**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1026965**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **FOR**
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
Segrave & Partners LLP Chartered Accountants Turnpike House 1208/1210 London Road Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 2UA
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||4||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||5||
|**Balance Sheet**||6||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|7|to|11|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|12|to|13|
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
Little Acorns operates under the Pre-school Learning Alliance Amended 2011 Constitution.
Our vision statement is:
"At Little Acorns we are committed to providing a happy, safe, stimulating and caring environment; where children's freedom of choice and their needs and achievements are recognised."
We aim to:
- Make the pre-school a welcome place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.
- Provide a secure environment in which all our children can flourish and in which all contributions are valued.
- Help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships with their families, with peers and with other adults.
- Encourage children to develop a sense of autonomy
- Provide an environment in which there is acceptable behaviour and where children learn to respect themselves, other people and their environment.
We believe that parents are children's first and most enduring educators. When parents and practitioners work together in early years settings, the results have a positive impact on children's development and learning.
We believe that children flourish best when they know how they are expected to behave and should be free to play and learn without fear of being hurt and unfairly restricted by anyone else.
We have regard for the DFES Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
We have regard for the Equality Act 2010.
We have regard for the Children, Schools and Families Act 2014.
We aim to make children, parents and staff aware of health and safety issues and to minimize the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.
We aim to bring all concerns about the running of our pre-school to a satisfactory conclusion for all of the parties involved.
## **Significant activities**
Each summer we provide a club that enables all children and parents the opportunity to enjoy the facilities of the pre-school, those who come do not have to be attending Little Acorns.
## **Public benefit**
We have regard for the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Page 1
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
Continuing our drive to be financially responsible we have again achieved a positive balance at the end of the year.
Forest school has continued at Belfairs Woods, running four mornings a week. Beach School was introduced at Leigh Beach one morning a week. These enhanced learning environments continue the great offering for the children to spend time outside. These have allowed Little Acorns as a setting to run outside all the time, no matter what the weather, be it in the Cabin of Pre-School, the Beach at Old Leigh or the woodland of Belfairs Woods. Little Acorns also offered three ad-hoc Forest School sessions at Belchamps. It was a great experience for the children and enabled an increase in the overall numbers of children accessing the outdoor learning provision.
We once again visited the summer trip at call of the wild and experienced many themed days throughout the year, also there was of course the Christmas panto.
There were a number of fundraising events throughout the year, raising a total of £2,407.97, the biggest fundraiser was the bunny bounce raising £1,186.40.
Little Acorns encouraged the interaction of parents / carers with the significant males / female day where important people in the kids' lives could come into the pre-school to see what they get up to. The evolvement with the children's parents / carers is an important part of the charity.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
We are pleased to report that Little Acorns financial position remains healthy and that the pre-school continues on a firm financial footing. At the year end, the pre-school had total reserves of £164,650 (2024: £128,217), of this amount £35,000 (2024: £35,000) has been designated for future contingencies, this leaves an unrestricted fund position of £129,650 (2024: £93,917).
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
**Registered Charity number** 1026965
## **Principal address**
The Cabin Barnard Road Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 3PH
## **Trustees**
Philip Read Louise Murphy (resigned 1.6.25) Chris Brettell (Treasurer) Emma Fettroll (resigned 1.11.25) Salina Ventress (resigned 5.5.25) Charlotte Jenkins (Chair) Jessica Joan Lucey-Wright Georgina Baker (appointed 13.10.25) Lorraine Scroope (appointed 19.6.25) Caitlin Hart Hart (appointed 7.5.25)
Page 2
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Independent Examiner**
Stephen Pearce ACA FCCA Segrave & Partners LLP Chartered Accountants Turnpike House 1208/1210 London Road Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 2UA
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 28 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
## Charlotte Jenkins (Apr 30, 2026 12:10:23 GMT+1)
Charlotte Jenkins (Chair) - Trustee
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Little Acorns Pre-School (Leigh on Sea)**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Little Acorns Pre-School (Leigh on Sea) (the Trust) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do 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.
I 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.
Stephen Pearce Stephen Pearce (Apr 30, 2026 12:11:40 GMT+1)
Stephen Pearce ACA FCCA
Segrave & Partners LLP Chartered Accountants Turnpike House 1208/1210 London Road Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 2UA
28 April 2026
Page 4
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
1,065
**Charitable activities**
Local authority funding
169,335
Fees - parents/vouchers
59,336
Other trading activities
2
2,408
Investment income
3
550
**Total**
232,694
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Expenditure on charitable activities
196,261
**NET INCOME**
36,433
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
93,217
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
129,650|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
35,000
35,000|2025
Total
funds
£
1,065
169,335
59,336
2,408
550
232,694
196,261
36,433
128,217
164,650|2024
Total
funds
£
988
147,496
40,747
2,182
506
191,919
181,468
10,451
117,766
128,217|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
7
331
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
133,960
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
8
(4,641)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
129,319
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
129,650
**NET ASSETS**
129,650
**FUNDS**
9
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
-
35,000
-
35,000
35,000
35,000|2025
Total
funds
£
331
168,960
(4,641)
164,319
164,650
164,650
129,650
35,000
164,650|2024
Total
funds
£
442
130,862
(3,087)
127,775
128,217
128,217
93,217
35,000
128,217|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 28 April 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
Charlotte Jenkins (Apr 30, 2026 12:10:23 GMT+1)
Charlotte Jenkins (Chair) - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Plant and machinery - 25% on reducing balance Fixtures and fittings - 25% on reducing balance Computer equipment - 25% on reducing balance
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
continued...
