Hoysheod F1aywo Ihtrou9hczt4livJly4] Hayshead Playgroup Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements 1st August 2023 - 31st July 2024 I Hoysheod Playgroup nurturing ItlTning •nd play Hayshead Playgroup Scottish Charity Number: SC022342 Abbey View Campus Hayshead Road Arbroath DD115FE Structure, Governance, and Management Hayshead Playgroup is a charitable unincorpor8ted organisation that is governed by an Earty Years Group Constitution. All the Trustees are appointed or re8ppointed at the Annual General Me&ting held each year. Trustees may be co- opted throughout the year. The Playgroup also employs a Manager and Deputy Manager to manage the day- to-day running of the group in partnership with the Trustees, In addition. to meet the needs of the group, we employ 5 earfy-year practitioners. 2 support workers, and one administrator. Hayshead Playgroup Charity Trustees Commlttee members that left were due to their child's natural progression to nursery or school. Objectives and Activities The group aims to advance the education and social development of preschool children with an emphasis on child-led leaming experien￿5 and play. We provide a safe and nurturing group environment where children are happy and cared for. We believe every child should gradually learn new skills that build self-confidence and increase awareness of the world around them. We strive to incorporate local and national policy and procedures, nurturing curricular milestones for children 3-5 years old through the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence. For our youngest children aged 2-3, we follow national practice guidance for eady years in Scotland "Realising the Ambition: Being Me.. Numeracy Literacy Heatth and Wellbeing All children's learning and development is documented through folios which staff use to track progress and create opportunities to challenge future leaming. We provide targeted support for individual children and their families followin9 guidance set out by the Scottish Government, "Getting it Right for Every Child." As of August 2021, through demands in the local area. we were able to increase our capacity from 24 to 28 children. The Early Years Childcare Expansion in Scotland allowed us to primarily focus on funded children, offering only full-time. term-time-only spaces for 3-5-year-olds and eligible 2-year-olds. Achievements and Performance During the academic year of 202312024, we had an unusually high number of children with additional support needs apply,. therefore we adapted the room by creating sensory spaces, this included an indoor sand pit at a cost of £250.00 and we purchased sensory resources at a cost of £250.00 Below are some examples of these changes. Engagement with Parents and the Local and Wider Community Our children love to go out and explore the local area where they can learn about what goes on in their community. Thls year they visited Arbroath Abbey, the local supermarket. the pet shop and went on a bus trip. The end of term trip was a train joumey to Carnoustie where they had a picnic and play8J at the park. To help transition children into Ihe playgroup and support children moving onto nursery Snd Primary 1 we worf(ed In partnership with them to run a parenting support group called Peeps. Feedback from Angus Council and Care Inspectorate In December 2022 we had a visit from the Care Inspectorate for an unannounced inspection. This was a positive experience which was echoed in the feedback given, see below. Qualty Indicator 1.1 Nurturing care and support. "We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these supported positive outcomes for children, therefore we evaluated this key question as very good. The children were happy and settled in the playgroup. They were enjoying theif time in the setting, playing and having fun with friends and staff. Staff were kind. caring and nurturing in their approach with children. They knew children well and spoke knowledgeably and confidently about children's individual care needs and how they were supported. Staff were very responsive to children. respecfful and kind in their approach, reassuring Ghildren, comforting them when needed and giving Guddles if they wished them. It was evident attachments had been developed be￿een children and staff. There was chatter and laughter Ihroughout the day as staff joined in children's play and learning. Children told us they were having fun.. How How How How ood is our care, ood is our settin ood is our leadershi ood is our staff team? and leamin 5-Ve 5-Ve 5-Ve 5-Ve Good Good Good Good As we are in partnership with the local authority, each year we are inspected by Angus Council to monitor our quality of provision. One of the findings from this visit in May 2023 identified the following strength. °The staff have been responsive to parental needs and work with families to support them to enhance their children's leaming and development. They seek advice from other professionals when this is helpful. One example of inviting parents into the setting. There was evidence to support good collaboration with other professionals to support children's individual needs" Overall, this 8nnual visit was positive and through discussion between the Manager and Angus Council, a shared vision for the next year's improvements was agreed upon. Due to Angus Council changing the timescale for our Quality Assurance visit in the summer term. we do not have a new report for this perlod. Financial review The charity's total income for this year was £ 213,680. The majority of this was from council funding (£211813) and went towards the playgroup's day40￿aY running. e.g. staff costs, food, and resources. Playgroup fundraising total was £1,867 which went directly to fund excursions and resources for the children. The total expenditure was £ 218,630 A second account was opened for helping with fundraising administration. Statement of the charity's policy on reserves The Trustees consider that free reserves of £42,000 should be held. this would be equivalent to 3 months wage costs. The Trustee's policy is to use any reserves to further the objectives of the organisation. The Trustees are responsible for the strat8gic direction and planning of the organisation. Declaration Signed on behalf of the charity truslees.. Designation Date aq/o