Registered in England Charity No. 1020275
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 - 3 |
| Independent examiner's report | 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7 - 14 |
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Reference and administrative information
Registered charity name Birch Hill Pre-School Charity number 1020275 Date of registration 20 November 1991 Registered address Birch Hill Recreation Ground Ringmead Bracknell RG12 7AQ Trustees Lara Mullett (Chair) Stacey Day Nick Mullett Rebecca Bradley (appointed 22 April 2024, resigned 15 January 2024) Sasha Baughen (appointed 27 February 2024) Ian Keats (resigned 17 November 2023) Hana Karlasen (resigned 17 November 2023)
Independent examiner
Price Bailey LLP Chartered Accountants Anglia House, 6 Central Avenue St Andrews Business Park Thorpe St Andrew Norwich NR7 0HR
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Structure, governance and management
The Charity is governed in line with its Constitution, dated November 2011. It is formed of the committee, which is made up of volunteer parents/carers of children currently attending.
The power of appointing new or additional Trustees is by the committee at the annual general meeting.
The Trustees hold an Annual General meeting once a year and hold a further 2 committee meetings throughout the year (termly). When new trustees are appointed they are given the below information/guidance:
-
A code of conduct
-
A committee Roles
-
Early Years Alliance: Volunteering as a charity trustee mini guide
-
Early Years Alliance: Safeguarding responsibilities of charity trustees mini guide.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The object of the Charity is the provision of early years childcare and education (18 months – 5 years).
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives.
Achievements and performance
The charity continues to provide an excellent service for the local community for early years childcare and education for children aged 18 months to 5 years old. We provide education and care for all children mainstream and SEND children.
A new Deputy manager was appointed in January, this was an existing member of staff, who has stepped up into the position.
We have continued to replace resources throughout the preschool, always following the children’s interests, some of the resources we have been replenishing are books and replacing outside toys. We have bought a range of new sensory toys and a black out tent, to create a sensory circuit for the children and support the children with their sensory needs.
We have put fencing around our nature corner, so that the environment has time to establish, we have also created bug hotels to encourage the wildlife.
Maintenance for the year was sanding and painting the outside of the building, the replacement of lighting in the playroom, an inspection of the roof and a clearance of rubbish.
We have continued to do face-to-face meetings with parents and have invited them in for stay and play sessions We have continued to do handovers at the gate, as the children settle quicker and have longer to play outside.
Page 2
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Going concern
Despite the challenges of a large increase in payroll, due to the minimum wage increase in April 2024 and another increase due in April 2025, Birch Hill Preschool will remain a going concern.
The preschool is at full capacity for the next financial year and has a large waiting list. The government will be continuing to roll out the new funding entitlement for working parents alongside an increase in funding in April 2025.
The Trustee’s consider that the charity is financially stable as there is £154,842 in the reserve bank account as of 30 May 2025.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces are:
-
government funding increases are not in line with the minimum wage increases
-
changing birthrates affects the number of children enrolling in the preschool
-
families that pay for our services are facing more financial difficulties
-
a recruitment crisis within the early years sector
Financial review
Income in the year totalled £190,563 (2023: £184,793), expenditure was £209,017 (2023: £182,926). Closing funds totalled £145,724 (2023: £164,178) of which £nil (2023: £nil) is restricted.
Reserves policy
The Trustees aim to maintain positive reserves of at least £40,000 in order to meet three months of wages and general overheads. This has been increased from prior years due to increased costs of running our own building such as business rates, utilities and insurance. All surplus funds are applied in furtherance of the Charity's objectives, and there are plans to invest further in the building and the resources we have using the additional reserves that are available to us.
This report was circulated to all the trustees and accepted unanimously on the 26 Jun 2025
L Mullett (Jun 26, 2025, 6:36am)
…………………………………………
Lara Mullett
(Chair)
Page 3
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 5 to 14.
Your attention is to drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.
