East the Water Steppingstones Preschool Charity registration number- 1022769 Ofsted Registration number- EY443628 Registered off ice: Avon Road Bideford Devon EX394BL Trustee5: Lynette Mcpherson Chrisopher Bissett Suzie Legg Independent Examiner. Kieran Slocker Swift Accounting and Bookkeeping SeNces Ground Floorthe Custom House The Strand Bamstaple EX311EU As of 31 August 2025, East the Water Stepping stones Preschool has three trustees. Lynette Mcpherson is the chair of trustee's and the Ofsted nominated person and the Manager Kellie Fowier is the Staff representative and also the Ofsted nominated person. The trustees meet twice a year, 1 meeting beingthe AGM, however information is regularLy reviewed and shared verbaiiythraugh phone conversations. Trustees are nominated and voted for atthe Annual General Meeting. The objectives of Eastthe Water Steppingstones Preschool are to enhance the developmentand education of children primarily under statutory school age byencouraging parents to understand and promdefor the needs of their children through communitygroups and by offeringappropriate play. education, care facilities and trainingcourses together with the help of parents totake responsibilityto become Involved In the activities of such groups and ensuringthat such groups offer opportunities for all children whatevertheir race, culture, religion, means orability, encouraging the studyof the needs af such children and theirfamilies and promoting public interest and recognition of such needs.
To identify and assess special educationalneeds, and to make appropriate provision Instigating and adheiingto furtheringthe aims and objects of the Pre-school Learning Alliance. To ensure the 8afetyofthe children in ourcare. To offerfullyflexible fijnded childcare to meetthe needs and requirements of our families. Constttution Eastthe Waterstepping Stones operates undera constitution. which governs and sets out the preschools purpose, structure and describes how we operate. East the Water Stepping Stones has adopted the constitution set out by the Preschool Piaygroups Association. Our structure includes Govemance (the committee of voluntarytrustees), Management (the preschool manager and deputy). and Staff (preschool practitioners. apprentices and cleaningst8ffl. Voluntary Trustees (Committee) The charity is managed and controlled bythe Comrnittee. as charitytrustees. The trustees ensure that the charity complies with the constitution and delivers the overarchinggovemance ofthe preschool. sustains continuing support and engagement with management. and initiates regular meetings and actionsto meet regulatory requirements. The Committee can have a minimum of 3 and maximum of 12 members and is made up of parents of preschool children or¢ommunity members. Trustee recruitment is through public appealthrough the settingand discussed with newfamilies to the preschoolduringthe application process, to current parentslc8rers and the local community. with voluntarytrustees puttingforth their name and current committee members confirmingtheir appointment. All committee members arevoluntarytrustees 8nd no extemal orthird party body appoints trustees. During the period of the TAR 2 volunteers stepped down from the Committee. During the period of the TAR. 2 volunteers joined the committee Management and Staff The settingis managed bythe Preschool Managerand Deputy Manager. Managers and staff are responsible forthe deliveryofthe child developrnenl and education aims oflhe preschoolthrough 8 high-quality, enriching EYFS curriculum, experiences, and meeting of enrolled children's needs. The management and staff structure includes 11 qualified, 2 apprentices workingtowards NVQ level 2 and 1 unqualified in fulland part time
positions - this meets required adult-to-chiid ratios and ensures children are fully supported and provided with individualised care. The trustees consider thal the Dbjects of East the Water Stepping Stones Preschool, as stated above, complywith the Charities and Public Benefit: Summary guidance for CharityTrustees Ilanuary2008). The trustees unanimously agree thatthe requirementfordue regard to the Public Benefit guidance has been satisfied as governmentfunded places are available to all children During the period East the Watersteppingstones Preschoolhad manyachievements to report on. The main achievements include: Pupil places continue to be high with most sessions beingfull. Slaffing remains consistentand conlinues to be reviewed to ensurethat the setting is managed tD EYFS standards. At the end of the period East the Water Steppingstones Preschool had 14 employeesworking directly with the children11qualified to level 5. 8 staff qu81ified to level 3, 2 qualified to level 2 and 2 gpprenlices working towards NVQ level 21 and 1 unqualified member of staff With the introduction of the government free 15 hoursfundingforworking parents forchildren starting at 9 monthswe rcopened our baby room providing 6 spaces a d8ywhich was fully booked when opened in Seplember 2024 We had 8 higher numberof2 yrold children reg4stered forSeptember2024start date receiving both the workingentitLementfundingand the 2yrold funding entitlement. Due to demand we increased ouropening hours to 8am-6pm Mondey- Friday and for 50 weeks of the year, including opening bank holidays. The preschool closes for 2weeks over the Christmas period. This allowed for parents to choose the stretched modeloffunding. The overall profile of Eastthewatersteppingstones Preschool remains high and provides a high-levelservice to the community. Allpolicies have been reviewed and Ltpd8ted accordingtothe Pre-school LearningAlliance. We continue to maintain and improve the Preschool propertyto meet the needs ofthe childrenwith a focusto our indoor provision in the Caterpillar room Iforour 2yr olds} and the refurbishment ofthe baby roomfor reopeningseptember2024. updating furniture and specific play areas. All staff continue to improve their skills with Tegular courses usingthe Noodle Nowplarform
