Trustees Annual Report for 2022/2023
Portrush Community Playgroup
Charity no: NIC100484
History
Portrush community Playgroup is a registered charity and has been in operation since 1972. We are a cross community organization, have 4 members of staff and a Parent’s management committee, who are responsible for making decisions about the group. Portrush Community Playgroup is governed by a constitution that was amended and adopted on 12[th] October 2017. Our playgroup can cater for up to 24 children aged between 3-5 years in a pre school morning and a pre-pre school afternoon session. We are based in a porta cabin within the grounds of the local Primary School. The property is leased from Portrush Primary School and no fees other than legal fees for contract renewals etc occur.
Aims and Approach
Portrush Community Playgroup aims to advance the education of young children through the provision of an appropriate, safe and satisfying programme of play and activities, which meet the requirements of the Department of Education’s Curriculum. Our Admissions Policy states that ‘Portrush Community Playgroup welcomes every family in the community irrespective of social class, religion, race, culture, disabilities and special educational needs.’ We provide access for all children to a broad and balanced child-led curricular experience, which is tailored to the learning needs of each individual child. We believe ‘interaction and play are the main channels through which children learn and develop’. We operate a High Scope approach – High Scope is an approach to learning derived from development principles. Its mission is to work as advocates for children and families through active participatory learning which will empower children and adults to develop their potential and contribute meaningfully as citizens. We believe that children learn best when they are engaged in planning, carrying out and reflecting on their experiences. We are the only setting locally currently offering this Highscope approach and this shows how the Playgroup is benefitting children and families in the local area.
We are inspected annually by the Health and Social Care Trust to ensure we meet the requirements set out in the minimum standards. The Department of Education also carry out an inspection which can be viewed by the general public.
Financial Position
This report covers the financial year of 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023. Portrush Community Playgroup receives money from the Education Authority for each child. This money is used to pay staff wages and for the running of the playgroup. Grants are also applied for during the year and fundraising events are organised by the Management Committee.
Portrush Community Playgroup have 2 Bank Accounts, One Current Account and One Reserves Account. At 31[st] March 2023, the net assets held in these accounts was £12,501.31
At the close of the 2023 financial year, there was £8816.33 in the current account.
The £3684.98 in the Reserves Account are designated funds. These are funds which have been calculated and set aside specifically for the playgroup to run for a short time if funding ceased or for staff redundancies. We have a policy document relating to this reserve account which is reviewed annually by the new committee.
This report has been prepared to the best of our knowledge.
This report was presented at a virtual committee meeting on 15[th] November 2023.
__Claire Best___ Chairperson
__Richard Nixon______ Treasurer
Trustees present at meeting
__Chelsea Anderson_
__Lauren Wright____