Charity number: 1027104
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
UNAUDITED ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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 |
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATNE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| 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 2025
The Trustees present their annual report together with the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
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:
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(a) Providing safe and satisfying group play, in which parents have the right to take part; and
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(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 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.
Achievements and performance
a. Review of activities
The 2024–25 financial year has been another successful period for Acorn Preschool. Demand for places remains strong, with enquiry levels and occupancy continuing to perform well, consistent with previous years. During the year, the Preschool underwent an Ofsted inspection. Management and the Committee were delighted that the setting was awarded an overall rating of ‘Good’, reflecting the continued dedication and hard work of the staff team.
The Committee set a fundraising target of £1,000 for the year and is pleased to report that £929 was raised through a combination of staff efforts and the generous support of parents and families. This included £533 from the Autumn Scavenger Hunt and £396 from the Easter Hopathon. The Committee continues to explore additional fundraising opportunities for the future.
We also continue to invite voluntary donations from parents alongside their termly invoice payments. During the year, these contributions generated a further £70 of income. In addition, the Preschool received three government incentive payments totalling £1,500 in recognition of employing apprentices.
Page 2
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Occupancy levels have been relatively consistent over the last couple of years with a break down as follows:
September 2023 (88%) September 2024 (78%) September 2025 (75%) January 2023 (97%) January 2024 (97%) January 2025 (87%) April 2023 (97%) April 2024 (102%) April 2025 (97%) Financial review
a. Financial position
Total receipts for the year amounted to £167,441 (2024: £160,118) against overall payments of £143,955 (2024: £157,791). Staff costs including gross salaries, social security and employers pension contributions amounted to £118,230 (2024: £131,738), representing 82.1% of payments (2024: 83.0%).
During the year, it was identified that the charity had not been correctly claiming employment allowance for the past 2-3 years. The overall impact of this was £10,676 and this was credited to Employers NI costs in the Receipts and Payments Accounts.
The charity also received SEN funding of £8,325 during the year (2024: £5,582).
b. Reserves policy
Total funds at 31 August 2025 amounted to £104,463 (2024: £80,977) 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.
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.
Page 3
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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:
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Changes by the government to the early years funding formula
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Retention of staff
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Non-payment by parents for paid places
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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 2025 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 the 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 2025
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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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: 30 June 2026
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 2025
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025 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:
Peadar Langan CIMA
Date: 30 June 2026
Page 6
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| 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 RECEIPTS CASH FUNDS B/FWD CASH FUNDS C/FWD |
2025 Unrestricted Funds £ 2025 Total Funds £ 2024 Total Funds £ 33,636 90,330 33,636 90,330 19,794 104,031 17,300 17,300 15,733 13,288 13,288 13,490 2,387 1,206 929 40 8,325 167,441 2,387 1,206 929 40 8,325 167,441 795 209 347 137 5,582 160,118 137 - 137 - 1,457 - 1,752 1,752 1,521 1,044 1,044 1,222 66 1,926 125 (4,828) 6,641 - 86 1,028 35 1,970 1,722 43 805 752 3,788 121,336 274 900 271 331 567 3,184 66 1,926 125 (4,828) 6,641 - 86 1,028 35 1,970 1,722 43 805 752 3,788 121,336 274 900 271 331 567 3,184 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 3,525 143,955 143,955 157,791 23,486 23,486 2,327 80,977 80,977 78,650 |
|---|---|
| 104,463 104,463 80,977 |
Page 7
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
REGISTERED NUMBER: 1027104
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025
| CASH FUNDS Reserve account Current account Total cash funds Total funds |
2025 2025 £ £ Unrestricted Funds Total funds 37,467 37,467 66,996 66,996 104,463 104,463 104,463 104,463 |
2024 £ Total Funds (Unrestricted) 36,803 44,174 80,977 80,977 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Mr A Roberts Chair Date: 30 June 2026
Mr J King Treasurer
Page 8
ACORN PRESCHOOL (DUSSINDALE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. Transactions with Trustees
The trustees are not entitled to and received no remuneration from the charity during the period.
Page 9