Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From September 2024 Period start date To August 2025 Period end date
Charity name: Hermitage Pre School Playgroup
Charity registration number:1031844
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To enhance the development and education of children primarily under the statutory school age, by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by (a) by offering appropriate play , education and care facilities , family learning and extended hours groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups. Ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race , culture, religion or means of ability. (b) encouraging the student of such needs of such children and their families promoting public interest and recognition of such need in the local area. (c) instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objectives of the pre school learning alliance |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
During the year, the pre-school continued to provide high-quality early years education and care for children aged 2 to 5 years], in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The pre-school operates with the primary aim of advancing education and promoting the development of young children for the public benefit. Key activities include: Delivering a structured and stimulating learning environment that supports children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Offering inclusive childcare services accessible to all |
| families, including those from disadvantaged or low-income backgrounds. Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with tailored learning plans and additional resources where needed. Engaging parents and carers through regular communication, workshops, and involvement in activities to support children’s learning and development at home. Maintaining strong safeguarding practices to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all children. These activities align with the charity’s objectives and have been delivered with due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit when exercising their duties and making decisions. In particular, they have considered how the charity’s activities contribute to its aims and objectives for the public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Over the past year, the charity has continued to deliver high-quality early years education and care, positively impacting the development and well- being of the children in our community. Our work has made a significant difference in the lives of our beneficiaries through the following achievements: Educational and Developmental Progress: Children attending the pre-school have made measurable progress in key areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage, including communication and language, personal and social development, and early literacy and numeracy skills. Inclusive Support: We have successfully supported children from diverse backgrounds, including those with additional needs, ensuring equal access to learning opportunities and early intervention support. Community Engagement and Fundraising: A major highlight of the year was our whole- community fundraising event, Hermitage Easter Trail and the return of the Halloween party which this year we held at the local primary school to further strengthen our community commitment This event not only raised valuable funds for the pre- school but also brought together families, staff, and local residents to celebrate and support early education. Children actively took part in their own sponsored activities during the event, developing a sense of participation, achievement, and responsibility. Positive Social Impact: Events likeHermitage Easter Trail have strengthened our ties with the local community and fostered a spirit of inclusion and collaboration. They have also raised awareness of the importance of early years education and the role our charity plays in supporting young children and their families. Through these activities, the charity has fulfilled its objectives and created |
meaningful public benefit by improving the circumstances of young children and contributing to a more connected and supportive community.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
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|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The trustees have established a policy for holding reserves to ensure the financial stability and sustainability of the pre-school. Reserves are held to provide a contingency fund that allows the charity to manage unforeseen fluctuations in income or changes in pupil numbers, which can significantly affect funding levels. In particular, the reserves are maintained to: Provide a buffer against periods of low enrolment, which can reduce fee and funding income; Help manage delays or reductions in government funding or grants; Support continuity of provision in the event of short-term financial challenges; Enable the pre-school to respond to ongoing challenges in the early years sector, including rising costs, recruitment issues, and increasing demands for support services. The level of reserves is reviewed annually by the trustees to ensure it remains appropriate to the size, structure, and financial risks facing the charity. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | 18000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | the trustees recognise that ongoing financial pressures exist across the early years sector. Funding rates received for funded childcare places do not always increase in line with rising operating costs, particularly staffing expenses, employer costs and premises costs such as rent. Whilst child numbers and income projections remain positive for the coming year, the trustees acknowledge that maintaining financial sustainability requires careful monitoring of expenditure and regular review of fee levels and operating costs. The trustees will continue to actively manage resources to ensure costs remain proportionate to income and that |