Page 7
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**|||
|---|---|---|
||2025|2024|
||£|£|
|Fundraising events|2,408|2,182|
|**INVESTMENT INCOME**|||
|Deposit account interest|2025
£
550|2024
£
506|
## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME**
## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
## **5. STAFF COSTS**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
## **6.**
|Nursery staff
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
988
**Charitable activities**
Local authority funding
147,496
Fees - parents/vouchers
40,747
Other trading activities
2,182
Investment income
506
**Total**
191,919
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Expenditure on charitable activities
181,468
**NET INCOME**
10,451
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
82,766|2025
10
Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
35,000|2024
11
Total
funds
£
988
147,496
40,747
2,182
506
191,919
181,468
10,451
117,766|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 8
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**6.**
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES -**
Unrestricted
fund
£
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
93,217
**7.**
**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
Fixtures
Plant and
and
machinery
fittings
£
£
**COST**
At 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025
2,580
13,604
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 September 2024
2,573
13,169
Charge for year
2
109
At 31 August 2025
2,575
13,278
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 August 2025
5
326
At 31 August 2024
7
435
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Social security and other taxes
Pension control
Accrued expenses
**9.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.9.24
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
93,217
**Restricted funds**
Contingency fund
35,000
**TOTAL FUNDS**
128,217|**continued**
Restricted
fund
£
35,000
Computer
equipment
£
705
705
-
705
-
-
2025
£
3,711
-
930
4,641
Net
movement
in funds
£
36,433
-
36,433|Total
funds
£
128,217
Totals
£
16,889
16,447
111
16,558
331
442
2024
£
1,671
516
900
3,087
At
31.8.25
£
129,650
35,000
164,650|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 9
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
232,694
**TOTAL FUNDS**
232,694
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
At 1.9.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
82,766
**Restricted funds**
Contingency fund
35,000
**TOTAL FUNDS**
117,766
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
191,919
**TOTAL FUNDS**
191,919|Resources
Movemen
expended
in funds
£
£
(196,261)
36,433
(196,261)
36,433
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.8.24
£
£
10,451
93,217
-
35,000
10,451
128,217
Resources
Movemen
expended
in funds
£
£
(181,468)
10,451
(181,468)
10,451|
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Contingency fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.9.23
£
82,766
35,000
117,766|Net
movement
in funds
£
46,884
-
46,884|At
31.8.25
£
129,650
35,000
164,650|
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 10
## **LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
424,613
424,613|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(377,729)
46,884
(377,729)
46,884|
|---|---|---|
## **10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Page 11
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA) DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Gift aid
**Other trading activities**
Fundraising events
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
**Charitable activities**
Local authority funding
Fees - parents/vouchers
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Salaries and staff costs
Pensions
Rent and insurance
Educational equipment
Nursery supplies
Uniforms and clothing
Training and recruitment
Sundry expenses and subscriptions
Travel and trip costs
**Support costs**
**Management**
Telephone and computer costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning, health and safety
Payroll fees
Plant and machinery depreciation
Fixtures and fittings depreciation
**Governance costs**
Accountancy fees|2025
£
300
765
1,065
2,408
550
169,335
59,336
228,671
232,694
170,698
2,968
4,399
4,357
2,066
518
1,627
1,781
1,143
189,557
1,832
421
891
1,705
814
2
109
5,774
930|2024
£
417
571
988
2,182
506
147,496
40,747
188,243
191,919
151,948
2,460
8,772
5,571
2,133
-
1,070
1,443
1,596
174,993
1,396
861
654
1,743
773
3
145
5,575
900|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12
**LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH ON SEA)**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Total resources expended
**Net income**|2025
£
196,261
36,433|2024
£
181,468
10,451|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13
## Little Acorns Pre-School - Final Accounts Y.E 31.08.2025
Final Audit Report
2026-04-30
Created: 2026-04-28 By: Stephen Pearce (stephen.pearce@segrave.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAwC2IowanGLhY4eFN6UXaKywQ0VdqFPUn
## "Little Acorns Pre-School - Final Accounts Y.E 31.08.2025" Histo ry
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## Document e-signed by Charlotte Jenkins (charlmj20@hotmail.co.uk)
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