16 Brokerstown Road, Lisburn, BT28 2EE Tel 07731835064 or 02892 664244 Ext 22 ballymacashplaygroup@gmail.com ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED JULY2023 CHARITY Reg: NIC108489 th Thursday 16 November 2023 16 Brokerstown Road, Lisburn, BT28 2EE Tel 07731835064 or 02892 664244 Ext 22 ballymacashplaygroup@gmail.com Governin Document & Constitution Ballymacash Playgroup is run by a Voluntary Management and operate a Constitution adopted by the Committee and under the guidelines & criteria of the Early Years Organisation for young children. Trustee Section & Mana ement Ballymacash Playgroup is run by a Voluntary Management Committee who receive training under Early Years Organisation in Governance & Management which they can then implement in managing the Playgroup. The Playgroup currently has 38 policies which are reviewed annually. Policies & Procedures, and childcare services are inspected annually by a Social Worker from the Health & Social Care Trust. The Management Committee is made up of Parents of Children who have attended Ballymacash Playgroup and consists of a Chairper50n (Mr Stephen Gray), Secretary {Mrs Bernie Reid), Treasurer (Mr Martin McPoland), Committee Member {Mr Aidan Mccartney) and Playgroup Leader and non-voting member (Arlene Mcmurray). Policies are made available to all parents in the main Playgroup Reception & copie5 available on request. Parents are informed of any newly amended policies. Parents are given core policie5 before their child starts Playgroup and sign an agreement form to say they have received, read & understood them. The Committee meet at least 5 times a year and will hold an AGM each year in November. The meetings provide members and the Playgroup staff with an update on continuing progress and events happening within the Playgroup. Safeguarding is always a standing Agenda item. Important happenings and any other issues are discussed & agreed upon. The Financial Accounts are independently examined and along with the Annual Report are approved by the Committee/Trustees and presented to the members at the AGM each year. Ob ectives & Activities Ballymacash Playgroup is funded solely by the fees of parents whose children currently attend from August 2023 to July 2024 to provide pre-preschool education to children ranging 2years Iomonths to statutory primary school age. We provide learning based on CEA guidance of pre-pre5chool education in a warm, inviting, safe and stimulating environment, where children can play have fun and at the same time be encouraged and helped by trained staff. The 6 area5 of learning are Personal, Social & Emotional Development. Physical Development & Movement. Language Development. Early Mathematical Experiences. The Arts and The World Around Us. We provide a full range of play activities appropriate for the age range, stage and child's ability to ensure that each child reaches their full potentlal while catering for each child's needs regardless of 16 Brokerstown Road, Lisburn, BT28 2EE Tel 07731835064 or 02892 664244 Ext 22 ballymacashplaygroup@gmail.com sex, race, culture, religious or financlal background. Children that may need additional support get extra help through the Playgroup working with external agencies such as Speech & Language, Occupational Therapists etc. We ensure parents are informed of the application proce55 to Nur5ery/PI & children are prepared for this throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to join the Committee and take an artive role in their child's development and activities. We take part in Help Kids Talk & Talk Boost Programme, Healthy Snacks & Teeth Brushing, Media Inltiative In Respecting Differences and Rufus Handwashing Programme. Achievements & Performance Ballymacash Playgroup believe In Childhood in its own right and offers a place to as many as 60 children each year. The annual inspection process from the HSCTrust ensures we are meeting the standards required, with the quality of service exceeding many areas and the inspection report is made available to parents. The Sensory Room, fully enclosed garden and very well resourced setting provides a full curriculum of learning opportunities delivered by consistent staff who continually seek to improve their professional development in attending courses & training offered by Early Years Organisations. The staff maintain and update their core training in Designated Safeguarding Children Officer/Child Protection, Paediatric First Aid, Fire Safety & Manual Handling, Food Safety Hygiene Level 2 and Data Protection. The fundraising efforts were well supported through the assistance of the Primary School partnership with the PTA in purchasing a fridgelfreezer & prlnter. Other funding was raised through The Teddy Bear Sponsored Walk, Christmas & Easter Crafts, Photo Session Commission, Pre-loved Uniform sales and in lieu of presents donations. We were able to secure a grant of £IOOO from the Lisburn City & Castlerea8h Council through a local event that the public voted for their favourite good causes group, this enabled us to get safety rubber matting and a wooden bridge for the Playgroup Garden. Financial Review The Committee ￿ceiVed status to be registered as a Charity in May 2022 and have been reviewing the financial situation, they are continuing to apply for funding applications when criteria are met. Unfortunately, there has been a withdrawal of funding within the Early Years sector and an un- functioning Government increase5 the chalSen8es ahead. Public Benefit The beneficiaries are the children and theirfamilies who avail of the excellent services provided in the widely diverse demogrdphic area. This has been evidenced by the positive feedback from parents 16 Brokerstown Road, Lisburn, BT28 2EE Tel 07731835064 or 02892 664244 Ext 22 ballymacashplaygroup@gmail.com both new & returning. The children benefit by being better prepared for their transition on their educational journey and interacting with their Peers and Staff in a respectful manner with good social skills. resilience building and self-confidence, they learn to interact and have fun taking part and be creative with problem solving through different opportunities. also learning to be independent and be happy and content in the setting, to develop and achieve to their own individual potential. The setting is well established as a community Playgroup and while following the curriculum, understand that child led play for the age group benefits the advance of education through the safe, happy and stimulating environment with the right of Parent/Carers to take responsibility for, become involved and promote the preservation of the health of the beneficiaries and support the principles & values of the Early Years. Signed Chairperson Ball a5 group [6 Jo23