BARBICAN PLAYGROUP & MOTHERS & TODDLERS GROUP Registered Charity No.. 273750 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT & AccouNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 BARBICAN PLAYGROUP AND MOTHERS & TODD￿R5 GROUP ANNUAL REPORT& FINANaALSTATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DET￿Ls Status The Barbican Playgroup is a charity with the membership structure of an unincorporated association whose main activity is the provision of early years education for children between the ages of 2% and 5 years. The Playgroupwas establlshed In 1975 and recelved its charitable statuson 21yh May 1977. Governlng Document The Barbitan Playgroup is governed by its constttution dated 18.09.1975 Charlty Number 273750 Ofsted URN 122756 DfES Settlng No 5891261 Reglstered & Operating Premlses Levels 01 & 02, Andrewe5 House. Barbican, London EC2Y 8AX Trustees Jane Scott- Chairman Claire Anstee- Treasurer & Secretary Mary Rose Clack50n- Playgroup Manager Lloyds Bank plc- Cheapside13095741 Mr. David Taylor ACMA 507 Gilbert House, 8arbican. London EC2Y 8BD Key Management Personnel Bankers Independent Examlner OBJECTWEs& AcrMnES The Barbican Play8roup constltution clearly states the basicalms of thegroup as belngtoadvancetheeducation of chlldren below compulsory school age by: Providing safe and satisfyin8 group play, in which parents take part when appropriate. Encouragin8 Other charitable activlties through which parents may help the children. The vision that shapes our annual activitie5 remains the promotion of early year5 education. We remain fully dedicated to quality care and learning and to implementing the new Early Years Foundation Stage.. htt www. ov.uk overnment ublications earl ears-foundation-sta rofile-handbook b) Our Play8roup Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Parents are given regular information about their children's social and academic progress through day-to-day Informal contact and termly information updates. Fees are reviewed annually and kept as low a5 possible. Financial admlnistration and accounting are undertaken by the senior Trustees at no cost to the Charity. It Is Important to the Barbican Playgroup that access to Early Years Education is not restricted to those who can afford our fees. We are registered for Nursery Education Fundin8 for three and four-year olds. In addition, although we do not have a formal bursary policy, reductions in fees are agreed from time to time on the basis of parental means orto relieve hardship where a child'5 ear￿yearS edutation would otherwise be ot risk, for example in the case of ￿dundanry. The Barbican Playgroup believes that children benefit most from earlyyears education and care when parents and Playgroups work together in partnership. We also work in close partnership with the City of London's Communlty and Children's Services Department and other early year settings In the City of London and London Borough of151ington in order to provide the highest quality provision. We remain the only voluntary sÈ¢tor early years group in our area. PUBLIC BÉNÉHT When reviewing our objectives. and plannlng our activitles for the year. the Trustees have glven careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and in particular to it5 supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and on fee-charging. Affordability and access to our programme is important to us and is reflected in our pricing policy. STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCÉ AND MANAGEMENT The Playgroup is a registered charity and a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance IPLAI. It is also registered bythe City of London's Community and Children's Services Department under The Children Act 1989and with the City of London's Education Department. Administration and fundraising are carried out by a committee of willing parents or past parents, working together on a totally voluntary basis to ensure the smooth and responsible running of the PlaygroLJP. Two full-time members of staff are currentlyemployed to run the Playgroup programme,. the Playgroup Manager, who has been with the Playgroup since 1982, and her assistant. They are assisted, when necessary, by agency staff, part-time play assistants or parents, engaged on a temporary basis. This requirement depend5 On the ages and numbers of childreri attending at any given time. The Sessions and the Children The Playgroup year runs parallel tothe school calendar. Main morning sessions IMonday-Fridayl run from 9.00am to l.QMJ pm. An afternoon session to 2.45pm is available on request for olderchildren,. generallyrunningTuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays depending on demand. Children start between the ages 2 and 3 years old, and can stay until they start full time school at 5. The optimum number of children for the facilities is around 16, rising to a maximum of 24. Most of the Playgroup places are taken by Barbican and City children although we welcome under-fives from neighbouring boroughs if places are available. Start dates are determined by the needs of each child concerned, after c105e consultation between the Manager nd individual parents, and with consideration for the ages and make-up of the group already attending. Most children initialFy attend three mornings per week, increasing to the full five by the time they reach threeyear5 Old. The Barbican Playgroup currently subscribe5 to and recelves Departmentfor Education Nursery Educatlon Funding for all qualifying three and four-year olds. Risk Mana ement The Barbican Playgroup has put in place a risk management process which identifies key event5 Qr incident5 that could affect the charit￿5 ability to achieve its aims. This proces5 results in a record of