**Charity number: 1027104** ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** UNAUDITED ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## CONTENTS ||Page| |---|---| |Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers|1| |Trustees' Report|2 - 5| |Independent Examiner’s Report|6| |Receipts and Payments Accounts|7| |Statement of Assets|8| |Notes to the Accounts|9| |Appendix – AGM meeting minutesand monthly financial report|| ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATNE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 |**Trustees**|Mr A Roberts, Chair| |---|---| ||Mr J King, Treasurer| ||Ms N Webb, Secretary| |**Charity registered**|
1027104| |**number**|| |**Contact address**|Dussindale Primary School
Vane Close| ||Norwich| ||NR7 0US| |**Independent**
**examiner**|Peadar Langan CIMA| Page 1 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 The Trustees present their annual report together with the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2024. ## **Objectives and activities** ## **a. Policies and objectives** The objects of Acorn Preschool (Dussindale) as set out in its governing document are to advance the education of children below compulsory school age in Norwich, by: - (a) Providing safe and satisfying group play, in which parents have the right to take part; and - (b) Encouraging other charitable activities through which parents may help the children. Set up in 1977, Acorn Preschool is a community based registered charity run by a committee of parents. Although we are situated within Dussindale Primary School, we are an independent preschool with our own entrance and facilities including indoor and outdoor play areas. ## **b. Activities undertaken to achieve objectives** As a pre-schooler, your child will be at the first stage of learning and our activities reflect this, based on the government framework the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This covers seven areas of development and aims to give children a range of experiences to help them develop the right skills and attitudes for later learning. At Acorn Preschool we offer a warm, stimulating environment for your child, led by a friendly, professional team who are passionate about what they do. Every child is treated as an individual with differing needs and encouraged to develop at their own pace. Our aim is to create a positive partnership with you and your child so that by the time they leave us your little one is happy, confident and ready to move on. Every child is different and we believe they should be allowed to flourish in their own way. We have a team of 7 practitioners who look after the children plus a committee of parents who are responsible for the management of the preschool. Our children are aged from 2 years to 4 years 11 months and all of them love fresh air and messy mitts! Our outdoor play area and indoor activities give them everything they need to fill their day with fun. The breakdown of our staffing is: Zoe Cramer (Level 6), Bev Newstead (Level 3), Janine Myhill (Level 3), Gemma Pendrill (Level 3), Katrina Robinson (Level 3), Chloe Morton (Apprentice working to Level 3) and Evie Wones (Apprentice working to Level 3). ## **Achievements and performance** ## **a. Review of activities** 2023-24 has been another challenging but successful year at Acorn Preschool. We continue to receive enquiries and occupancy levels remain strong. Following the year end, the Preschool received its inspection from Ofsted, and management and the committee were delighted with the overall ‘Good’ rating. Page 2 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) ## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 We were thankful to be able to return to our normal fundraising calendar this year following a couple of more restricted years during the pandemic. ● We raised £347 for the Autumn Scavenger Hunt which was the only fundraising event to take place during this financial year. We continue to ask parents for donations when paying their termly invoices across and last year, their generosity brought in an additional £112. During the year we received £795 comprised of donations given through parents as well as one government payment of £500 which is an incentive payment from Government/City College Norwich for hiring an apprentice. With the funds we did raise we were able to buy some new books for setting; children’s gifts for Christmas presents as well as the food and crafts for the last week of term Christmas activities. Occupancy levels have been relatively consistent over the last couple of years with a break down as follows: |September 2022 (87%)|September 2023 (88%)|September 2024 (78%)| |---|---|---| |January 2022 (94%)|January 2023 (97%)|January 2024 (97%)| |April 2022 (99%)|April 2023 (97%)|April 2024 (102%)| ## **Financial review** ## a. Financial position Total receipts for the year amounted to £160,118 (2023: £148,544) against overall payments of £157,791 (2023: £142,284). Staff costs including gross salaries, social security and employers pension contributions amounted to £131,738 (2023: £123,395), representing 83.0% of payments (2023: 86.7%). The charity also received SEN funding of £5,582 during the year (2023: £12,396). ## **b. Reserves policy** Total funds at 31 August 2024 amounted to £80,977 (2023: £78,650) and the charity held no restricted funds in either year. The Trustees have examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the association. Trustees have established a policy that the charity’s free cash reserves should