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← Arden Grove Pre-School

2025-08-31-accounts

ARDEN GROVE PRESCHOOL

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 20245

The committee presents its report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: Arden Grove Preschool Charity registration number: 1037079 Operational address: Cottinghams Drive Hellesdon Norwich Norfolk NR6 6QA

Trustees (Committee)

Emma Hawes Connie Gooch Hayley Thompson

Chairperson Secretary Treasurer

Debbie Moore Mel Turmaine Sonya Turmaine

Supervisor of Pre School

E Stevens

Bankers

Natwest

Independent Examiner

L Douglass 96 Drayton Wood Road Norwich NR6 5BZ

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Arden Grove Preschool was established in January 1994 at Arden Grove Infant School and was registered as a charity on 28[th] April 1994 and is governed by a constitution adopted on the 15[th] Day of May 2008

Recruitment and Appointment of Committee Members

At least 60% of the committee, including co-opted members, must be parents or guardians of children in the Preschool. In the event that 60% cannot be achieved, then affiliate members may be elected. The committee members are elected for a period of one year at the annual general meeting. Retiring committee members are eligible for re-election unless they have already served as a committee member for 10 consecutive years.

The committee members were all elected at the AGM in Autumn Term 2024.

Committee Members Induction and Training

New committee members are encouraged to read the charity’s constitution, the last financial statements of the charity and the Charity Commission guidance, CC3, ‘The Essential Trustee’.

Risk Management

The committee have reviewed and identified the risks that the Pre School faces and have systems to monitor and control these risks to mitigate any impact they may have on the Preschool in the future. These systems are reviewed on a regular basis.

Organisational Structure

The charity has a committee consisting of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and not less than 4 nor more than 9 elected members. If the committee so decides, it may have not more than 3 members co-opted by the committee. At least two-thirds of the committee members shall at the time of election be parents or guardians of children in the Pre School. The committee meets half termly and the day to day running of the Pre School rests with the Pre School Supervisor, as assisted by 5 members of staff.

Objectives and Activities

The charity’s objects are to enhance the development and education of children below compulsory school age by providing safe and satisfying play, in which the parents have the right to take part and encouraging other charitable activities through which parents may help the children.

Achievements and Performance

We continue to be a thriving Pre School. We are fortunate to have a strong established, management committee and generally are well resourced.

Staff continue to undertake vocational training in Early Years and also in their areas of responsibility. We are linking more with Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School’s Foundation Stage team to further improve transitions for children moving on to nursery and reception classes. We continue to work with outside agencies to support our children’s wellbeing and individual needs.

The pressures around our finances continue, with further successive increases to the minimum wage compounded by insufficient government funding and overall increase in our costs.

Our fundraising efforts are to raise enough money for us to purchase new equipment.

Public Benefit

The Pre School is open to all children, without any catchment area, nationality, religious or other restriction, from when they are two years and three months old until they are able to enter infant school. Early Years funding is available for all children from the term following their third birthday. 2 year old funded place are available to those families meeting the criteria.

Financial Review

There was a net increase in general funds of £2,868.09

There was a decrease in the designated fundraising fund of £9.15

Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the committee to maintain general funds at a level that equates to three months resources expended, a figure of approximately £16,600. This provides sufficient funds to cover salaries and other costs incurred in the event of a temporary reduction in fee or other income.

Free reserves in the general fund at the year-end amounted to £21,622.26

Designated funds resulting from parental fundraising amounting to £4,985.54 are held in the fundraising fund to provide new equipment during each school year.

Plans for the Future

We are continuing to improve our outside area. We have installed some bench seating and planters to create a restful, sensory space for children and adults.

We are glad to be able to welcome back students and young adults who wish to train in Early Years. Our apprentices are in their second years and we will mentor through to their awards. We also work with City College to offer placements to students wishing to enter the Early Years workforce.

Approved by the Committee on and signed on its behalf by:

E Hawes

Chair of Committee.

Arden Grove Pre-School

Income and Expenditure Account

For the Year Ended
Notes
Income:
Fees
NCC Funding
Fundraising
Milk Refunds
Interest
Donations
Apprenticeship
Expenditure:
Staff Wages
Rent
Repairs & Renewals
Fruit/Milk - Sundries
Consumables
Equipment
Insurance
Memberships/Subscriptions
Accountancy Fees
Staff Training
Other Staff Costs
Admin/Office supplies
Fundraising Costs
Excess/(shortfall) of income over expenditure
Bank Balance B/Fwd
Petty Cash
Bank Balance C/Fwd
Petty Cash
Represented by:
Current A/C - 08842159
Fundraising A/C -68354657
Reserve A/C - 69897433
Petty Cash as at 31/08		 31/08/2025
31/08/2024
£
£
6071.81
17045.00
60902.59
38010.47
1177.75
2584.36
186.45
198.45
304.41
371.15
32.00
1000.00
500.00
0.00
69175.01
59209.43
56674.41
51312.77
1820.00
2730.00
60.00
0.00
1316.34
1110.04
682.00
625.59
1556.59
2003.72
890.52
852.99
425.00
470.40
990.00
1040.00
178.50
700.00
478.20
0.00
1235.36
1464.01
0.00
21.53
66306.92
62331.05
2868.09
-3121.62
26402.59
29524.21
0.00
0.00
26402.59
29524.21
29270.68
26402.59
0.00
0.00
29270.68
26402.59
2662.88
1383.12
4985.54
4994.69
21622.26
20024.78
0.00
0.00
29270.68
26402.59		 Variance
£
10973.19
-22892.12
1406.61
12.00
66.74
968.00
-500.00
-9965.58
-5361.64
910.00
-60.00
-206.30
-56.41
447.13
-37.53
45.40
50.00
521.50
-478.20
228.65
21.53
-3975.87

Accounts Independently checked by: Lacey Douglass

Date: 13/09/2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ARDEN GROVE PRESCHOOL

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

I report on the accounts of Arden Grove Pre-School for the year ended 31 August 2025

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 under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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:

Have not been met; or

Lacey Douglass

96 Drayton Wood Road Hellesdon Norwich NR6 5BZ

13[th] September 2025

1

Financial Report for Year to 31[st] August 2025

A return to a surplus for the preschool of £2,868.09

Changes to funding for working parents has lead to an almost doubling of funded income but this has resulted in a decline in fee income. As Government funding for 2 year olds is higher than the fee paying hourly rate, the preschool has benefitted from the funding changes.

The 3-4 year old funding rate remains underfunded on the cost of delivering places but a widescale review of early years funding nationally is proposed in the next financial year.

Wages remain the largest cost for the preschool and these increased slightly due to higher hourly rates but this was mitigated by a natural reduction in overall staff numbers. Recruitment remains challenging across the sector.

The current account holds £2,662.88 to meet the day to day running costs of the pre-school.

The reserve account holds £21,622.26. The pre-school should hold enough reserves to cover at least 3 months expenditure (£16,600.00) and the amount held in the reserve account is just sufficient for this purpose should the preschool encounter financial difficulties in the future.

The fundraising total was £1177.75, a decrease of £1,406.61 on the previous year. The fundraising account holds £4,985.54 at the end of the financial year.

An external bookkeeping service was retained by the committee for payroll, monthly accounts, budgets and year end accounts. While this is a cost to the pre-school, the benefits for the committee have been wide ranging.

Lacey Douglass

Bookkeeper

13[th] September 2025

2