the most significant risks. both internal and external. For each. the possible impact or consequence of the risk and the required action are stated. On the 28th May 2018, the Eu's General Data Protection Regulation IGDPRI came into effect replacing the UK'S Data Protection Ad 1998. Thi5 meant that we as an or8anlsation, the Barbican Playgroup must ensure any personal data we hold is processed lawfully, transparently* and for a specific purpose and dlsposed of appropriately and safely when the data is no longer required. In response to this. we informed, and continue to inform. all parents of both our responsiblllties and their rights surrounding GDPR, data collection and storage of sensitive information. In addition, we registered with the Information Commissionerfs Office IICOI and updated our Privacy Policyi providing a copy to all current Playgroup parents/carers. The Barbican Playgroup Committee seeks reasonable a55urance from staff that these risks have been adequately managed and are Satisfied that appropriate procedures and controls are in place to manage the risks. As a charity providing care for children the trustees accept that the organisation 15 exposed to certain risks as part of carrying out these actlvltles. The trustees have put in place systems to seek to identify and a55ess the key risks that the charity faces and have put in place controls to seek to manage these risks. However. no control system can be infallible and in addition certain key risks remain. These are potential future changes to government policy with re8ard to Early Years fundin8,10ss of premises and the 8eneration of sufficient unrestricted funds affecting the flnancial sustainability of the Playgroup and staff succession. The charlty's strategic planning process and written procedures have been reviewed by the Barbican Playgroup Committee to ensure that they include measures to manage the major risks. The chariVs principal officers are working within thls framework on a day-to-day basi5. AcHIEVEMEP4TS & PERFORMANCE We have successfully demonstrated the level of thls commltment and received an,OUtstandin￿ ratin8 byOFSTED following our latest inspection in January 2020. Ihtt www.ofsted. ov.uk Durin8 the course of the 202312024 academic year, we have- Provided early years education and development to 12 children: working with their families to ensure those moving on in the next srhool year have the best chance of belng accepted into thelr school of choice. Continued to revlewour policy suite with special empha5i5 on Safeguardin& Special Educational Needs& Dlsability ISENDI and Safer Recruitin8. NANC￿ RE￿Ew This financial period has resulted in o deficit of £10,92012022-23 surplus £14.6811, due to decreased numbers of children attendin8fft down to 12 from 16, and fewer younger un-funded children who pay full fees In each Term. In additlon, due to staff sickne$5, there was an Increase in dependency on casual staff throu8hout the year. Expenditu￿ on charitable activities went down very51i8htly. thanks to a back-dated Cltyof London rates rebateof £2.415 recelved in May and an elettricity statement from EDF showing a credit of £1,734 at the end of August. Detsils of 311 income and expenditure are outllned in the attached financial statements. Fees were unchanged durlng 2023-2024, remaining at£15 per hourfor the mornin8 sesslon and a fixed rate of £20 for each afternoon session. Fees are charged termly in advance. payable on receipt of a fee note. The Barbican Play8roup is registered with the Corporation of London to re￿1Ve Nuisery Educatlon Funding {NEFI providing 15 free hours per week for qualifying children between the ages of 3 and 4. In Summer Term 2024 the Corporatlon of London increased our hourly NEF rate from £8.40 per hour to £8.45. Our Andrewes House premises have historically been provided rent-free by the Cityof London and remain $0 for the time being although this may be revlewed by the City of London at any tlme. (See Reserves Poliry below) As a charitable body. we do not aim to accumulate capltal. Surplus funds used to maintsin the facilitles to a hlgh working standard, to replace toys and equipment. and to ensure thatthe Manager and her assistants are properly remunerated and trained, whilst always remaining aware of the need to keep the cost to parents and potentlal paients at an affordable level. Reserves Policy: The Barbican Playgroup believes that the charity should hold financial reserves Ithe'Emergency Operating Reserne, _ EORI because: it hos no endowment funding and is alm05t entirely dependent for income from fees from year to year which is inevitably subject to fluctuation, and it requires protection againsL and the ability to continue operating despite catastrophic, or lesser but damaging, events. The tru5tee5 believe that the minimum level of the EOR should be the equivalent of 2 years, operating costs calculated and reviewed annually and believe that the EOR should be built up to the desired level in stages consistent with the charity's overall financial position and its need to maintain and develop its charitable activities. This 2-yeèr period represents the average length of time each child attendsthe Playgroup before moving on to full- time education. At the end of the perlod unrestricte(I reserves were £123,572. These rese￿e$ represent 76% of the agreed obJectiv￿E0R (based on current operating costs of approximately £80,500 per yearl. Efforts to build this reseNe total up will continue in line with the policy. FUTURE PLANS Our future plans are to continue to provide good quallty Earlyyears Education to local and Citychildren, working in partnership with both the parents and the local authority to ensure standards are met, if not exceeded. Re rt of the trustees for