Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Charity number 1037861
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 4 |
| Examiner's report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Statement of cash flows | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts | 9 to 14 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 August 2025
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates Emma Szyczak Secretary Sarah Hey Treasurer Carly Durrans Kimberley Szyczak Samantha Pearson Charity number 1037861 Registered in England and Wales Registered and principal address Bankers Christ Church Centre Lightcliffe Unity Trust Bank Leeds Road Nine Brindley Place Lightcliffe Birmingham Halifax B1 2HB HX3 8NU
Independent examiner
Katy Sargeant ACA
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 27 October 1993, amended on 2 April 2007 and 18 January 2012.
The Setting Manager (Sam Pearson) undertakes day to day management of the setting and the building.
All major decisions, operational or financial, are discussed, agreed and minuted by charity trustees on a half-termly basis. Day to day decisions taken by the setting manager or by senior leadership team with approval by the manager.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.
A volunteers policy operates in conjunction with Safer Recruitment Policy. All new trustees receive copy of Constitution, Trustees Handbook and sign Confidentiality Agreement and Committee Member Pledge.
Arrangements for setting pay and remuneration of the charity's key management personnel
Salary banding undertaken, with levels set dependent on level of qualification and responsibility. Managers role is salaried rather than hourly pay, benchmarked against similar management roles within the area with an uplift to include additional responsibilities of managing the building as well as the setting, and being on-call. Charity trustees, excluding affected parties, discuss and agree pay levels.
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2025
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
To enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups.
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, means or 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 Pre-school Learning Alliance.
The charity's main activities
To provide for children aged 2 to 5 pre-school education and an after school club.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular raising the standard of education for local children.
Achievements and performance
We have continued to grow and expand the setting, including increasing the size and capacity of our baby room to meet community demands. We have welcomed more families into our setting and therefore have also increased our workforce accordingly. We have made several further improvements to the building, including replacement of washroom facilities, roof repairs, door and window replacements and upgraded security protection measures. We have hosted several successful fundraising events including raffles, Christmas fair, end of term performances. We continue to host a weekly stay and play toddler group, open to all members of the community, and continue to rent out our hall space to a local martial arts group.
Plans for future periods
Further expansion to allow us to offer more baby room places to meet community demand. This is to be achieved by carrying out improvements and refurbishment to areas of the building which are not currently in use.
Increased flexibility offered to parents with the offer of hot meal provision at lunchtimes rather than having to bring own packed lunches.
Increased use of external providers to offer a more varied programme of activities (particularly during holiday club sessions) and increased hands-on curriculum activities that are not available in-house (e.g. visiting animals etc).
On-going upgrades to improve the general upkeep, security and energy efficiency of the building (replacement of single glazed windows, improvement to heating systems).
Financial review
The net income for the year was £31,213, including net income of £28,943 on unrestricted funds and net income of £2,270 on restricted funds.
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2025
Principal risks facing the charity
Uncertainties include lower birth rate years, when children intake levels may drop; families choosing other settings; government childcare funding levels insufficient to cover overheads; difficulties with staff recruitment to meet demand.
Risks are mitigated by: benchmarking fees to remain competitive against other local provisions; close monitoring of occupancy levels, with advertising to fill spaces if required; attention to staff welfare and wellbeing. Close monitoring of budget, tracking actual expenditure against forecast to allow adjustments to be made where necessary, for example if fee increases are necessary, if resource expenditure must be limited within scope of fundraising income.
Reserves policy
The charity's total reserves were £348,531, of which £3,759 relates to restricted funds. Within the remaining funds, £399,167 was the value of tangible fixed assets. This leaves net liabilties of £54,395, however, when we exclude long term liabilities relating to the mortgage on the property, there is £175,051 as unrestricted working capital, which is effectively the free reserves.
The financial security of Early Years@Lightcliffe is important, therefore money will be kept in reserve for unforeseen circumstances. We aim to maintain a level of reserves to assist us if income falls below expected levels or to assist our recovery should we encounter a business disaster.
We need reserves in order to:
Meet redundancy liabilities should the pre-school have to close.
Ensure there are sufficient cash reserves in the current account to cover day to day running costs for a period of one month, with an aim to increase this to three months.
Ensure continuity of service provision by:
Meeting unexpected costs such as cover for illness or maternity leave, etc.
Covering running costs during periods of lower income (e.g. while adjusting to policy changes or following falls in fundraising).
Replace equipment as it wears out and carry out necessary building upgrades/maintenance.