We understand that this has been done in order for the financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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3 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Suzanne Goldsmith FCA
Price Bailey LLP, Chartered Accountants
Anglia House, 6 Central Avenue St Andrews Business Park Thorpe St Andrew Norwich, Norfolk NR7 0HR
Date: 27 June 2025
Page 4
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AT 31 AUGUST 2024
| Notes INCOME Income from charitable activities 2 Other income 3 TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Expenditure on charitable activities: 4 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEING NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR Transfers Total funds at 1 September 11 TOTAL FUNDS 31 AUGUST 11 |
Unrestricted Funds 2024 £ 48,156 - |
Restricted Funds 2024 £ 141,906 501 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 190,062 501 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 183,774 1,019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48,156 | 142,407 | 190,563 | 184,793 | |
| (66,610) | (142,407) | (209,017) | (182,926) | |
| (66,610) | (142,407) | (209,017) | (182,926) | |
| (18,454) - 164,178 |
- - - |
(18,454) - 164,178 |
1,867 - 162,311 |
|
| 145,724 | - | 145,724 | 164,178 |
All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 7 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 AUGUST 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 7 | 795 | - |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors: Amounts due within | |||
| one year | 8 | 48 | 742 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 188,904 | 181,874 | |
| 188,952 | 182,616 | ||
| Creditors: Amounts due | |||
| within one year | 9 | (44,023) | (18,438) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 144,929 | 164,178 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS | |||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 145,724 | 164,178 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 11 | 145,724 | 164,178 |
| Restricted funds | 11 | - | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 145,724 | 164,178 |
26 Jun 2025 The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on and are signed on their behalf by:
……………………………… Hho L Mullett (Jun 26, 2025, 6:36am) Lara Mullett (Chair)
………………………………
The notes on pages 7 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
General information
Birch Hill Pre-School is an unincorporated charity, registered in the United Kingdom under the Charities Act 2011. The registered office is Birch Hill Recreation Ground, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7AQ.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Birch Hill Pre-School meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
The charity, being small in size, has used the exemption provided by Charities SORP (FRS 102) under which it is not required to include a cash flow statement as part of the financial statements.
Fund accounting
Restricted income funds consist of grants awarded and fund raising received which are expended on costs directly attributable to the care and education of the children, the running of the preschool and those for which the fundraising was proposed.
Fees from parents are classified as being unrestricted income and any costs incurred on running the preschool over and above those allocated to restricted funds are then set off against unrestricted income.
Going concern
Despite the challenges of a large increase in payroll, due to the minimum wage increase in April 2024 and another increase due in April 2025, Birch Hill Preschool will remain a going concern.
The preschool is at full capacity for the next financial year. The government will be rolling out a new funding entitlement for working parents alongside an increase in funding in April 2025.
The Trustee’s consider that the charity is financially stable as there is £154,842 in the reserve bank account as of 30 May 2025.
Page 7
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Income
Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Government funding and grants are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the general income recognition criteria are met.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- expenditure on charitable activities includes that which relates directly to fulfilling the charitable objectives of the Charity, as outlined in the Trustees' Report.
Deferred income represents government grant funding received in the year in advance of the next school term.
Tangible fixed assets
Assets which are intended to be of ongoing use to the Charity in carrying out its activities are capitalised as fixed assets. All purchased fixed assets are initially recorded at cost.
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
- Office equipment - 3 years straight-line
Page 8
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
Creditors are recognised when the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash held in bank accounts. There are no short term investments.
Financial instruments
The Charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their at their fair value as at the balance sheet date. All financial instruments of the charity are measured at cost.
Financial assets include trade debtors and accrued income (but exclude prepayments).
Financial liabilities include trade creditors and accruals but exclude social security and other taxes due.
Pensions
The Charity provides a defined contribution pension scheme, whereby the charity and its staff each fund the scheme, managed by a third party provider, the assets of which are held by the provider separately from the assets of the charity. The pension charge in the financial statements represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the period.
Corporation tax
The Charity is exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to the charitable purposes.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the Charity's accounting policies, which are described above, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
The Trustees do not consider that there are any critical judgements or sources of estimation uncertainty in the financial statements.
Page 9
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
2 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted 2024 £ Fees from parents 48,156 Government funding - 48,156 Unrestricted 2023 £ Fees from parents 29,861 Government funding - 29,861 3 OTHER INCOME Unrestricted 2024 £ Government grants - Childcare Grant Payment Service - Unrestricted 2023 £ Government grants - Childcare Grant Payment Service - |
Unrestricted 2024 £ 48,156 - |
Restricted 2024 £ - 141,906 |
Total 2024 £ 48,156 141,906 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48,156 | 141,906 | 190,062 | |
| Unrestricted 2023 £ 29,861 - |
Restricted 2023 £ - 153,913 |
Total 2023 £ 29,861 153,913 |
|
| 29,861 | 153,913 | 183,774 | |
| Restricted 2024 £ 501 |
Total 2024 £ 501 |
||
| Restricted 2023 £ 1,019 |
Total 2023 £ 1,019 |
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BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
4 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Milk and snacks Educational resources and equipment Premises costs Staff costs Courses and training Office running costs and equipment Insurance and subscriptions Other expenses Legal and professional fees Accountancy fees Depreciation |
Total 2024 £ 1,445 9,776 20,615 165,519 349 1,313 822 775 4,166 3,840 397 209,017 |
Total 2023 £ 1,503 8,087 18,783 141,509 950 1,275 3,534 585 3,040 3,660 - |
|---|---|---|
| 182,926 |
In 2024, of the £209,017 (2023: £182,926) of total expenditure, £66,610 (2023: £27,994) related to unrestricted funding, and £142,407 (2023: £154,932) related to restricted funding.
