Benger Bears Pre-school
Financial Accounts
Financial Year Ended 31[st] August 2025
Contents
Trustees Report .....................................................................................................................................1 Independent Examiner’s Report.............................................................................................................6 Receipt and Payments Account..............................................................................................................7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities.........................................................................................................8
Trustees Report
Benger Bears Pre-School
| Charity Name | Benger Bears Pre-School |
| Registered Charity Number | 1029641 |
| Principal Address | The Village Hall |
| Sutton Benger | |
| Chippenham | |
| Wiltshire | |
| SN15 4RP |
Management Committee
The Pre-School is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and is managed by an elected management committee governed by a constitution adopted from the Pre-School Learning Alliance. Members are elected annually.
Trustees of the Committee during the period 1 September 2024 until the date of signing the report were:
| Jemma Garland | (Chairperson) | Appointed 18th November 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Parkinson | (Treasurer) | Appointed 30th September 2014 |
| Katy Spencer | (Secretary) | Appointed 18th November 2021, Resigned 11thJune 2026 |
| Courtney Abel-Grainger | Appointed 17th September 2024, Resigned 5th May 2026 | |
| Lucie Blystad-Collins | Appointed 17th September 2024, Resigned 5th October 2025 | |
| Sarah Perrett | Appointed 17th September 2024, Resigned 5th October 2025 | |
| Alison Flynn | Appointed 5 May 2026 | |
| Kaylie Oliver-Branton | Appointed 5 October 2025 |
1
Structure, Governance and Management
The Pre-school is governed by a Constitution. The Constitution provides guidance to the Management Committee (the “Committee”), in respect of both the formation of the Committee and also how the Committee should be governed. The Constitution was initially adopted by the Committee on 07/09/1993 and was amended on 22/02/2012.
The overall management and control of the Pre-school rests with the individual members of the Committee. As well as being responsible for the management of the Pre-school the Committee members are also the charity trustees of the Preschool. The minimum number of Committee members shall be 5 and the maximum shall be 12, together with up to a further 3 co-opted members.
The Committee members shall be elected for one year at the Annual General Meeting. Retiring Committee members are eligible for re-election unless they have already served on the Committee in any capacity for ten consecutive years. All Committee members will have one vote each at Committee meetings. In the event of a tie the Chair of the Committee has a second or casting vote. A quorum for Committee meetings is not less than half the Committee, including any two of the Officers.
At the Annual General Meeting the prospective new elected members of the Committee will be those candidates receiving the highest number of votes from the Members, up to a maximum of 12 elected Committee members in total. At the first Committee meeting following the Annual General Meeting at which the newly elected members of the Committee are elected they shall choose from amongst their number the members who will act as Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
The Constitution states, that the Committee shall hold at least 2 Committee meetings each year unless the Committee shall decide by simple majority to hold a further meeting or meetings. The Committee aims to meet more regularly than this, usually between 6 and 12 weeks.
The Pre-school shall in each calendar year hold a general meeting as its Annual General Meeting, in addition to any other general meetings in that year and shall specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it. The Annual General Meeting in each year shall be held at such time and place as the Committee shall decide. All General Meetings other than the Annual General Meeting shall be Extraordinary General Meetings. Each Annual General Meeting will be chaired by the Chair or in his/her absence another member of the Committee.
Objectives and Activities
The aims of the Pre-school are to enhance the development and education of children 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, education and care facilities, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of the pre-school, ensuring that we 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; and
-
Instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objects of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
2
The Pre-School is set in the rural village community of Sutton Benger. It is located in the village hall and the children make use of both the inside and outside space as well as using the local woods for forest school. The village hall is next to the primary school and links with the school are positive; with the majority of those attending the pre-school transitioning to this school. The Pre-School is well regarded in the community many of whom are alumni parents.
