Chair Report
Welcome to the 2025 Report and Accounts.
Stepping Stones continues to be a provider of preschool education for children aged 2 until school age. We continue to provide a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities and take a full part in the local community. We work closely with Stoberry Park School and embrace the Early Years Learning Framework.
It has been an excellent year with settled staff and high attendee numbers. Revenue growth was high as a result of the extended early years funding for 2 year olds being introduced by the Government. We have been able to strengthen our financial position over the year.
We started two initiatives during the year. Firstly, the Board decided to change our governing status to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and this process is now underway.
Secondly it has become necessary to begin to consider the future of the premises from which we operate. Our latest Somerset Council property survey has highlighted the sustainability of the building is short term without substantial expenditure. As a result, discussions have taken place with our Landlord, Somerset Council, to consider options. One is a new building and a bid for financial support for this has been submitted to the Council funding department. The outcome should be known in Spring 2026.
Internally we have commenced our own fund raising by launching "The Big Step" to attract donations, grants and community monies via raffles and auctions. This is going well.
Derek Logan
Chair
STEPPING STONES PLAYGROUP
Registered Charity No. 1022365
Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | £ | £ |
| Receipts | ||
| Fees | 9,849 | 17,287 |
| Fees: Registrations | 350 | |
| Government Grants for 2, 3 and 4 year Olds | 95,436 | 66,992 |
| Fundraising | 1,805 | 708 |
| Donations | 17,390 | 3,850 |
| Interest Receivable | 450 | 304 |
| Total Receipts | 125,279 | 89,141 |
| Payments | ||
| Salaries/Sick Leave | 77,473 | 69,230 |
| Pension NEST | 3,646 | 1,711 |
| HMRC | 6,589 | |
| General Administration Expenses | 681 | |
| EYA Payslip Service | 432 | |
| Accounting Software (Intuit) | 330 | |
| Equipment/Activites/Consumables/Resources | 1,547 | |
| Consumables/Leavers/Presents | 2,053 | |
| Petty Cash Transfer | ||
| Activities/Resources | 1,133 | |
| Telephone/Utilities/Rates | 4,563 | |
| Utilities | 416 | |
| Phone/Broadband | 465 | |
| Insurance/Licences/Subscriptions | 1,101 | |
| Insurance | 688 | |
| Licences/DBS | 759 | |
| Repairs and Safety Checks | 2,022 | 874 |
| Advertising/Promotional | 116 | |
| Website/Email Hosting (IONOS) | 130 | |
| Training/Travel | 92 | 403 |
| AGM/BIG STEP | 152 | |
| Uniforms | 92 | 175 |
| Total Payments | 96,473 | 80,399 |
| Excess/(Shortfall) of Receipts over Payments | 28,806 | 8,742 |
| Balance at beginning of year | 45,104 | 36,362 |
| Total | 73,910 | 45,104 |
| Represented by: | ||
| Petty Cash at 31 August | 175 | 115.89 |
| High Interest Deposit Account at 31st August | 54,432 | |
| Bank Current Account at 31 August | 17,216 | 20,697.00 |
| Deposit Accounts at 31 August | 24,291.07 | |
| Deposit Account New Build at 31 August | 2,061 | |
| Deposit Account Redundancy at 31 August | 25 | |
| 73,910 | 45,104 |
Treasurer
==> picture [483 x 45] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Cs») =
| a | CHARITY COMMISSION independent examiner's report on the
hyJ FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts
----- End of picture text -----
SectionA
Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees ; Stepping Stones Playgroup Wells On accounts for the year Charity no sanded 2025 (if any) 1022365 Set out on pages | | report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/08/2025. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). , | report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and | am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e the accounts did 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.
| 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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Name: [VZC CHR/STOPHER STRAU GHAI Relevant professional qualification(s) or body
==> picture [2 x 21] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
|
----- End of picture text -----
IER
1
Oct 2018
(if any): | Address: |32 S+} MPRTM S LZAWE. MBEIH FIEZD WW/4¢ &6 2
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of | ) examinerany items wishes that theto | disclose. {
IER
2
Oct 2018