2023-08-31-annual-report

Rainbow Stop Playgroup Trustee Annual Report 2023/2024

Charity name: Rainbow Stop Playgroup

Charity No: 106710

This report relates to the financial year: 1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024

Principal Address: 30B Seaboughan Road, Markethill, Co. Armagh, BT60 1SD

The following individuals served as charity trustees on the date this report was approved:

Charlotte Salisbury (Chairperson), Ciara McWilliams (Treasurer), Orlagh Loughran (Secretary),

The following individuals served as charity trustees during the year:

Charlotte Salisbury (Chairperson), Ciara McWilliams (Treasurer), Orlagh Loughran (Secretary),

Charitable purposes

Rainbow Stop Playgroup was established in 1986 to promote and provide access to high quality Pre- School education to children and families in the Markethill area regardless of religion, culture, race or disability. The children in our care are provided with the opportunity to develop their skills of communication, problem solving while developing confidence, self-esteem along with the ability to relate to others before their transition to Primary School.

The Pre-School is registered to accept a maximum of 26 children per session with two sessions running with appropriate funding. In the school year 2023/24 we placed 23 children in funded places. The sessions run 2.5 hours each day; from 9:30am to 12pm.

We have four highly qualified staff who continuously update their training and professional development to benefit the children. We also employ two relief staff members to cover in cases of absence and to work as support to children with additional needs.

The Pre-School is governed by its constitution and governance documents as an unincorporated association. The constitution sets out the aims and powers of the Committee. Each year members, who are also trustees, are elected at an annual AGM. Monthly meetings are held to discuss Playgroup business and activity, to set admissions criteria and to ensure the Playgroup is meeting its benefit aims to the children and their families.

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Throughout the year the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commissions Public Benefit requirement statutory guidance to ensure the activity of the setting has achieved the Charity's purpose and has benefited the beneficiaries.

Parental participation is extremely valued in the importance of their children's learning. Staff and parents meet at least twice a year to discuss their child's progress. The settling in meetings took place as a school report to discuss the children's development. Parents also received a transition form in June to pass on to their child's Primary One teacher. Feedback is gained from parent via a questionnaire to help us ensure the benefits are being met in the Pre-School's provision and service.

The Pre-School is a member of Early Years - the organisation for young children, who provide advice and support throughout the year e.g. Online PSEP Forums, Leader's Days and staff training sessions. Online and onsite monitoring visits from a designated Early Years Specialist also take place to give support and advice.

The Playgroup is also under the Early Years Team (Southern Area Social Services Trust). This body is responsible for inspections ensuring that the Pre-School is providing a care and educational setting in line with minimum standards. The report we receive including parents comments is used to improve our service and further benefit the children. Our annual inspection was held in December, the report showed a continued high standard of service and positive feedback from the parents and children.

Pre-School is also subject to Department of Education, Education Training Inspectorate inspections. Our last inspection was in 2020. Recommendations for improved practice from all our inspecting bodies are taken on board and amendments made to ensure the best possible learning outcomes for the children. All staff participate in self-evaluation assessment processes e.g. ISEF, PQA documents which ensure staff continue to be reflective of their practice and the setting as a whole to allow us to identify areas of improvement and make these changes for the benefit of the children.

Main activities and achievements during the year

Throughout the year the children are provided with activities and resources to allow learning through play both indoors and outdoors, while following the Pre-School curriculum. We offer a wide range of play activities: arts/crafts, sand/water play, writing table, table top and floor activities, home corner, role play, construction area, book corner, ICT area, songs/rhymes, mud kitchen, nature areas, gardening, cookery activities. Staff continuously observe the children and evaluate their use of the activities to ensure the opportunities given are developing and progressing the children's learning and skills.

The activities are planned to develop all areas of the children's development to help in their preparation for Primary School. The areas of learning are divided into 6 areas: personal, social and emotional development, language development, physical development, the arts, mathematical development and the world around us. The activities are implemented to progress the children's personal value, confidence, communication skills, hand/eye coordination, fine/gross motor skills,

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concentration along with having a fun filled positive Pre-School experience. To benefit the children's learning and development staff ensure the activities provided are relevant to their interests. This then determines the topics covered and the activities/resources provided.

During the year we enhance the children's learning and development through visitors and outings. We had visits from Primary 1 teachers of the schools the children will be transitioning.

Throughout the year various fundraising activities were organised. We held a a Sponsored walk in Gosford Forest Park, Christmas Raffle, a bucket collection in our local supermarket as well as an easter raffle and Smarties tubes fundraiser. Our successful fundraisers has enabled us help cover running costs and provide new equipment and activities for the children.

Our annual Graduation Day to celebrate the children's year in Playgroup was held in the Playgroup with parents in attendance. The children all received an individual learning journey which documented their year filled with photographs, the children's' thoughts and art work as a keepsake of their time in Playgroup. The day was enjoyed by all and was very special for the children, their parents and staff to have this opportunity to celebrate each of the children and their journey of learning and development during their time in Playgroup.

The trustees really appreciate the help and support from the parents throughout the year and are very grateful to the staff for their commitment to the children throughout their Playgroup experience.

Financial Position 2023/24

The Pre-School is governed by the Education Authority as a PSEP setting. The Education Authority Funding is our main source of income. They provide funding for the children of Pre-School age over the course of 10 months. This payment is received on a monthly basis; it is calculated on a flat rate per place in accordance with the attendance per month.

The Trustees are grateful to the parent for the help and support throughout the year and to those local businesses that helped our fundraising efforts through events and donations.

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The Pre-School seek to apply for eligible funding each year to help with the cost of resources for the children when there is opportunity for such funding. We also used funding form the Regional Childcare Partnership Small Grants Scheme to cover costs of replacing sinks and taps in the children’s bathrooms.

The Pre-School holds two Bank Accounts; a Current Account and a Savings Account.

The Pre-School has various running expenses including staff wages, rent, resources, etc. The Committee recognise that a Reserve must be held to ensure a contingency for unforeseen circumstances and expenses. The Committee can report that the Reserve remains in a healthy position for this financial year:

Accounts for the year August 2023 to 31[st ] July 2024 show receipts totaling £95, 396, payments totaling £61,118, showing a net deficit of -£34,278.

The Current Account bank balance at July 2024 shows we have £11,426.40. Total Reserves £24,445.01

There are no funds held by the charity that are materially in deficit.

All payments in the account were for the benefit of the Pre-School.

Signature:

Print name:

On behalf of Rainbow Stop Playgroup Committee

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