2023-08-31-accounts - Crossbow Pre-School CIO

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Annual Report 2022-2023

From the Chair:

What a year 2022 – 2023 has been, it started off well with Covid rules relaxing, starting the year with a manager in post, a great team and a good number of Children on the books. There were a few issues towards the end of the 2022 that really tested us as a committee and led to some staff changes. We ended 2022 recruiting and started 2023 with new team members joining us thick and fast.

Then unfortunately we hit an incredibly difficult period where Hannah handed in her notice and we also received an anonymous complaint to Ofsted. Despite both things the team absolutely smashed the surprise Ofsted Inspection. Even with their manager off sick, everyone pulled together and came into Preschool until gone 10 ‘o’ clock the night before to make sure we were ready. For that, I am incredibly proud of them and grateful as a parent as the last Ofsted report we received was less than flattering!

Considering they are still a relatively new team, with a Deputy Manager and Senior Practitioner stepping up to keep the preschool running in a way that we, as parents, appreciate, having their manager resign and then an unscheduled Ofsted visit could have broken them. Happily, it did not and they have gone from strength to strength building on the changes that had already started to be made and bringing Crossbow to the point that we were turning parents away as we did not have enough spaces for their new starters. It is down to this team that Crossbow has shaken of its previously poor reputation and is now somewhere where the staff are proud to say they work and parents have no qualms at all about leaving their Children.

During the Summer term we went full speed ahead with recruiting for a manager and after an interesting start to the interviews a chance email brought us Sally. A quick chat turned into an hour-long conversation which then led to an interview that was well over two hours long, sorry Sally! Happily, we were extremely impressed and I have no doubt at all that Sally will continue to take Crossbow Preschool from strength to strength. Caring for and guiding the staff team to reach their potential as well as doing the absolute best for your children.

We also realised that we needed someone else to help bring the team together and that led us to recruit for an administrator position. Someone to be the vital link between the manager, the staff the committee and of course the parents. They will also take a much of the admin burden from our senior team allowing them to spend even more time doing that they love and being with your children. During July we advertised internally, interviewed and then offered the role to Robyn who has seen the preschool from both a parent and committee viewpoint and will do a fantastic job.

A huge thank you to the whole team as Crossbow Preschool would not be what it is today without you all.

Fundraising

We have had a much better year for fundraising this year with Father’s Day and Easter being some of the highlights. Fundraising is vital to Crossbow preschool so thank you to everyone that has helped organise, lead or attend an event and hopefully 2023 – 2024 will be even better. Becca will talk in a little more detail about this.

Funding:

The year started with 40 children on roll and ended with 46, with 27 children leaving us for pastures new in July. Of the 46 children, 9 were paying all fees, most were using their standard 15 hour funding and we had 12 children eligible for extended hours (up to 30 hours). We also had 1 child eligible for the Government childcare grant for students scheme. 2 children were eligible for EYPP (Early Years Pupil Premium).

Fees:

Our hourly rate didn’t increase in 2022 from the previous year, but it was decided by the committee to increase the termly enrichment fee to £30. This has enabled the children’s learning to be enhanced with messy play, additional art supplies, etc. It was agreed that the hourly rate be increased from September 2023 by 20p and the enrichment fee was also reviewed after some feedback, so remains at £30 per term for most, but reduced to £15 for anyone attending less than 15 hours per week.

Looking forward:

We are currently looking into moving to annualised hours for core staff, where the salary is spread over 12 months.
There are changes to eligibility for childcare funding from the Government going forward. The main ones that affect us are April 2024 – 15 hour funding for 2 year old of working parents and September 2025 – 30 hour funding for 2 year olds of working parents.
From September 2023, invoices will be created using the Tapestry system and will be moving to monthly invoices (from termly).

5[th] September 2023

Crossbow Preschool Charl Number: 1188975 Income and e endlture for the riod endln Au 2023 In¢ome Received: Preschool fees Preschool grdnts Fundraistng Mi5C Grant 30.999.64 84.453.86 2,638.07 69.90 1,300. 119.461.47 Expendlture: Gross Wages Rent Purchases Insurance Membership staff training Computer expenses Phone Unifonn DBS pps Misc Fund raising exps Pension Contributions 97,954.46 9,546.CK) 4.276.62 510.70 545.73 1.086.65 192.(K) 393.45 45. 214.88 87.cil 263.43 4.176.14 119.292.06 Net Proflt 169AI Balance of bank at beginning of year Income in the year Expenditure in the year Balance of bank at the end of the year 31,671.59 119,461.47 - 119,292.06 31,841.00

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truste8S Crossbow Pre-school On accounts for the year ended 31" Augusl 2023 Charity no (if any) 1188975 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust") for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145151{bl of the Act. Independent (The charity's gross income exceeded £250.000 and l am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete I l if not appliG8ble. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my altention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance wilh section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did nol accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with ination to which attention should be drawn in this report in ord ble a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. te the words in the brackets rf they do nol apply. rto Ple se Signed: Date: 06/14 Name: Ro18vant professional qualrfication(s) or body IER Oct 2018

(If any): Address: Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independenl examination of Gharity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners}. Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018