2023-08-31-accounts - Edale Stepping Stones Nursery And Childcare Centre

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 September 2022 To 31 August 2023

Charity name: Edale Stepping Stones Nursery and Childcare Centre (subsequently referred to as ESS)

Charity Address: The Old Winery, Grindsbrook Booth, Edale, S33 7ZA

Charity registration number: 1190027

OFSTED registration number : 2600983

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To advance the education and development of children aged 1-11 for the public benefit by the provision of a nursery pre-school, daycare facilities and out of school provision as set out in the Constitution. The principal purpose in establishing ESS is to provide a much needed safe and high quality childcare and early learning opportunity for young children in Edale and the surrounding area who would benefit from these opportunities. To fulfil its purpose, ESS has to be both affordable and accessible. The activities of the Trustees are guided by a series of governance documents covering such areas as meetings, decision making, trustee appointment, conflict of interest etc.
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	Objectives set continued into 2023 including increasing the number of children attending, developing staff and continuing to forge links with the local primary school and the community. The Nursery was embedded in the local community and received a useful boost to our finances from the village’s charitable car parking fund. A summer fayre was held.

			The nursery provided employment for 3 local young people. The nursery supported their professional development with one gaining a level 3 forest school qualification and supporting a staff member with their PGCE There were members of the wider Edale community who volunteered their time and energy to help support ESS in its day to day running and with upkeep of the premises and supporting special fundraising events. We were very grateful for this support. The Trustees tried to expand the team but had no success in recruiting an additional level 3 childcare practitioner, a cleaner and a cook. There then followed some staff resignations which proved very difficult as it was such a small team. With the difficulty recruiting suitable staff into the various vacant posts including managerial roles the difficult decision was made by the trustees to close the nursery provision. This was initially on a temporary basis while the Trustees explored various options to reopen a nursery in Edale. All stakeholders were kept informed of developments. The nursery closed to children on 28/07/2023 and to employed staff on 08/09/2023 Public benefit: In order to ensure the principles of public benefit are at the forefront of Trustees' actions, this is maintained as a standing agenda item for all formal trustee meetings. Prior to closing the provision the Trustees are satisfied that no harm has arisen from the purposes outlined in the ESS objectives; the main beneficiaries remain the local community, the general public and that no private benefit has arisen from any of the purposes or activities of ESS.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public	Para 1.18		The Trustees have had due regard for all guidance from the Charity Commission with regard to all our work to date and will continue to have regard for the guidance as we continue our work to close the nursery

benefit provision and the charity.

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	Prior to the decision to close the nursery provision ESS continued to be a popular nursery with competitive level of fees. Having a childcare provision in the heart of the village saved parents and children having to travel long distances to access childcare facilities and many families were able to walk to ESS. There was collaboration with the local school to further develop the afterschool provision. This was moved to the school and staffed jointly, it proved very popular. There was a waiting list for babies hoping to attend the nursery, with priority given to those living in Edale. This was an indicator of the quality of service provision on offer and also an indicator of the unmet need for childcare services in the village and wider Hope Valley community. The new management team made various changes. The implementation of Tapestry online learning portal to aid communication with parents/carers which the local school then implemented too. They changed the layout of the classroom to create a calmer environment with neutral colours and more natural furnishings, materials and resources. These changes helped make the centre more accessible and comfortable for all children, but particularly those with SEND. The outdoor environment was developed with the help of the staff member doing the forest school training. The children attended Forest School/Woodland adventure sessions. The children attended the monthly coffee morning to support intergenerational

relationships and provide children with opportunities to meet and converse with local residents. Despite this being a much needed facility the recruitment of staff, including managerial roles was unsuccessful. This recruitment problem is a national problem but also made more difficult by the remote rural location of the nursery.

Financial Review

	Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	FINANCIAL REPORT The Trustees present the charity’s Receipts and Payment Account for the year to 31 August 2023. The period closed with a bank balance of £7116.86 (2022 £42k) of unrestricted reserves. The detailed fnances show the difculty in balancing income and with increased stafng costs (previous management were voluntary). The income derived from fees, charged to parents of children atending and claimed from the local authority (Derbyshire County Council) for eligible childcare hours amounted to £101k (2022 £98k). The charity also benefted from £10k (2022 £6k) of donatons, from individual giving and local organisatons. There were £3.5k grant funding receipts this year (2022 £0k). This for for EYTS employer incentve programme Refunds and re-imbursements of expenditure amounted to £217 (2022 £1k). The total income from all sources was £115k (2022 £106k). The total paid stafng expenditure was £107k (2022 £54k). This increase represents a full year of paid managerial staf. As per previous reports the Manager and Deputy Manager were unpaid volunteers, so when they stepped down the nursery had to employ a paid Manager and Deputy Manager. This meant an increase in stafng expenditure. Premises costs amounted to £19k (2022 £20k). The cost of providing meals, and cleaning the Centre, was £10k (2022 £10k). This included using an outside nursery catering company. Resources amounted to £5k (2022 £3k). Primarily this was to buy materials for the children to use in their learning and play, but also to create a calmer environment with neutral colours and more natural furnishings,materials

		and resources. Insurance, subscriptons to professional bodies and IT hardware / sofware servicing cost just under £6k (2022 £3k). This included professional support to manage staf redundancy. The outdoor resource delivered through the year by the Forest School, at £1.5k (2022 £2k) The total expenditure was £150k (2022 £92k).
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	N/Aas provision has now closed Any funds lef at point of closing the charity will be dealt with as per the consttuton
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£7k
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A Due to the nursery provision closing

