide affordable childcare but with increasing costs, minimum wage and rent, it was necessary to increase our session costs. Although we are based in the ICC, we pay rent and we receive no grant funding to support running costs. All incoming fees are our only source of income and all outgoings are taken from these. **Allergens ~** Little Rascals provides a daily snack for the children. The child’s registration form informs us of any allergies the child may have. Regulations state that we must keep a record of all allergens in the food we provide. This is available upon request. A daily menu is displayed on the parent notice board and posted on our closed Facebook parents group page. ## **Fundraising/Grant Funding** This year it was decided to not take part in Operation Christmas Child – Christmas shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse again due to Covid 19 Food collection and toiletries for the homeless – this we did and all donations were gratefully received by the local charity Children in Need Red Nose Day Photograph commission – this was not carried out by an outside agency due to not being in a position to have visitors to the setting. Instead we took our own photos, which were then sold to parents. Photos were taken at Halloween, Christmas, St. David’s Day and Graduation Christmas Concert and Fayre, where the children’s Christmas artwork/decorations were sold to raise funds for the Preschool – again this did not happen due to Covid 19 regulations Little Rascals were successful in receiving capital funding from the Welsh Government towards: Capital grant items – Kitchen area within the setting **4** ## Internal decoration and carpeting Intercom Hampers: Cleaning products and PPE Messy Play Stationery Equipment Building Society Outdoor Wet Weather Clothing Funding from other organisations included: Educ8 – Training Incentive Scheme ## **Group Visits/Visitors** A pet lamb Bee Keeper Kittens ## **Achievements** Sharing expertise – Attention Autism Selected to meet with Estyn regarding LA inspection ## **Celebrations** Divali Thanksgiving Christmas A.A. Milne Birthday Chinese New Year St. Dwynwen’s Day, St. David’s Day World Book Day Mother’s Day Easter Queen’s 70[th] Jubilee Father’s Day Independence Day **5** **Premises ~** The premises indoors continues to be in good repair. We were fortunate this year to receive funding to update both the indoors and outdoors. Indoors, internal painting of the walls and ceiling took place, as did the woodwork. A new kitchen area was installed, new carpet and new blinds. We were also fortunate to receive funding to update equipment, furniture and resources. The setting now has calm, welcoming and warm atmosphere. Outdoors, we received funding and purchased sand/water play, mud kitchen and physical equipment for gross motor skills. **Parking ~** This is a real difficult issue for the centre who have tried in vain to ensure the safety of children coming to and leaving the Preschool. At no time should parents park on double yellow lines, on the pavement or in the disabled bays. Parents are also asked be mindful of travelling to and from the car park at a safe speed. As we and the Centre have a duty of care, we must ask that parents do not leave children in cars unattended at any time. On arrival and collecting children at the end of the session is now at the main gate. Again, this is why we stress safe speed and adhering to parking. Previous to Covid 19, children were brought to and collected at the entrance door, but as we were not in a position to keep parents 2 metres apart, we continue to bring and collect children from the main gate. **Safeguarding** ~ Safeguarding and Child Protection are our priority at Little Rascals. We have an open door policy where values such as honesty, fairness and respect are fostered. All staff adhere to essential policies and procedures, such as Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Child Protection, Health and Safety, Fire Safety and Behaviour Management. All staff attend regular Child Protection and Safeguarding courses. Senior staff have attended the Level 3 Child Protection and Safeguarding training and also MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) and Prevent Duty training. All staff are aware of MASH and the process for Child Protection. All staff are aware of the new law against smacking and the process should they witness this. At the first initial meeting with parents, they are informed that should we have any Safeguarding concerns regarding their children, we can and will inform Social Services and/or MASH. All staff have also attended ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training. All staff recruited complete an application form with names for two references, one from their most recent employer. Any breaks in employment need an explanation and is documented. The setting is safe and secure with enclosed fencing, high level gate latches and internally high level exit button and handles. At the beginning and end of each session children are collected from and returned to their parents at the main gate. The main gate is locked and has an intercom video system. The main gate can only be opened by a member of staff. Fire and Risk Assessments are carried out termly as are fire drills. Offsite risk assessments are carried out as necessary. If a child enters preschool with a pre-existing injury, we ask parents to let a member of staff know. Internally, the exit buttons and handles have been raised to enforce the safety of the children. Little Rascals continue to conform to the General Data Protection Regulations. Annualy, Little Rascals complete the Local Authority Safeguarding toolkit and actions from it are carried out. Termly Risk Assessments and Fire Risk Assessments/drills are carried out. **6** **Facebook/e-mail ~** Little Rascals are on Facebook: Little Rascals Preschool Closed Parents’ Group and also Little Rascals Preschool public group for information purposes only. This last year LR have put photos of children on Facebook (with parents’ permission) of the weekly activities the children carry out based on the topics. Should you wish to contact the Manager/Leader via e- mail the address is littlerascalspreschool@live.co.uk Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff in Little Rascals for all their care and education they continue to give to the children. I would also like to say thankyou to all parents who support the preschool in many ways, and show their gratitude with so many thankyou presents to the staff at the end of term. I would especially like to thank our Management Committee who carry out their role unpaid and for their support of the Preschool. 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