5 STAFF COSTS
| STAFF COSTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs were as follows: Wages and salaries Employer NIC Pension costs The average number of employees during the year was as follows: Employees |
2024 £ 160,567 2,530 2,422 165,519 2024 No. 11 |
2023 £ 138,811 752 1,946 |
| 141,509 | ||
| 2023 No. 11 |
The Charity considers that the Key Management Personnel comprise of the Manager and the Deputy Manager of the Pre-School. Employee benefits of Key Management Personnel were £54,930 (2023: £43,170). No members of staff employed in the year earned over £60,000 (2023: none).
6 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REMUNERATION
| Independent examination fees Fees payable to the Charity's Independent Examiner in respect of other services |
2024 £ 2,060 1,780 3,840 |
2023 £ 1,960 1,700 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,660 |
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BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| 7 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Cost Additions As at 31 August 2024 Depreciation Charge for the year As at 31 August 2024 Net book value As at 31 August 2024 8 DEBTORS Trade debtors Other debtors 9 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals Deferred income 10 DEFERRED INCOME Deferred income brought forward Resources deferred during the year Amounts released from previous years |
2024 £ 48 - 48 2024 £ 12,761 31,262 44,023 2024 £ 13,266 31,262 (13,266) 31,262 |
Office equipment £ 1,192 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,192 | ||
| 397 | ||
| 397 | ||
| 795 | ||
| 2023 £ - 742 |
||
| 742 | ||
| 2023 £ 5,172 13,266 |
||
| 18,438 | ||
| 2023 £ 12,794 13,266 (12,794) |
||
| 13,266 |
Deferred income represents government grant funding received in the year in advance of the next school term.
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BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| 11 | STATEMENT OF FUNDS 2024 Brought forward £ UNRESTRICTED FUNDS General funds 164,178 RESTRICTED FUNDS Bracknell Forest Council - Childcare Grant Payment Service - - Total 164,178 2023 Brought forward £ UNRESTRICTED FUNDS General funds 162,311 RESTRICTED FUNDS Bracknell Forest Council - Childcare Grant Payment Service - - Total 162,311 |
Income £ 48,156 141,906 501 142,407 190,563 Income £ 29,861 153,913 1,019 154,932 184,793 |
Expenditure £ (66,610) (141,906) (501) (142,407) (209,017) Expenditure £ (27,994) (153,913) (1,019) (154,932) (182,926) |
Transfers £ - - - - - Transfers £ - - - - - |
Carried forward £ 145,724 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - - |
|||||
| - | |||||
| 145,724 | |||||
| Carried forward £ 164,178 |
|||||
| - - |
|||||
| - | |||||
| 164,178 |
RESTRICTED FUNDS DETAIL
Bracknell Forest Council fund represents government funding used for the children's fees and day to day running costs of the Pre-School.
Childcare Grant Payment Service represents funding offered to parents who are training to become a teacher or for the NHS to support parents getting back to work.
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DETAIL
The unrestricted funds are available to be spent for any of the purposes of the charity.
Page 13
BIRCH HILL PRE-SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
12 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Current assets Creditors due within one year |
Unrestricted Funds 2024 £ 795 157,690 (12,761) 145,724 Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 169,350 (5,172) 164,178 |
Restricted Funds 2024 £ - 31,262 (31,262) - Restricted Funds 2023 £ 13,266 (13,266) - |
Total Funds 2024 £ 795 188,952 (44,023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145,724 | |||
| Total Funds 2023 £ 182,616 (18,438) |
|||
| 164,178 |
13 PENSION COMMITMENTS
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds. The total pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the funds and amounted to £2,422 (2023: £1,946). There were no pension committments are outstanding at year end (2023: £nil).
14 RELATED PARTIES
In their roles as Trustees, the Trustees give their time and expertise freely without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind and did not claim any expenses.
There were no other related party transactions (2023: none).
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