the charity can continue to provide highquality early years education and care to local families. At present, the trustees are not aware of any material uncertainty that would cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Community Engagement and Fundraising: A major highlight of the year was our whole- community fundraising event, Hermitage Easter Trail and the return of the Halloween party which this year we held at the local primary school to further strengthen our community commitment This event not only raised valuable funds for the pre- school but also brought together families, staff, and local residents to celebrate and support early education. Children actively took part in their own sponsored activities during the event, developing a sense of participation, achievement, and responsibility. Positive Social Impact: Events likeHermitage Easter Trail have strengthened our ties with the local community and fostered a spirit of inclusion and collaboration. They have also raised awareness of the importance of early years education and the role our charity plays in supporting young children and their families. Through these activities, the charity has fulfilled its objectives and created meaningful public benefit by improving the circumstances of young children and contributing to a more connected and supportive community. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy |
Para 1.46 |
| adopted | ||
|---|---|---|
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 29th January 1981 and amended in October 2011, based on the model constitution provided by the Pre-school Learning Alliance (now known as Early Years Alliance). The charity is registered with the Charity Commission as a charitable organisation under charity number 1031844. The constitution sets out the charity’s objectives, which are to advance the education of children below statutory school age by providing safe, high- quality, and stimulating early years education and care. It also outlines the responsibilities and powers of the trustees and the procedures for governance and decision-making. The trustees are responsible for the overall strategic direction and financial oversight of the charity, ensuring it is managed in accordance with its charitable purposes and complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. All income is used solely to further the aims of the charity for the public benefit. |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 29th January 1981 and amended in October 2011, based on the model constitution provided by the Pre-school Learning Alliance (now known as Early Years Alliance |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | In accordance with the charity’s constitution (as adopted on 29th January 1981 and amended in October 2011 under the Pre-school Learning Alliance model), trustees are elected by the charity’s members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). All parents, carers, and members of the pre-school community are eligible to become members of the charity and may stand for election as trustees, subject to eligibility criteria set out in the constitution and charity law. The election process is democratic, with nominations sought prior to the AGM and votes cast by attending members. The constitution also allows for the |
trustees to co-opt additional members to the committee where appropriate, for example, to fill vacancies or to bring in specific skills, provided the number of co-opted members does not exceed the limits set out in the governing document. Trustees serve for a fixed term as outlined in the constitution and may be re-elected at subsequent AGMs. All trustees receive an induction and are supported to understand their responsibilities under charity law and within the context of early years provision.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
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|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Hermitage Pre School Playgroup |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1031844 |
| Charity’s principal address | Hermitage Village Hall. Pinewood Crescent, Hermitage RG18 9WL |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie Munir | Chairperson | Whole Year | ||
| Fiona Sparks | Secretary | Whole Year | ||
| Sarah Stroud | Treasurer | Whole Year | ||
| Hannah Mcintosh | Whole Year | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Natalie Munir Position (eg Secretary, Chairperson Chair, etc) Date 31/05/2026
Hermitage Pre School Playgroup 1031844 Reciepts and Payments account for the year end 31 August 2025
| Account description | 1 Sep 24 - 31 Aug 25 |
1 Sep 23 - 31 Aug 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reciepts Fees 8,080 9,571 West Berks Funding 102,968 69,503 Fundraising 1,107 2,511 PARISH COUNCIL GRANT 500 0 Donation 50 0 Other income 27 Interest 189 181 |
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| Total Sales 112,921 81,766 |
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| Payments consumables 4,566 2,405 Training 656 95 Fundrasing 498 485 Equipment 408 0 Subscriptions 885 729 HP INK 164 270 MOBILE PHONE 60 60 Staff 68,661 59,324 Other Deductions (524) 0 Rent & Rates 13,624 13,165 Computer & Software 1,462 1,464 Insurance 1,004 855 Repairs and renewals 0 121 Bad debt 0 326 General expenses 459 838 |
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| Total Overheads 91,923 80,137 |
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| Net Profit /(Loss) 20,998 1,629 |
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| Hermitage Pre School Playgroup 1031844 statement of assets and liabilites as at August 31 2025 | |||
| Account description | 31 Aug 25 YTD | 31 Aug 24 YTD | |
| Assets | |||
| Cash Funds Current 45,546.00 29,989.00 Deposit Account 18,419.00 18,231.00 Cash in Hand 176.00 300.00 |
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| 64,141.00 48,520.00 |
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| Sales invoices not paid 2,664.00 679.00 |
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| Total Current Assets 66,805.00 49,199.00 |
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| 66,805.00 49,199.00 Current Liabilities HMRC 345.00 Pension 207.00 |
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| Total Net Assets 66,253.00 49,199.00 |
The trustees declare that they have approved the Receipts and Payments account for the year ended 31 August 2025 and the Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 August 2025
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Name: Natalie Munir Position: Chair Person Date: 31/05/2026