The Pre-School is open from 9am to 3pm four days of the week, offering flexible sessions to enable people to use their Nursery Education Grant. One day of the week has been reserved for ‘Polar Bears’ (children starting school the following academic year). The pre-school has a total daily capacity of 24 children on current statutory guidance.
The Pre-school provides high quality, affordable and accessible childcare to children aged between 2 and 5, in a safe and supportive environment. We work in partnership with parents in the provision of this childcare. Benger Bears values each child’s individuality in a caring, stimulating and nurturing environment. Children are inspired to learn through play to reach their full potential.
The Committee have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake during the year.
Achievements and Performance
Child numbers
During the year, the pre-school experienced a small drop in numbers of children attending the setting due to a reduction in the birth rate locally, when compared to 2024. This has resulted in a deficit in the year funded by the surplus retained when the setting had higher numbers in the previous year.
Financial
During the Financial year, the Pre-school has made a net deficit of £2,236 (2024 surplus: £7,332). This was due to an increase in child numbers for 2024 which impacted revenue received.
Fee income receipts totalled £59,752 (2024: £72,949). The decrease is due to a decreased number of children attending the setting. The Committee and staff fundraised during the year raising £509 (2024: £381) and received a donation of £1,000 which funded activities and equipment for the children.
Total costs have remained consistent with the prior year, being £63,937 (2024: £66,346).
Designated funds
The Pre-school holds reserves, which are classified as designated funds to cover potential future costs of closure, to support the pre-school where we incur a short-term fall in child numbers, and to cover any other unforeseen costs. The largest component of this is redundancy payments. The policy includes a detailed calculation for redundancy costs to support the monetary value of reserves held. During the year, our review of reserves has indicated that it would be prudent to hold reserves of £18,000. The pre-school reserves are ring fenced in the CAF Reserves bank account at the end of the year.
The committee is confident that the pre-school has sufficient funds to meet its obligations for the foreseeable future.
3
Advisors
| Bank | CAF Bank | 25 Kings Hill Avenue |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Hill | ||
| West Malling | ||
| Kent | ||
| ME19 4JQ | ||
| Independent Examiner | Janette Collier-Marsh FCA | Collier-Marsh Accountancy |
| Old Coach House | ||
| Seagry Road | ||
| Sutton Benger | ||
| Wiltshire | ||
| SN15 4RX |
4
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Benger Bears Pre-school
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025, which are set out on pages 1 to 7.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Janette Collier-Marsh FCA Collier-Marsh Accountancy Old Coach House, Seagry Road Sutton Benger Wiltshire SN15 4RX
16 June 2026
5
Receipts and Payments Account
| Receipts Revenue Fundraising Interest/Investment income Total Receipts Payments Advertising Bank charges Children’s Activities Consumables DBS Checks Equipment Fundraising costs Insurance Office Costs Professional Fees Registration Fees Rent Salaries Software Welfare and training Total Payments Net (loss)/gain |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ 59,752 1,509 440 61,701 113 60 1,263 517 72 285 94 608 572 370 85 9,106 49,875 615 304 63,937 (2,236) |
Total Funds 2024 £ 72,949 381 348 |
|---|---|---|
| 73,678 | ||
| 132 60 1,080 131 78 72 55 877 599 576 98 9,041 52,813 511 270 |
||
| 66,346 7,332 |
6
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Bank and Cash Accounts CAF Current CAF Reserves Petty Cash Total Bank and Cash Other Monetary Assets Prepayments/Other debtors Total Other Monetary Assets Other Monetary Liabilities Fees received in advance Accruals Total Monetary Liabilities |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total £ £ £ 6,488 - 6,488 20,205 - 20,205 60 - 60 26,752 - 26,752 307 - 307 307 - 307 14 - 14 1,293 - 1,293 1,307 - 1,307 |
2024 £ 14,529 15,103 - 29,632 - - - 1,642 1,696 |
|---|---|---|
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Anna Parkinson
Anna Parkinson (Treasurer)
7