Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston
Year Ended 31 July 2025
Treasurer's Report and Financial Statements
STEPPING STONES PRE SCHOOL CLIPSTON LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER
1023443
DATE OF REGISTRATION
12 July 1993
TRUSTEES
Andy Blake (Chairperson) Ellis Wheeler (Secretary) Louise Gowling (Treasurer) Danielle Nutley Katelyn Williams Lily Faulkner Sean Faulkner Sorrel Gray
GOVERNING DOCUMENT AND CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES
The charity acts in accordance with its constitution date 29 October 2014.
The objects of the charity are to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by:
Offering appropriate play, educations and care facilities, family learning and extend hours groups together with the rights of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, enduring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means or ability.
Encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local areas.
Instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objectives of the pre-school learning alliance.
MAIN ACTIVITY
The charity provides pre-school education to children.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The charity notes that it has a responsibility under the Charity Regulations which govern it to ensure that the public benefit from the activities of the charity.
Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston ensures that it meets these requirements but ensuring that applications for places at the school are made available to all families in the local community.
CONTACT NAME AND ADDRESS
Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston
High Street
Clipston
Market Harborough
Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025
TREASURERS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Stepping Stones Pre School has had another busy year, and although children numbers have remained the same as last year the setting made a deficit for the year of £9,768 (FY2024: surplus £1,612).
The setting has continued to benefit significantly this year from the steps taken in the previous years to maximise income for the setting and proactively manage the cost base to ensure that the staffing levels are appropriate and sustainable for the number of children attending the setting and the cost base challenged and discretionary spend minimised.
The following specific receipts and payments are of note:
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Fee and funding income in total for the year was £81,931, £7,091 higher than in the previous year (FY2024:£74,840)
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Fundraising and donations generated £8,067 (FY2024:£8,892), a successful Christmas wreath making event, Summer Raffle and fundraising at the clipston festival in the financial period has helped with keeping the fundraising similar over the last two years. Voluntary contributions have decreased significantly due to the economic climate.
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In 2025 we received a grant from Kelmarsh Windfarm Community Benefit Grant of £3,726, this has been used to purchase new Forest School Equipment and new Equipment for the setting (FY2024:£NIL).
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We received bank interest on our High Interest account which has raised £1,943 this year (FY2024: £1,599).
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Staff costs have increased compared to the prior year at £74,361 (FY2024:£70,379). There was a significant increase in minimum wage from April 2025, we elected to give the staff a payrise to show our appreciation of their continued support.
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From 1 September 2024 the revised rent from the Primary School came in to effect, therefore the rent costs for the year (2025:£14,538) were significantly higher than that of the previous year (£,1650). This is the main contribution to the deficit durig the year.
The cash balance at 31 July 2025 was £56,342 (FY2024:£66,231). This is approximately £14,098 higher than the cash we are required to hold under our Reserves Policy.
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The petty cash balance at 31 July 2025 was £226 (FY2024:£105).
The forecast for next year anticipates a higher number of children attending the setting to the current year as we start with nearly the same number of children as to when we closed for the Summer. To ensure the ongoing financial viability of Stepping Stones, the challenge remains to optimise attendance levels at the setting, proactively manage staff and overhead costs and maximise the opportunities for fundraising.
Stepping Stones Pre School is a break even organisation and we do heavily rely on all voluntary contributions, fundraising and donations to keep Stepping Stones Pre School to continue to be run as successfully as it can and provide a much needed provision in our wonderful community.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STEPPING STONES PRE-SCHOOL
CLIPSTON
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stepping Stones Pre-School Clipston for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of the report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenst 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 bv the Charitv Comminssion under section 145(5}(b) of the act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | 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:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the
Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with those records.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examintaion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understaning of the accounts to be reached.
Carolyn Bland
3 Chestnut Grove
Clipston
Market Harborough Leics LE16 9RH
Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025
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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| RECEIPTS | |||||||
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||||
| Fees and funding: | |||||||
| Northants CountyCouncil | 70,151 | 61,606 | |||||
| Fees reunfunded children | 11,780 | 13,234 | |||||
| 81,931 | 74,840 | ||||||
| Fundraising | 3,973 | 3,966 | |||||
| Donations, matched givingand giftaid | 4,094 | 4,926 | |||||
| Bank interest | 1,943 | 1,599 | |||||
| Otherincome | - | 352 | |||||
| 10,010 | 10,843 | ||||||
| TOTALUNRESTRICTED RECEIPTS | 91,941 | 85,683 | |||||
| Restricted Funds | |||||||
| Grants received | 3,826 | - | |||||
| TOTAL RESTRICTED RECEIPTS | 3,826 | - | |||||
| TOTALRECEIPTSFORTHEYEAR | 95,767 | 85,683 | |||||
| PAYMENTS | |||||||
| Unrectricted Funds | |||||||
| Wages, bonusesand national insurance | 74,361 | 70,379 | |||||
| Stafftrainingandcoursefees | 1,249 | 303 | |||||
| Telephone | 4113 | 964 | |||||
| Rent | 14,528 | 1,650 | |||||
| Fees, subscriptions and memberships | 959 | 859 | |||||
| Insurance | 806 | 645 | |||||
| Resourcesand equipment | 2,213 | 2,158 | |||||
| Printing, postageand stationery | 221 | 32 | |||||
| Marketingand advertising | 347 | 440 | |||||
| Accountancy fees - payroll | 380 | 694 | |||||
| Furniture, housekeepingand maintenance | 5,085 | 4,472 | |||||
| Snacks | 656 | 878 | |||||
| Miscellaneous purchases | 149 | 590 | |||||
| TOTALUNRESTRICTEDPAYMENTS | 102,067 | 84,064 | |||||
| Restricted funds | |||||||
| Grantexpenditure | 3,468 | - | |||||
| TOTAL RESTRICTEDPAYMENTS | 3,468 | - | |||||
| TOTALPAYMENTSFORTHEYEAR | 105,535 | 84,064 | |||||
| EXCESSOFPAYMENTS OVERRECEIPTSFORTHEYEAR | YEAR | - | 9,768 | 1,619 | |||
| Funding Split: | |||||||
| ____Unrectricted Funds—__ | pus | aans | - | _10,126— | SESS | 619 | |
| Restricted funds | 358 | = | |||||
| - | 9,768 | 1,619 |
Stepping Stones Pre School Clipston Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025
| STATEMENTOFASSESTSAND LIABILITIESAT31JULY 2025 | STATEMENTOFASSESTSAND LIABILITIESAT31JULY 2025 | JULY 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| CASH FUNDS | |||||
| Bank currentaccount | 12,800 | 24,632 | |||
| High Interestaccount | 43,542 | 41,599 | |||
| Pettycash | 226 | 105 | |||
| 56,568 | 66,336 | ||||
| DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN FUNDS | |||||
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||
| Opening balance | 65,834 | 64,215 | |||
| Excess receipts overpaymentsforthe year | - | 10,126 | 1,619 | ||
| Transferfrom restricted funds | 502 | ||||
| Closing balance | 56,210 | 65,834 | |||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Opening balance | 502 | 502 | |||
| Excess receipts over paymentsforthe year | 358 | - | |||
| Transferto unrestricted funds | - | 502 | |||
| Closing balance | 358 | 502 | |||
| 56,568 | 66,336 |