## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date 01 09 2024 31 08 2025
**From**
**To**
## 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**
1
## **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**
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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)**
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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
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4
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**
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## **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**
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## **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 *)
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 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
2. 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
1
**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.)
2
**IER**
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
3
**IER**