represent sufficient capital to mitigate a significant unforeseen event or irrecoverable drop in funding as well as discharging all financial and contractual liabilities. The policy agreed is to maintain free reserves of at least 3 months of nonstaff related expenditure plus contractual redundancy costs which amounts to approximately £40,000. Page 3 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) ## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 The charity continues to meet its reserves target, though Trustees are mindful that recent inflation particularly in relation to staff costs have increased pressure on the model which will continue to be monitored going forwards. ## **c. Principal risks and uncertainties** Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks which the charity is exposed to and to ensure proper controls are in place to mitigate those risks. Trustees determine the principal risks to the charity to be: - Changes by the government to the early years funding formula - Retention of staff - Non-payment by parents for paid places - Consistency and longevity of the preschool committee ## **d. Principal sources of funding** The charity’s principal source of funds in the financial year ended 31 August 2024 was in relation to 2, 3 & 4 year old funding from Norfolk County Council. The preschool also receives income from 3 hour paid sessions, the lunch club and an allocation of SEN funding which are summarised on the following pages. ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **a. Constitution** The charity is registered with the Charity Commission (charity no. 1027104). Acorn Preschool (Dussindale) is a charity governed by a constitution dated 5 October 1993, as amended 7 December 2020, which established the objects and powers of the organisation and its trustees. ## **b. Organisational structure and decision making** The charity is governed by a committee of Trustees which meets every two months and are responsible for overseeing the operations of the charity in accordance with its stated charitable objects. All trustees must be approved by Ofsted. The preschool Manager is responsible to Trustees for both the day to day operations of the charity and its development. ## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; Page 4 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) ## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 - observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP; - make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by: **Mr A Roberts, Chair** **Mr J King, Treasurer** Date: 26 June 2025 Page 5 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE) ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 1 to 9. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the Trustees of the charity 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 charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records 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. > Signed: ?Loosge~ Peadar Langan CIMA > Date: 27/06/2025 Page 6 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** |**RECEIPTS**
2 Year Old Funding
3 & 4 Year Old Funding
3 Hour Sessions
Lunch club
Donations and other income
EYPP
Fundraising
Late Collection Charge
SEN Funding
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
**PAYMENTS**
Advertising and marketing
Agency staff
Arts and Crafts Materials
Audit and accountancy fees
Bank fees
Consumables for the setting
Educational Visits
Employers NI
Equipment for the business
Fundraising expenses
General expenses
Insurance
IT Software and Consumables
Memberships and subscriptions
Pensions costs
Postage, freight and courier
Printing and stationery
Professional services
Rent
Salaries
Staff consumables
Staff training
Staff uniform
Telephone and internet
Toys, books, equipment and electrical items
VAT
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**NET (PAYMENTS)/RECEIPTS**
**CASH FUNDS B/FWD**
**CASH FUNDS C/FWD**|**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
**2023**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
19,794
104,031
19,794
104,031
19,454
85,079
15,733
15,733
16,325
13,490
13,490
13,632
795
209
347
137
5,582
**160,118**
795
209
347
137
5,582
**160,118**
1,016
346
216
80
12,396
**148,544**
1,457
-
1,457
-
1,300
-
1,521
1,521
1,293
1,222
1,222
2,060
64
1,842
215
4,224
5,070
44
176
990
458
815
2,061
51
971
1,194
3,788
125,453
177
375
549
312
1,237
3,525
64
1,842
215
4,224
5,070
44
176
990
458
815
2,061
51
971
1,194
3,788
125,453
177
375
549
312
1,237
3,525
65
2,266
203
2,993
170
13
192
-
595
2,219
1,925
62
372
263
3,790
118,477
130
485
138
280
852
2,141
**157,791 157,791**
**142,284**
2,327
2,327
6,260
78,650
78,650
72,390| |---|---| ||80,977
80,977
78,650| Page 7 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** ## **REGISTERED NUMBER: 1027104** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024** ||**2024**|**2024**|**2023**| |---|---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**|**£**| ||Unrestricted||| ||Funds|Total funds|Total funds| |**CASH FUNDS**|||| |Reserve account|36,803|36,803|36,154| |Current account|44,174|44,174|42,496| |**Total cash funds**|80,977|80,977|78,650| ||||| |**Total funds**|80,977|80,977|78,650| The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: **Mr A Roberts** Chair **Mr J King** Treasurer Date: 26 June 2025 Page 8 ## **ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** **1. Transactions with Trustees** The trustees are not entitled to and received no remuneration from the charity during the period. Page 9