**St Colum’s Preschool AGM 2023** ## **Wednesday 4[th] October 2023, 7.30pm** **Attendees:** Natasha Davidson, Meabh Duffy, Pamela Sweeney, Sarah McAuley, Michelle Long, Clare McManus, Angela McGoldrick, Aisling Rafferty, Carly Quinn, Ita Harley, James Armstrong, Grainne Manson **Apologies:** Jessica Lenahan, Lisa Hemphill ## **Chairperson’s Welcome** ## **Trustee Report** Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31 August 2023. The Trustees of St Colum’s Pre School Centre, Portstewart present their annual report for the year ended 31 August 2023. **OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES** Mission Statement: “encouraging our children to think for themselves and to feel their work is valued” The main aim of St. Colum's Pre-School Centre is to promote the social, emotional and early educational development of each child. Our Pre-School Centre offers a safe and secure environment where children have the opportunity to achieve these goals. 1 **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES** Through the implementation of a planned Pre-School Curriculum, we offer children a broad range of learning opportunities, through both play and other experiences. We work in partnership with parents/carers, families and other bodies/professionals to provide a wide range of experience to our Pre-School Centre. Our qualified and experienced staff are committed to the needs of the pre-school child and encourage and build upon the experience and range of skills which the child has already developed. This is achieved by observing and evaluating the children at play, through encouragement and in recognising the individual needs of each child. By implementing our programme of pre-school education, we offer children the opportunity to be curious, to investigate and appreciate the circumstances and environment in which they live. We help to develop the individual's physical, emotional, and educational skills and experiences to full potential, which they can build upon after their time in playgroup. It is envisaged that each child in our care will have learned to form stable relationships, developed a sense of responsibility and consideration for others and grown in self-confidence, independence, and self-control. In 2011 our Pre-School Centre became a Cross Community Playgroup, welcoming children from all ethnicities and religions. Staff embarked on an ambitious programme of training in the 2022/23 year, reflecting their commitment to ongoing development to benefit both children and the setting. Staff were awarded the Autism NI Impact Award demonstrating the setting offers an accredited autism accessible environment. The award is the only autism specific training in NI and ensures the highest standard of learning – described as a gold standard and represents a recognition of our setting aims including inclusion and diversity. Staff also achieved a Prism Award from Tiny Life, following completion of training for the impact of prematurity on development and training. **PUPIL NUMBERS & FEES** For the academic year September 2022 - June 2023, St Colum’s Pre School Centre had **20 fully funded Department of Education places.** Funding was subsidised by offering pre-pre-school age children places for 3 afternoon sessions a week, at £5.00 per child per week. In the 2022-2023 academic year there was 20 children who attended the morning session and a further 16 attended the afternoon session. As of this September (Academic year: 2023- 2024, there are 24 children attending the morning sessions and 8 in the afternoon (16 registered by Mid-January). The pre-school age children attended 5 days per week, for a morning session, supported by 3-4 part time teaching staff. **FUNDING AND FINANCES** £52,590.55 from the education authority, was supplemented by voluntary parental donations totalling approximately £5,213 in the year. Income in the year ended 31/08/2023, totalled £76,876.06 (2022: £81,918.76) while expenditure totalled £85,473.75 (2022: ££77,247.07) resulting in a balance of £-8,597.69(loss) (2022: profit of £4,671.69/2021: loss of £4,009.82). Key expenses were salaries of £52,582.33 (2022: 50,881.87) and rent of £4,000 (2021: £4,400). Both operating overheads and financial expenses increased substantially in year 2022/23 (including HMRC, pension costs, insurance, supplies, utilities, EYS, & bank charges) totalled approximately £18,400. An opening current account bank balance of £5,736.67 was recorded in September 2022 and the closing balance for August 2023 was £1,454.75. Our fundraising account had an opening balance of £6,181.38 in September 2022 and in August 2023, a closing balance of £1,665.61 As of the end of August 2023 the total bank balance of the pre-school sits at £3,320.36 2 **FUTURE PLANS** The Trustees remain positive about the future of the Centre. The current year saw numbers down from 2021 to just 20 fully funded places. This drop-in income has impacted the setting however thanks to strong fundraising in the year, the setting has managed to stay in relatively acceptable position. The setting tried to offset on spending where possible and was also negatively impacted by cost of living increases across the board (wages, oil, insurance etc) The afternoon sessions received healthy interest both last year and, in the year ahead, with the additional area of income expected to continue. With pre pre-places in demand, we are expecting a similar reflection in applications for Pre School places for 2023-2024, with confidence the setting will achieve a maximum intake again for the morning sessions. Staff have voiced a long-term project of a sensory room which the Trustees support and will align with fundraising targets. Plans have also been made to repaint the setting and install new blings (when finances allow). We continue to make concerted efforts to reduce overheads and make attempts to reduce the financial pressures going forward especially due to the current cost of living crisis. We held many well supported fundraising events, including raffles, coffee mornings and a wine tasting event. The fundraising increased by almost £1800 in the year (2022/23: £4.5k - 2021/22 £2.8k). This reflects excellent efforts by committee, staff, parents and the community, and committee take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and donations. We hope with the continued support, we can maintain an advantageous position financially, and remain optimistic given projections for the coming year. ## Natasha Mrs Natasha Davidson, Chairperson For and on behalf of the Management Committee Date: 02/10/2023 Trustees of St Colum’s Pre-School Centre: Mrs Natasha Davidson (Chairperson) Mrs Pamela Sweeney (Secretary) Mr Oisin Duffy (Treasurer) Mrs Sarah Pinkerton, Mrs Sarah McAuley, Mrs Ria Carey, Mrs Ita Harley, Mrs Megan Shivers. Mrs Mary McGoldrick 3 ## **Financial Report** Oisin Duffy (Treasurer) provided the following account information: 4 ## Audited by Dennis Frizelle ## **Nomination and Selection of Committee** A committee must be in place for the pre-school to operate. The committee must have a minimum of 5 members and a maximum of 12 and they meet for one hour a month. We rely on fundraising and so one of the main focusses for the committee will be how we can maximise income from fundraising. ## **Committee for 2023/2024** **Chairperson:** Natasha Davidson _(Proposed: Pamela Sweeney; Seconded: Aisling Rafferty)_ **Secretary:** Pamela Sweeney _(Proposed: Natasha Davidson; Seconded: James Armstrong)_ **Treasurer:** Oisin Duffy _(Proposed: Pamela Sweeney; Seconded: James Armstrong)_ ## **Committee members for 2023:** 1. Ita Harley 2. Jessica Lenahan 3. Sarah McAuley 4. Carly Quinn 5. Lisa Hemphill 6. Aisling Rafferty 7. Emily Armstrong 8. Clare Holley Thanks and appreciation was shown to our outgoing committee members Sarah Pinkerton, Megan Shivers and Mary McGoldrick. 5