2023-2024
ANNUAL TRUSTEE REPORT FOR SUNSHINE PLAYGROUP AND PRE -SCHOOL
Originally founded in 1984, Sunshine Playgroup and Pre-School is a registered Charity in the Ballinderry area. It is a non-profit making organisation based at Killultagh Orange Hall, Legiterriff Road, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn,Co Antrim and the Charity Commission number is 105899-0. It is registered with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, in line with the statutory requirements of the Children [NI] Order 1995 and the minimum Standards of Childminding and Daycare 2012. Inspections are carried out annually for both the Pre-School and Playgroups by the Early Years Team from the South Eastern Health and Social Services Department. The Pre-School is funded by the Department of Education NI and the Pre-School curriculum is followed and inspected by inspectors from the Department of Education [ETI]. All of the staff at Sunshine Playgroup and Pre-School hold N.V.Q. Certificate in Childcare and Education. They are all Access N.I. Checked and are trained in Child Protection Safe-Guarding , as well as holding various other appropriate qualifications. Other details and information is available on Sunshine's Facebook page.
Aims and Objectives
The Aims and Objectives remain the same for Sunshine Playgroup and Pre-School and these areas are as follows;
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To provide a warm and welcoming early years environment where young children are valued as individuals.
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Where each child's needs are taken into account arising from culture, race, religion, language and disabilities.
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Where their self esteem, confidence and independence are promoted in a happy, stimulating and caring setting.
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To recognise that the child's needs and safety are paramount,
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To work in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals.
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To formulate and encourage equal opportunities for both adults and children.
The Trustees consist of local people who have volunteered and who come from mixture of backgrounds across the community. They have different fields of interest, including finance, education, rural affairs and business. The Trustees have operated the charity to increase the public benefit during the reporting period and have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission's statutory public benefit guidance.
The Trustees believe that the purposes of Sunshine Playgroup and Pre-School satisfy the elements of public benefit requirements. The main benefit continues to be for the children and their families in the local area. The whole community of Ballinderry and the surrounding area is encouraged to participate in any fundraising activities that the staff of Sunshine decide to arrange, as well as being invited to Open Days and Information sessions. The local children attending the playgroup/preschool benefit from a safe, stimulating environment and a range of educational activities and social interaction, as part of the wider Sunshine and Ballinderry community.
The Education Authority is the chief provider of funds for Sunshine Playgroup and Pre School, with various other appropriate grants applied for and received. Childcare vouchers and uniform monies also contribute to the income for Sunshine. In addition there are monies from Cash for Clobber and Ballots run throughout the year as outlined in the accounts.
In August 2023 the Pre School opened with 14 children and 5 staff. In September some younger children were invited to the setting and this group were called the Pre Pre group, at a charge of £12 per day and this gave a total of 20 children per day. The numbers at Sunshine in general were low
for this year and so additional funding and grants were sought to keep Sunshine going. Social Services Inspection and ETI inspections were due this year and staff continued to complete different training programmes. This year Natalie and Gwen shared the role of Leader, although Natalie sadly left in December as she was offered a managerial role in another setting. A visit to Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School as well as Christmas parties and a ballot took place in December.
General maintenance problems of the hall were reported to the landlord and duly fixed. In February a visit from Environmental Health took place and Sunshine was awarded a 5 Star rating. Throughout the year parents and friends have been very supportive and donations of £2000, £3842.25 and a grant of £2000 from Lisburn City Council and £1000 from Centra helped to keep the Playgroup viable.
Other activities during the year included a Workshop for Parents, a school trip to Laganvale Farm, Jump Jingle and Jive music session, Getting ready to Learn workshop for Maths, visits from teachers from various schools and a Quiz night fundraiser which was well supported across the local community and raised £1700. The Forest school continued to be a popular attraction and pupils planted bulbs and learned about wildlife there.
In June there were a number of staff changes . Karen informed Sunshine that she planned to leave after 21 years. Gwen also informed Sunshine that she planned to step down as Leader in September and a new Leaders job was advertised in June. Natalie was successful and returned to Sunshine as Leader in September 2024. Margaret stepped into Karen's role of assistant.
The numbers for the next school year are low, partly due to the low birth rate in the area and Sunshine has been advertising locally to try to attract more children.
This report has been agreed by the Trustees
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