Duringthe yearthere were net incomingresources of£ 328,41012024: £211,924) Duringthe yearthere were netoutgoing payments of £317.964 {2024: £201.1071 Devon Countycouncilfundingreceived in relationto nursery hours attended totalled 2264659.8312024." £172.232) for the year. Fees re¢etved during theyearincreased from £31,097 in 2024to £49,424. During the year wages increased from £174.980 in 2024 to £282.522. To ensure future financialsustainabilityfor EasttheWaterSteppingStone8 Preschool, the Tru8tees have sel a target aim to hoLd £55,000 cash reseNes which represent half a term running costs. Our plans forfuture periods incLudethe follovring. Tryingto do more fundraisingactivities such as bingo nights. sponsored mini run forthe knds and a organised fun daywith outsidevendors and stalls. Refurbish our outdoor provision piayarea ft)rthe babyand 2yr old children's areas with undercover shelter and level and install newastroturf. Research grant fundingto replacelpartially replace sections ofthe building. Offer2 more apprentice positions for school leavers Signed on behalf ofthe charitytrustees (Committee): Print name: LMfuSt)FH2P fgi3SL>Tr Positloll.. T¢ts¥P6LLR- Dale: /06/ts>Z6
Laslyp 49.424.86 Wg• 204.659. Adr 14.018.TrJ Pfd0561crfI Sgr 0.11) Tote( 9.70 Re$rAnE8s & R&frestkm8n 6Ai6.Tg ::.¥-' 967.09 £':,'035mi 5,17121 F,2$0 5.1W.86 =,,Y,a15.9't 6.16CAI. 4,kn.09 Findraknh B.27..1.,.1's3.2tr BthtyTll '924.frf' 10.19 8oL&8 opan OIW24 9.222.37 328,410.19 214.W.14 Inwme )1.10726 Ls &pènthJrp B¥nk4(xnt 314 C88h IA IWKI 3111W24 Sa¥hJs A01 31W24 L(w W3124 >SA1 Bankfjcts) 311 39521 Ch In 31108r25 4.44225 ngsAr¢ount3l1os12s .1.52$. Balarto 31126 19.&J1.84 65.53 1.(Y26.91 86B.2B aThJ be9¥$ thqn rword tsn¢e8 ab at 311o&r2U25 2 t/¥l/2.2{ Nome ICh4rofhMKo1 2q/d&/2oZS
CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND AND WALE 1022769 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forth• prfod 01KW2024 To 31108r2025 Section A Receipts and payments Restrlcted fund¥ Endowment funds Total funds Lastyear A1 Rocalpts 31.098 In232 8,456 134 24 Ead yr¥ FUNI 14016 Inle&ton Sr FuDIEaL¥ln 10 Sub totsl(Grthss inGvn ARJ 321.410 A2 Asgot and lnvgo1m• 1•, (see tab). Loans Ptovlded soo Sub to(al 500 328.910 321 216,M9 282.S22 2A22 7.OS4 6A.17 967 &171 410t ts.IGo 174.981 5251 AdtFdn Profe8EkThl Ssrvk% TBl¥hM¢ Re80ceS & RefTesknents EqLIrAn Flxiure5 & UliNy C'aanwd Swptias Unlfomi othbr PArpjèTrI 417 &171 4101 160 5.250 4276 4,268 416 1.053 1,500 Sub total 317,904 317,961 A4 Asset and Invosbnont pur¢hase8, l¥eetsble) Loan yments Sub total 4.00
t¢.964 207,"107 Net of recelpts/(paymonts) A5TransfeM bètween funds A6 Ca$h funds last year end Cash funds th1$ ywond 9,946 1I747 20.693 905 20,693 10.747
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period UnTastrided Réstrlcted fund$ Endowment funds nr•s1 Calauortes Bl Cash funds C88h kn H1 Total¢ash funds 20.593 UnrKtrfct•d R•ytrl¢t¢d Enth)wm•nt funts fur$ to nea518 to nearqs1£ Fund*0 0gtall¥ C(&t{opknall onal CurF•ntvalu• na D&tals as8•t b6 B4 Assets rotalned forthe charlV$ own usé P4nOU on4 IAhaTr d DeLIlls B5 Llabllltles Swed tyone orfyyo f Dale of
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlnerfs Report Report to tho trustee81 mèmbeTS of East The Vvater Stewng SÉoners Pre-S¢hool On accounts for the year ended 3110812025 Charity no lrfany) 1022769 Set out on pages 1and2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the a¢counts of the above charity rthe Trusf) lor the year ended 3110812025. R¢sponslbllitle8 and As the ¢haiity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparatlon basls of rap¢)rt of the a¢xounts in accor11ance vith the rlUIrementS of Charitses A( 2011 {7he Acr). I report in respeci of my examination of the TrLS acnts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carylng out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have compleled my exinatiOn. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which grves me cause to believe that in, any material respec. accountirwj records were not kept In accor(lance wth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examln•rf8 ststemont I have no nceM$ and have come auoss no other matters in connectlon vrith the examination to which attention should be drawn in Order to enable a proper undér5tsnding rfthe %counts to be re*hed. 27K Namo: Kieran Stocker Relevant professlonal quallllcatlonlsl or body (If any): Chartered Accountant ICAEW (5031515> Addrvs: Ground Flwr. The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, EX31 1 EU