East the Water Stepping Stones Preschool Charity registration number-1022769 Ofsted Reg)stration number- EY443628 RegJstered office: Avon Road Bideford Devon EX394BL Trustees: Louise McNeil Lynette Mcpherson Rebecca Oatham Independent Examlner: Kieran Slocker Swift Accounting and Bookkeeping Services Ground FLoorthe Custom House The Strand Barnstaple EX311EU As of 31 August 2023, East the Water Stepping stones Preschool has three trustees. Louise Mcneil is the chair of twstee's and the Ofsted nominated person and the Manager Kellie FowLer is the Staff representative and also the Ofsted nominated person. The trustees meettwice a year, 1 meeting beingthe AGM, however information is regularly reviewed and shared verb8lly through phone conversations. Trustees are nominated andvoted for atthe Annual General Meeting. The objecttves of East the Water Stepping stones PreschooL 8re to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory School age byencouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of theirchildren through cornmunity groups and by offering appropriate play, education, care facilities and training courses together with the help of parents to take responsibilityto become Involved In the activities of such groups and ensuringthat such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race. culture, religion, means or ability, encouragingthe studyof the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest and recognition of such needs.
To identifyand assess specialeducational needs, and to make appropriate provision Instigating and adheringto furtheringthe aims and objects ofthe Pre-school LeamingAlliance. To ensure the safetyof the children in our care. To offerfullyflexible funded childcare to meetthe needs and requirements of our families. Constitution Eastthewatersteppingstones operates under a constitution, which governs and sets out the preschools purpose. structure and describes howwe operate. E8SttheWater Stepping Stones has adopted the constitution set out by the Earlyyears Alliance. Our structure includes Govem8nce (the committee of voluntarytrusteesl, Management (the preschool manager and deputy>. and Staff (preschool practitioners, 8pprentices and cleaning staffj. Voluntary Trustees (Committee) The charity is managed and controlled bythe Comrntttee. as charity trustees. The trustees ensure thatthe charity complies with the constitution and delivers Ihe overarchinggovemance of the preschool, sustains continuing support and engagement with man8gement, and initiates regular meetings and actions to meel regulatory requirements. The Committee can have a minimum of 3 and maximum of 12 members and is made up of parents of preschool children orcommunity members. Trustee recruitment is through public appealthrough the settingand discussed with new families to the preschool duringthe application process, to current parentslcarers and the local community, withvoluntary trustees Puttingforth their name and current committee members confirmingiheirappointment. All committee members are voluntarytrustees and no externalorthird party body appoints trustees. During the period of the TAR, no volunteers stepped dovm from the Commlttee. During the period of the TAR, no volunteers joined the committee Management and Staff The selting is managed bythe Preschool Manager8nd Deputy Manager. Managers and staff are responsible forthe deliveryoflhe child development and education aims ofthe preschool through 8 high-quality. enriching EYFS curriculum. experiences, and meeting of enrolled children's needs. The management and staff structure includes 8 qualified, full time individuals - this meets required adult-to-child ratios and ensures children are fulLy supported and provided with individualised care.
The tru8tees considerthat the objects of Eastthe Waterstepping Stones Preschool. as stated above, complywith the Charities and Public Benefit: Summaryguidance for Ch8rityTrustees {January2008}. The trustees unanimou51y agree thatthe requirement fordue regard to the Public Benefitguidance has been satisfied as governmentfunded places are av8i18ble to all children Durlngthe period Eastthe Waterstepping Stones Preschool had many achievementsto report on. The main achievements include: Pupil places have been high with mostsessions beingfuii. Staffing remains consistent and continues to be reviewed to ensure th8tthe setting is managed to EYFS standards. At the end of the period East the Waterstepping Stones Preschool had 10 employees workingdirectlywith the children12 qualified to level5. 5 staff qualified to LeveL3, 1 qualified to leveL2 and 2 apprentices working tQW8rds NVQ level 21. We have Increased our numberfor children aged 2 receiving both the working entitlementfundingand the disadvantage funding by closing our baby room before the reporting period began and repurposingthe room for 2yegr olds. The overall profile of Eastthewater Steppingstones Preschool remains high and provides a high-level service to the community. All policies have been reviewed and updated 8ccordingio the Pre-school LearningAlliance. We continue to maintain and improve the Preschool propertyto meet the needs of the children with a focus to our indoor promsion in the Butterfly room. updati ng furniture and specif ic play areas. All stsffcontinue to improve theirskills with reguiarcourse5 usingthe Noodle Now platform Duringtheyearthere were net incoming resources of £203.553 { 2022: £184,425) Duringthe yearthere were net outgoing payments of £203,65712022: £183,300). Devon Countycouncil funding received in relation to nursery hours attended totalled £163.64612022: £137,345) forthe year. Fees received duringthe yeardecreased from £44,081 in 2022 to £39,906 in 2023. Duringthe yearwages increased from £152.449 in 2022 to 2166,977.
