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
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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 y￿r¥ FUNI
14016
Inl*e&ton S￿r
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¢
Re80￿ceS & RefTesknents
EqLIrAn￿ Flxiure5 &
UliNy
C'aanwd Swptias
Unlfomi
othbr
PArpjèTr￿I
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
n￿r•s1
Calauortes
Bl Cash funds
C88h kn H￿1
Total¢ash funds
20.593
UnrKtrfct•d R•ytrl¢t¢d Enth)wm•nt
funts
fur￿$
to nea￿518
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
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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 r￿lUIrementS of Charitses A(*
2011 {7he Acr).
I report in respeci of my examination of the TrL￿S ac￿￿nts 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 ex￿inatiOn. 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