the ear endin 31Au ust 2024 The Trustees are pleased to present their report and financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions, as permitted for smaller charities. of the Statement of Recommended Practice1SORPI"Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in 2014 to be compliant with Flnanclal Reporting Standard IFRS) 102. and which is applicable for reporting periods beginning on or after 1st January 2015. As always, the Committee members wish to payspecial tribute to the Playgroup staff all of whom have worked 50 conscientiously and enthusiastically throughout this year. Claire Anstee- Treasurer & Trustee Signed on behalf ofThe Trustees & Commlttee The Barbican Playgroup & Parents & Toddlers Group Date: as 11.14 '1 'N '1 I 'N 'n BARBICAN PLAYGROUP BALANCE SHEET Year Ended 31 August 2024 Reglstered Charity No: 273750 Total Fund5 Prior Year Funds CURRENT ASSErs Debtors Cash at Bank and In Hand 2,005 129,269 131.274 540 141,359 141.899 CURRENT LIABIUTIES Credltors (Amounts f811ing due withln one yearl 7.702 7.407 NEf CURRENT ASSErs 123J72 134N92 FUND5 Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds 123.572 123,572 134.492 119Jll The financial statements were appr by the Trustees and authorised forlssue on 11 I 4 Clalre Anstee (Treasurer & Trustee A Statement of Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as all 8alns and losses are included in the Statement of Financial ACtIv￿les. The notes on pa8es 7, 8 and 9 form part of these financlal statements BARBICAN PLAYGROUP Re8istÈred Charity 273750 Notes to the Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024 I ACCOUPITING POLiaES Accountln convention The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost conventron and in accordance with the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Chartties issued in 2014 to be compliant with FRS102; as modified for smaller charities. Flxed assets Assets with a cost in exce55 of £l,CN)O that are intended to be of on-going use to Barbican Playgroup in carrying out its actNities are capitalised as fixed assets. No such assets have been capitalised to date. Income All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financlal ActNitie5 when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Ex enditure All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis as the liabilty is incurred. VAT The Charity is not registered for Value Added Tax and expendlture Is recorded inclusive of tax charged. TaxatSon The Charity is exempt from tax on income to the extent that this is applied to tts tharttable objects. Fund accountln Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charrtable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. Restrirted funds can only be used for particular restricted purpose5 within the objects of the Charity. Re5trirtion5 arlse when specified by the donor or grant maker when funds are raised or received for particular purposes. r* mo r4 ty r m eo crt rt) ri LL BARBICAN PLAYGROUP Re8ls¢ered Ch•rfty273750 Notes to the Accounts Year Ended 31 August 20Z4 4 OEBTORS 2023 Outstanding Fees- Bakth Summer Teim EDF Elertricity in Credlt at 31 August 2024 271 L734 5 CRED￿oR$ Clty of London- Annual ElectrlcltySupplvChar8e 2023-2024 Fireline, CLS, Consortium & Acti*ity Willage Purchase IMRCI (urry5- Prlnter IMRCI PLA Annual InsuraneÈ 24-25 - DueJune2024- PaldOI 0rt2024 Petty Cash Box- Due to MRCIBOX ESTIMATED 6.5 9J8 yy 1.135 67 6 FUNDS Funds BIFwd Income ExpEnditure Tran5fer5 Funds C/Fwd Unr*5thcted Funds 134,492 68,087 123572 Restricted Funds.. 134.492 68,087 79,QJ7 123.572 7 ￿AFF NUMBERS Dvrln8theyearOI Sept 2023to 31Au82024there were2staff employed12 In 2022-20231 8 STAFF COSTS Staff Gro55Sèlarie5 Employets, NIC Q)5ts Employers, Penslon Costs TOTAL 60.578 739 1.817 58,992 9S6 1,770 61.718 9 RELATED PIATIES Durlrythe yearOISept 2023 to31Au¥2024therewere nordated p8rtytr8nsadknns. BARBICAN PLAYGROUP AND PARENT5 AND TODDLERS GROUP Registered Charlty No.. 273750- 20 May 1977 Otsted URN No: 122756.. DfES Setting No- 581261 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BARBICAN PLAYGROUP Independent examiner's report to the trusteès of the Barbican Playgroup and Mothers & Toddlers Group ltrie charlt¢l. I report on the accounts of the charity forthe year ended 31 August 2024, which are set out on pages 5 to 9. Respective respon5ibililies of trustees and èxamlner The charity's trustees are responsible forthe preparation of the a¢count5. ThecharitWstrustees considerthat?n audlt is not required for this year under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Artl and that an independent examinatlon is needed. It is my respon51blllty to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; to follow the protedures laid down In the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act: and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Bas55 of Independent examlner's ieport My examination was carried out in accordance wfth the Eeneral Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual ktems or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanation5 from you astrustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audtt and Consequent￿ no opinion is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view, and the report Is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accountlng ￿cOrdS In accordance with sectlon 130 of the 2011 Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord wfth the accounting records and compty wtth the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met: or to which. in my opinion, attentlon should be drawn in order to enable a proper un(lerstsnding of the accounts to be reached. David J Taylor, ACMA $07 Gilbert House Barbican, London EC2Y 8BD Date: -io-