To ensurefuture financial sustainabilityfor East thewater Stepping stones Preschool.
the Trustees have set a target aim to hold £35,OOOcash reserves which represent half a
term runningcosts.
Our plans forfuture periods include the following.
Tryingto do more fundraising activities such as bingo nights. sponsored mini run
for the kids and a organised fun daywiih outside vendors and st8Lis.
Re openingthe babyroom for when the fundingfrom 9 months old comes into
p(ace in September 2024with a possible extension
ExtendinE our opening hours and weeks we open.
Research grant fundingto repiacelpartially replace sectlons of the building.
Signed on behalf ofthe charitytrustees (Committee):
Print name:
P08ition: "TrL*&ec( f
End of ar Accounts 0110912022- 31106f2023 L85t year 31108/2022 Bo1 44.081.57, Fees 137,345.01, Early Years Funding 770.81,'SSP Grant 2,228.291 Other Last year 31108/2022 166,gTT.04". 152,449.50, 2,002.68, 3,178.46. 1.263.58 2.743.02., 2,778.21,, 1.294.511 12,654.44.: 6,315.93 8,572.17, 6.632.81'. 5,216.89, 600.00. 1,000.00, 2.592.51 '. 39,.99 Wages 163.fj46.17 Mmln O.LKJ ProfeonsI Serviceg o.rAI Telephone Resour¢es & Refreshments EquipmenL F[08 & FitknrwJs uorty CnIng suthies UnifoTh 1.472.30 184 425.68:. ,' Transfer to CA i From PC lo CA l From PC lo PA IFrom PA TO CA 203 553.16 203 657.52 183 300.T9 Transfer from CA From PC to CA From PC to PA From PA TO CA 184,425.68 203.553.16 203 657.52 183,300.79 Reconclllatlon8 BcM)ks On 01109121 -2.615.04 Bcx)ks open 01109r22 A(hJ Income 184,425.68 Pth Income Less ExF*nrfrture 183.300.79 Less Expenditwe Ac&Book closed at 31m8R2 Axc.Book c1058d at 3110&?3 -1,490.15 -1,490.15 203.553.18 203,657.52 Bank account 311081Z2 Cash in hand 31108t22 Loan Balance 2,855.71 Bank acUnt 31108r23 154.14 Cash har 31108 4.51Xt.IXI Loan Balanc -1,490.15 740.01 165.48 -2,500.00 -1,594.51 I have examInl the actx)unts of Sl¢ppitYJ Slonos PrSchC W1h b(v)ks and vw¢hers supptl8d to mo and believe them lo show a faw and true re ofthe group's ffinan as at 31108r23 &gnature'. Name & address of examiner Data Signature: Name (Chak of fknance) Date Z i+. Lk.I02S
CHARITY COMM15510 FOR ENGIAND ANO WALE Ea¥t The W•fèrSt8pplng Stollos PrnS¢hool 1022709 Receipts and pa ments accounts 31Ic2ry23 CC16a For th9 P9rlod from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcted Endowmè Total fund$ Last ttslho wr¢5t£ n•ar081e n94YB6t£ b)thè ng*rnSt£ A1 Reeèl ts 39.gQY 183,648 44.Q82 Egtty Ye&r8 Fur Otr 183.646 2,999 Su total( ross Incon for AR) 203,553 184426 A2 Asset and In¥tsnOnt salo8, 1899 lablg). Sub total 204563 184A A3Pa Wages Adm Professlonal Se T&Topho Resour(w & Rofreshmenls Equlpmenl, Fixtures & Fitbtpjs m&nts 16Q9TT ltsQ977 iooj 152hSQ 3,17B 2.743 1,295 6,318 6,813 5.928 2.T78 11654 £n8 dX654. 572 4217 C4tH5 &ppl Unwarni I,ooo 2A93 1,472 I7Cq) Sub tolal A4 Assèt and Investmgnt purchases, {$ee table) Loan Re ents 2,000 Sub total 18S,301 Net of recolpts/(payments) A5 Trantsférs b&twe¢n funds A8 Cash funds last year Cash funds thls year end 2,10 3,iklO 3,010 3.886 3,010