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	"Foundation " Model Constitution dated 19/06/2020.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are the Trustees. The management of ESS is overseen by a Board of Trustees made up of six volunteers as detailed later.
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	There is no formal recruitment policy, prospective trustees being identified based on their areas of expertise. The trustees follow relevant governance policies covering such areas as role of trustees, conflict of interest, safeguarding, correct use of funds, terms of reference for meetings and decision making, contracts of staff employment etc. The policies are reviewed as required. Each trustee has a set term of office and any new trustee is provided with the necessary policy documents following a period as an observer. Specific roles include Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Edale Stepping Stones Nursery and Childcare Centre
Other name the charity uses	N/a
Registered charity number	1190027
Charity’s principal address	The Old Winery, Grindsbrook Booth, Edale, S33 7ZA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Anita Critchlow	Chair of Trustees
	Sam Keating	Vice Chair of Trustees
	Liam Gilligan	Treasurer
	Jane Acty	Secretary
	Cathy Spingys
	Nigel Lawford

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

N/a

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/a

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Not applicable

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature	*Anita Critchlow*	*Samuel Keating*
Full name	Anita Critchlow	Samuel Keating

Chair of Trustees

Vice Chair of Trustees

Position

Date __11/04/2026

Edale Stepping Stones Nursery and Childcare Centre

Income 22-23		Sep-22	Sep-22	Oct	Oct	Nov		Dec		Jan-23	Jan-23	Feb		March	March	Apr		May		June		July		Aug	Total
Fees Direct		9352.5		7352.5		7660.75		4428		7801.5		8351		6698.53		6486.32		7474.74		6254.02		2474.5		428.5	74762.86
Fees-LA		2472.5		1165.3		1978		2451				4106.5		3151.9				5627.73		3379.32		2011.5			26343.75
Donatons-organisat						800						3489.02		1000								2896.1			8185.12
Donatons-individ		200		200		200		313.28		200		50		350		50		350		200		50			2163.28
Grants										1750				1750											3500
Refunds								76								5		17.97						118.87	217.84
						10638.7						15996.5		12950.4				13470.4							115172.8
Total		12025		8717.8		5		7268.28		9751.5		2		3		6541.32			4	9833.34		7432.1		547.37	5
Payments	Sep-22			Oct	Nov		Dec		Jan-23		Feb		March		Apr		May		June		July			Aug	Total
Stafng	8303.13			8748.29	11424.76		8985.11		9467.47		9182.67		11140.35		7169.86		9780.26		9635.7		7831.61			6062.17	107731.38
Premises	1533.33			1553.33	1533.33		1533.33		1553.33		1533.33			1533		1535		1533	1592.55			1652.1		1652.1	18737.73
Fee refund
Professional				1170.03								179.5		220			118.39			185				4186.08	6059
amazon no inv		147.21		418.68	165.36		104.78		180.31			128.43	147.15			10.49									1302.41
Resources		871.11		238.17	1269.06		430.73			118		383.4	998.84		249.81		152.51		143.88			78.95			4934.46
Food/clean		290.78		1318.97	716.39		735.64		926.37			977.52	913.97		861.02		719.46		2022.11			434.43			9916.66
Forest				400				400								400		100				200			1500
							12189.5				12384.8										10197.0
Total	11145.56		13847.47		15108.9			9	12245.48			5	14953.31		10226.18		12403.62		13579.24			9	11900.35		150181.64
Balance	+879.44		-5129.67		-4470.15		-4921.31		-2493.98		+3611.67		-2002.88		-3684.86		+1066.82		-3745.9		-2764.99		-11352.98

Bank balance 1/9/2022 £42125.65 plus income £115172.85 = £157298.50 Minus expenditure £150181.64

Edale Stepping Stones Nursery and Childcare Centre

Bank balance 31/08/23 = £7116.86

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner'5 Report Report to the trustees Edaie Stepping Stones Nursery and Childcare Centre 3110812023 On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) 119L1027 I report lo the tTustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Charity (llhe Trust.) for the year ended . 1 1 ot% r 2UI.J. Responslbllltles and basis of r•port As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the a¢Gounls in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Ttust's accounts rrIed out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I h8ve followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sedion 145{5){b) of the Act. Indopondont I have completed my examination. I confimi thal no material matters have examinar's statement come to my attention in connedion with the examination which gives me cause to believe thal in, any material re5pecl= the accounting records vRre not kept in accordance with section 130 of the charities Act. 01 the aount$ did not accord with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlent cf accounts set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a YTue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attentiori should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Date: 1181202 Name: Alice Wood Relevant profosslonal qualificatlonls) or body (if any): Member of ICAEW Address: Hall Fami, Green Lane Cutthorpe Chesterfield, S42 7AR IER Oct 2018