FORKHILL PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP LIMITED Trustees, Report The trustees. who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 July 2023. Objectives and activities As per the Articles of Association, the company's objectives and activities are specifically restricted to the following: to promote play based learning environments for all children under statutory school age (hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries) of Forkhill and its surrounding greater ward area (hereinafter called the "area of benefit") without distinction of age, gender, marital status, disability. sexual orientation. nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities. community and voluntary organisations and the inhabilants in a common effort lo advance education, and in particular. (a) to advance the education of the beneficiaries by the provision of safe aiid salisfyiiig group play, with the right of parenlslcarers lo take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of the group and to promote the preservation of health of the beneficiaries; (b) to support the vision and values of the Early Years sector. (c) to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the directors may, from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 12.00 and employs 5 qualified staff. It provides a facility where the children can learn in a safe and stimulating environment at their own pace. The playgroup works to provide the pre-school curriculum and is proud to have been r¢cognitsed by Investors in People in the past and currently have been awarded a Gold Category Award from Curriculum And Planning Spccialist (C.A.P.S). In sclling our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries. Objectives, strategies andactivities As a result of Covid-19 Coronavirus restrictions, the School was instructed to close on 16th March 2020. The children were unable to return until September 2020. As the School is funded by Department of Education. it was able to continue paying staff wages, PAYE and Pensions as Department of Education kept supporting the Education System. Staff maintained continual contact with the children and their families through phone calls and emails and were able to provide remote learning for all children. They also engaged in training with Zoom calls through Social SeTrices, the Education Authorities and C.A.P.S until reopening in September 2020. It was a difficult year for the School as it was for everyone, but thankfully the Committee, StAff and Parents supported each other to get through it. Going concern Management have considered a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statcmcnts as part of thcir asscssmcnt of thc appropriatcncss of thc going conccrn assumption, and have concluded that the going concern basis is appropriate. The effect of Covid-19 in 2020121 has not created any doubt on the ability of the company to continue. Being a childcare facility, the premises were instructed to close but the company is supported by the Department of Education and has sufficient reserves to meet its fmancial obligations. Page 3
FORI<HILL PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP LIMITED Trustees, Report Structure* governance and management Organisationalstruclure Forkhill Preschool Playgroup is a company limited by guarantee and accepted as charitable by HMRC. The. company is also 2 registered charity with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under charity number 107697. The company was incorporated on l Oth July 2019. The COTnpany was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the company, and is govemed by its Articles of . Association. The liability of the members is. limited in that every member of the company undertakes to contribute and amount not exceeding £1 in the event ofthe company being would up. Recruitment and Appointment of Directors The charity trustees are also directors of the company. There were no changes to the Directors during the financial year. Organisation Structure The Board consists of three Trustees who administer the playgroup and meet monthly. The Board has appointed a Playgroup Leader to manage the day-to-day operations of the Playgroup. The Playgroup leader has delegated authority, within tenns of delegated approval, for operational matters including staff supervision, delivery of Playgroup activities and budgetary management. The Playgroup is affiliated to the C.A.P.S organisation and works very closely with their independant Early Years Specialist to ensure that staff are up-to-date with policy and practice within the sector. Staff also undertake regular training. 3010412024 The annual report was approved by the trustees of the eharity on .......................... and signed on its behalf by: Fidelrna McNeill Trustcc Kevin Woods Tntte Page 4