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund$ to n•mt£ R9strl¢ted fvnds to Iase£ Enijowment funds Cat•gorSes Dptsils to n04ro¥t£ Bl Cash funds 740 Total cash funds goF 0.1 Restrlctsd funds Unre5tr1cted fund$ EEKlowment fund$ to nBarg51 E Dtrtslls towhkh ot t*1 Curr•nt¥ak onal D¥tslt8 Co8tloptlonalJ Fun&to whl¢h a88el bolo CUrrrtv41 oro 14,36 Detsils Co8tlopl1 84 As$ets retalned for the charity's own u80 14571 Fund to lbI relats¥ iknT2Strit Al)untU0 Whon duo Detalls BS Uabllltles sIgn by one on bthalf ol dl the buste88 Dale of Print N Paae 2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A . Indepe.ndent ExamineV.s.Kewirt"_"--"" - Report lo the trugteesl members of East The Water Stepping Stoners Pre-school On accounts for the year ended 3110812023 Charfty no (if any) 1022769 Sot out on pages 1and2 I repjrt to the trustees on my examinatpw of the accounts of the abowe charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3110812023. Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of th6 Trust, you are respon5iblo for the preparation bas1$ of report of the accounts in accordan wilh ihe requirements of the Charibes Act 2011 Cthe A¢Y). I reKth in respeGt of my examination of the Trust'8 accounts carried oul under section 145 of the 2D11 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicab D1CtionS gtven by the Charily Commission under se(*on 14515)(b) of the Act. I have wnpleted my examination. I confirm that no matla1 matters have come to my attention in connection Yiilh the examination Ythich gives me use to believe thal in. any malerial respect: accwnting rerdS were not kept in accordan with sectlon 130 of theA(tc the accounts do not accord with the ac£ounting records Independent examIneS statsment I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection th the examination to which attention should b6 drawn in order to enable proper uThJerstanding of the accounts to b8 réached. Slgned." Date: Nan. Kieran Slocker Relevant professlonal qualificationls) or body (if any). Chartered Accountant ICAEW (5031515) Addross: Ground Floor, The Custom House. Th8 Strand, Bamstaple, EX311EU
Trustees: Louise McNeiL Rebecca Oatham Lynette Mcpherson We the trustees have reviewed our procedures and practices regardingthe preparation an and submission ofthe charity's annual reports and have agreed on the following action: An emergencyAGM meetingwiutake place on 28" April 2025tovote in 2 new Trustees Louise McNeilwill resign as Chairperson due beingunable tDfuiiy commit to the ontinued support and responsibilities ofthe position due to worklfamily commitments Rebecca Oatham will resign asTreasurerdueto ongoing mental health illness which impactsthe tiffte she can give lothe position. The manager Keltie Fowler has expressed herwishto become a trustee and is alreadythe nominated person and holds a EY2with Ofsted. She will be abieto manage the daily bookkeeping requirements. ensuring accounts are prepared, audited bythe accountantand submitted within the required time fr8me. A recruitmentdrive among parents to recruttlrustees and committee membèrs has provided some interest and newTrusteewill be appointed as Chairperson Lynette Mcpherson WILL step down as Secretary and will be nominated as the treasurer. Lynette Mcpherson witl update the trustee detailsand contact inform8tion on the charitycommission on 29 April 2025 Duetolhe timethe accountant has taken to preparethe previous 2 years accounts the revised board ofTrusteeswilLappoint a new accountant more local to the preschool. ThoA¢countsforyearending September 2024 will be submitted before the due date. Signed on behalf of the trustees Print Name Q&gecL(* C)E¥T t+A Date £4-' 4. loLS