Chirk Pre School Playgroup Annual Report 2024-2025
Chirk Preschool Playgroup is a well-supported early years setting, offering vital early education and care for children aged 2 to 4 years old. Operating from our own purposebuilt facility on the site of Ysgol Y Waun primary school. We are proud to serve families in the local community by providing a nurturing, stimulating, and inclusive environment that supports the development and well-being of every child in our care.
Our vision is to nurture confident, curious, and happy children who are ready for their future learning journeys. Our aim is to offer high-quality early education and support, fostering a love of learning through play, creativity, and exploration. We encourage all children to enjoy making friends and caring for each other.
The safety and welfare of children is our highest priority. All staff are DBS checked and trained in up-to-date safeguarding procedures. Our policies are regularly reviewed and communicated to parents and carers.
2024-25 has been a year of growth and continued success for Playgroup. We welcomed up to 30 children throughout the year, supported by our dedicated team of highly experienced qualified staff alongside enthusiastic volunteers.
Our decision to provide Early Education sessions in the afternoon and create additional morning space for two year olds has proved both popular and very successful. The playgroup has maintained excellent attendance and has been consistently praised for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and strong community links. This was particularly evident in May when we welcomed Estyn and CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales) inspectors who enthusiastically awarded us“excellent” ratings for Wellbeing, Care and development, Teaching and Assessment and Environment, They also indicated that we had very strong “Goods” for Learning and Leadership and Management. A brilliant and so well deserved reward for our staff team. Their assessment of our provision has reinforced and reassured parents and trustees that their own judgements were accurate.
Our curriculum follows the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the new Curriculum for Wales, ensuring that every child receives a balanced and ambitious learning experience. Activities are carefully planned to support personal, social, and emotional development, communication and language, physical development, literacy, maths, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.
-
Child-led play and structured activities
-
Outdoor learning in our secure forest school area
-
Music, story time, and creative arts sessions
-
Preparation for transition to primary school.
-
Encouraging the use of Welsh lang on a daily basis alongside awareness of our diverse community.
Our team includes three qualified practitioners, all holding relevant early years qualifications and paediatric first aid certification. Continuous professional development is a priority, with staff attending regular training on safeguarding, inclusion, and new educational approaches such as Forest Schools. We are eager to explore an opportunity to secure an apprenticeship for the coming year.
We deeply value our partnership with parents and carers, maintaining open communication through daily feedback and regular meetings as appropriate. This year, we hosted successful events such as the Christmas Concert, day trips,and celebration ceremonies, all of which were well attended and strengthened our sense of community.
We also collaborate closely with the Local Authority Early Education and additional Learning Needs teams, schools, health visitors, and early intervention services to ensure the best outcomes for our children and their families.
Chirk Playgroup is committed to inclusivity and support for all children, including those with additional needs. Our manager and staff work closely with families and external agencies to develop Individual Education and/or health Plans (IEPs) or Child Protection plans where needed. This year, we have supported several children with speech and language needs, sensory processing issues, and those with complex learning and health needs as well as those with social challenges. We have yet to raise the necessary funds to support a much needed dedicated Additional Learning Needs Coordinator.
We are proud to operate from our own new and well-maintained building, which offers a large, bright playroom a secure outdoor area, including a forest school area, dedicated child-friendly toilets, and a sensory area. In 2025, we invested in new playground shelter and equipment and our indoor learning resources.
Chirk Playgroup continues to be financially stable, benefitting from a combination of funded childcare places, sessional fees, and Llinos’s successful fundraising efforts. Our annual accounts allow for ongoing investment in resources and staffing. As always, any spending must be balanced with need to ensure maximum numbers and future provision.
For 2026, Thanks to Wrexham’s decision to extend their Flying Start initiative and Llinos’ efforts we have been fortunate to secure the contract for Flying Start for next year and look forward to supporting those families who meet the criteria.
We also look forward to welcoming a new apprentice as a pilot funded by Kronaspan and supported by Coleg Cambria.
. We remain committed to providing outstanding early education and care to every child and family we serve.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our staff, families, trustees, and the wider community for their continued support and trust in Chirk Preschool Playgroup.
sChirk Preschool Playgroup Accounts 2024-2025
INCOME
Balance C/F 23642.26
Fees 13527.00 Tax Free Childcare 2576..00 Early Entitlement 28621.76 Welsh Gov. 17528.90 Grants 1060.00 EY Shrop/Flint 21489.40 Fund Raising 267.55 Donations 1926.78 Rainbows Reim 1374.09 Misc 53.81 Transfer from Reserve 23212.00 111637..29 Total.
135284.55 Total
EXPENDITURE
Rent 3116.63 Staffing 67842.30 Insurance 559.70 Membsp/ DBS 687,00 Tel/ Electricity 2449.97 External Events 476.00 Equip/supplies 3131.16 Bank Charges 65.01 Photos 1053.26
Cpp accs 24-25 -cont, Cleaning materials 431.29 Treasure Expense 52.00 Reserve acc rep 19816.76 Pd place erefund 262..00 Grant works 19412,.00 116416.71 Total. Closing balance 18867.84
135284.55 Total
Having examined the accounts of Chirk Preschool Playgroup I can certify that the figures in the accounts of the above organisation are a true representation of the organisation’s finances as at 31.08.25.
Signed …………………………………… Date:
Independent Examiner
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ members of
Charity Name
CHIRK PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP
On accounts for the year ended
AUGUST 25
Charity no (if any)
1187453
Set out on pages
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD31082025 MM / YYYY .
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 (other than that disclosed below *) 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. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
16/ 01/26
Name:
S.M.FRENCH
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
1
October 2018
IER
Address:
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER