2025-08-31-accounts - Willaston Pre-School

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 09 2024 31 08 2025

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1035488

Willaston Pre-school

Formerly Willaston Playgroup

Charity's principal address St John’s Methodist Church Hall

Wybunbury Road Willaston, Nantwich, Cheshire Postcode CW5 7JF

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Christine Taylor Chair
2 Ruth Chesters Treasurer
Alexis Hesketh Secretary Resigned 20 November
3
2025
4 Rachel Bridgett Vice-Chair
5 Molly Mannion
6 Jacqueline Piaf
7 Duncan Bevan
8 Lucinda Hoskin From 20 November 2025
9 Alice Niemczyk From 20 November 2025
10 Abigail Bevan
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
----- End of picture text -----

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

March 2012

TAR

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser	Name	Address




Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

Trust

(eg. trust, association, company)

Elected by parents of children at the Pre-school at Annual General Trustee selection methods Meeting

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

To enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by:

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

a) 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,

March 2012

TAR

means of ability;

b) 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;
c) instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objects of the Early Years Learning Alliance.

Willaston Pre-school offers education and care for children below school age and over the age of 2 with:

A specially tailored curriculum leading to the early goals
Individual care and attention made possible by a high ratio of adults to children
The support of a personal key worker
Opportunities for the child and their family to be directly involved, in the activities of the group and their own child’s progress.

The Pre-school is registered with the local Children and Families Service which supports the aim of providing education and care of high quality throughout the Foundation Stage. It is open during term time on Monday to Friday offering full day care from 7.30am–5.30pm with the option of full days or sessional care. All morning and afternoon sessions are planned to ensure that they provide the children with access to the seven areas of Summary of the main activities undertaken for the learning as defined by the Early Years Foundation Stage. public benefit in relation to The management and control of the Pre-school is the responsibility of the these objects (include within individual members of the Pre-school’s management committee. The this section the statutory declaration that trustees have Committee members are also the charity trustees of the Pre-school. New Committee members (trustees) are elected as needed at the Annual had regard to the guidance General Meeting; advice is sought from the Early Years Learning Alliance issued by the Charity when needed to clarify the role of the trustees or for more general Commission on public information. benefit)

The trustees annually review the risks that the charity faces. To date these risks relate to the increasing SEN demand in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, employment of staff, and the provision of childcare; these risks are minimised by observing government guidance, robust policies and procedures and the provision of adequate insurance. The trustees have had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission and are working to ensure the pre-school continues to meet the aim of advancing education for the public benefit. We ensure that fees are set so as to enable the pre-school to just cover our costs over a 3-year period.

The trustees operate the pre-school in line with the Pre-school Learning Alliance Model Pre-school Constitution 2011 version. The trustees intend to continue to review the level of service provision and all policies and procedures will be reviewed and updated as necessary annually.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

March 2012

TAR

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

March 2012

TAR

Section D Achievements and performance During this financial period the pre-school has been able to offer the Summary of the main opportunity of development and education for over 35 children under achievements of the charity statutory school age who live in the Willaston area, including Nantwich during the year and Crewe. We have offered appropriate education and care facilities and encouraged parents to become involved with the Pre-school. We have enhanced our offer through all weather provision provided by a selffunded canopy. We have also often taken the children offsite, including a visit to the library on the bus, visits to a local care home and Willaston Hall– all of which helps our children with understanding the world. We have increased our staff to meet demand, and accessed Level 5 training for our deputy plus taken on another apprentice. We ensure appropriate learning is able to take place whatever the level of need and to keep all children safe. We have accessed SEN funding where possible. Fundraising has resumed with continually generous donations from parents.

March 2012

TAR

Section E Financial review

Sufficient reserves are retained in order to fund redundancies and similar Brief statement of the costs in the event of closure. Further, a training reserve and repairs charity’s policy on reserves reserve are maintained in order to smooth out infrequent but expensive costs.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Chris Taylor

Full name(s) Chris Taylor

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc)

Date 3 June 2025

March 2012

TAR

Willaston Pre-school

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31[ST] AUGUST 2025

Willaston Pre-school

PROFIT AND LOSS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] AUGUST 2025

INCOME Sessional and extra hours fees Enrichment activities Lunch club Hot lunches Snack fee Cheshire East free funding entitlement SEND funding Early Years Premium Fundraising and donations Milk Sweatshirts Interest EXPENDITURE Wages Pension contributions Rent Toys and equipment Early Years Premium spend Milk Children’s snacks, hot lunches and consumables Enrichment activities Training and course fees Registration fees Insurance and EYA Advertising Postage and stationery Telephone and broadband Repairs and renewals Staff uniforms Sweatshirts to resell Accountancy DBS checks Miscellaneous (DEFICIT)/SURPLUS	2025 £ 31,854.57 - - 6,187.41 3,148.81 113,184.01 30,942.80 1,736.40 _ 187,054.00 3,657.37 891.69 30.00 517.59 _ 192,150.65 136,784,75 7,016.78 15,020.85 618.84 2,319.96 895.49 4,312.60 - 259.36 508.08 893.44 390.00 366.76 1,190.54 540.77 510.47 - 362.55 299.57 572.13 __ 172,862.94 19,287.71	2024 £ 22,640.91 1,500.50 3,062.56 3,435.00 3,094.33 112,648.06 25,107.90 1,380.60 ___ 172,869.86 646.63 548.47 89.00 231.68 __ 174,385.64	2024 £ 22,640.91 1,500.50 3,062.56 3,435.00 3,094.33 112,648.06 25,107.90 1,380.60 ___ 172,869.86 646.63 548.47 89.00 231.68 __ 174,385.64
		_ 131,272.15 6,278.83 12,990.70 423.08 402.15 901.14 3,427.40 82.56 248.80 492.00 719.33 911.56 389.94 684.81 1,160.44 - 184.17 314.85 202.00 452.59 _ 161,538.50
			12,847.14

Willaston Pre-school

BALANCE SHEET AT 31[ST] AUGUST 2025

BANK AND CASH Current account Savings accounts Cash in hand RESERVES Restricted reserves Redundancy reserve Repairs and renewals reserve Contingency reserve Training reserve Unrestricted reserves Opening balance Surplus/(Deficit) Transfer (to)/from redundancy reserve	£ 22,536.48 19,287.71 (4,209.00)	2025 £ 12,401.06 55,868.40 8.74 _ 68,278.20 26,663.01 750.00 1,500.00 1,750.00 _ 30,663.01 37,615.19 _ 68,278.20	2024 £ 26,624.96 22,350.81 14.72 __ 48,990.49
			22,454.01 750.00 1,500.00 1,750.00 _ 26,454.01 9,969.04 12,847.14 (279.70) _ 48,990.49

NOTE When taking into account funded places actually relating to this year, the real	NOTE When taking into account funded places actually relating to this year, the real
surplus is £21,309.79, created by good occupancy, increased capacity, controlled costs and
most of all the dedication of our staff. This surplus (including the	Expansion Grant) has
been earmarked for a 10m x 8m canopy to be installed in October 2025. We are also
grateful to the Zochonis Charitable Trust for their very generous	donation of £1,400
towards the costs of our triennial first aid courses.
	£
Surplus as above	19,287.71
Funded places relating to y/e 31 Aug 2025 received in Aug 2024	22,163.30
Funded places relating to y/e 31 Aug 2026 received in Aug 2025	(19,581.87)
EYPP brought forward	1,000.01
EYPP carried forward	(416.45)
Cheshire East Expansion Grant carried forward	(1,142.91)
Surplus	21,309.79

Accounts independently examined by N A Hooper, MAAT, 6 February 2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Willaston Pre-school members of

On accounts for the year 31[st] August 2025 Charity no 1035488 ended (if any) Set out on pages 2 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

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 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed. [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of AAT.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement 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 the 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 In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement (other than that disclosed below *)

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 Charities Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 06/02/2026 Signed: Nicola Hooper

IER

Name: NICOLA HOOPER

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

FMAAT

Address: 21 CHERRY TREE CLOSE EXETER DEVON EX4 5AT

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.(E.g. accounting records have not been kept in accordance with s132 of the Charities’ Act 2011 and those accounts do not comply with the requirements of the 2008 Regulations setting out the form and content of charity accounts; any material expenditure or action which appears not to be in accordance with the trusts of the charity; any failure to be provided with information and explanations by any past or present trustee, officer or employee; and any material consistency between the accounts and the trustees’ annual report.)

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

IER