Based on the above we have calculated that our reserves should be between £68,000 and £141,000. The trustees recognised the reserves at year end exceeded the upper range stated in the policy due to building up funds to allow building works/renovations to increase number of baby room places and to improve provision.
Approved by the board of trustees on 17/06/26
Sarah Hey (Trustee)
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Early Years @ Lightcliffe
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 14.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the charitable company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a fellow of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a fellow of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Katy Sargeant ACA
22/06/26
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Statement of Financial Activities
(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Notes 2025 Unrestricted funds £ Income from: Donations and legacies (2) 1,453 Charitable activities (3) 268,953 Bank interest 1,121 Total income 271,527 Expenditure on: Raising funds (4) 686 Charitable activities (5) 241,898 Total expenditure 242,584 Net income / (expenditure) 28,943 Fund balances brought forward 315,829 Fund balances carried forward (6) 344,772 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 255,515 - - 255,515 - 253,245 253,245 2,270 1,489 3,759 |
2025 Total funds £ 256,968 268,953 1,121 527,042 686 495,143 495,829 31,213 317,318 348,531 |
2024 Total funds £ 185,704 263,480 1,162 450,346 246 406,690 406,936 43,410 273,908 317,318 |
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Balance sheet
| as at 31 August 2025 2025 Unrestricted £ Fixed assets Tangible assets (7) 399,167 Total fixed assets 399,167 Current assets Debtors and prepayments (8) 12,102 Cash at bank 250,612 Total current assets 262,714 Current liabilities: amounts falling due within one year Creditors and accruals (9) 87,663 Total current liabilities 87,663 Net current assets / (liabilities) 175,051 Total assets less current liabilities 574,218 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year (10) 229,446 Net assets 344,772 Funds Unrestricted funds 344,772 Restricted funds - Total funds 344,772 |
2025 Restricted £ - - - 3,759 3,759 - - 3,759 3,759 - 3,759 - 3,759 3,759 |
2025 Total £ 399,167 399,167 12,102 254,371 266,473 87,663 87,663 178,810 577,977 229,446 348,531 344,772 3,759 348,531 |
2024 Total £ 411,785 411,785 11,215 212,862 224,077 79,408 79,408 144,669 556,454 239,136 317,318 315,829 1,489 317,318 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 17/06/26
Sarah Hey (Trustee)
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Bank interest Purchase of tangible fixed assets (excluding donated assets) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments on borrowing Cash inflows from new borrowing Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period Adjustments for: Depreciation charges Bank interest receivable (Increase) / decrease in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors Mortgage interest payable Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Notice deposits (less than 30 days) Total cash and cash equivalents Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities Net movement in funds for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial activities) Cash in hand |
2025 £ 70,904 1,121 - 1,121 (30,515) - (30,515) 41,509 212,862 254,371 2025 £ 31,213 12,618 (1,121) (887) 7,791 21,290 70,904 2025 £ - 254,371 254,371 |
2024 £ 137,476 1,162 (28,159) (26,997) (30,741) - (30,741) 79,738 133,124 212,862 2024 £ 43,410 12,618 (1,162) (1,570) 60,426 23,754 137,476 2024 £ - 212,862 212,862 |
|---|---|---|
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 August 2025
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Going concern
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, if it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
Expenditure and liabilities
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:
Freehold land: nil Freehold buildings: over 50 years Furniture and Fittings: over 4 years
Pensions
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 2 Donations and legacies Other grants and donations 3 Charitable activities income Nursery Fees Room Hire Fundraising Other income 4 Raising funds Fundraising expenses 5 Charitable activities expenditure Charitable activities |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ 1,453 1,453 2025 Unrestricted funds £ 250,334 8,685 4,231 5,703 268,953 2025 Unrestricted funds £ 686 686 Activities undertaken directly £ 427,171 427,171 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 255,515 255,515 2025 Restricted funds £ - - - - 2025 Restricted funds £ - - Support costs £ 67,972 67,972 |
2025 Total funds £ 256,968 256,968 2025 Total funds £ 250,334 8,685 4,231 5,703 268,953 2025 Total funds £ 686 686 2025 Total cost £ 495,143 495,143 |
2024 Total funds £ 185,704 185,704 2024 Total funds £ 250,662 9,490 2,498 830 263,480 2024 Total funds £ 246 246 2024 Total cost £ 406,690 406,690 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 5a Support costs Support cost type Management and admin salaries Financial management support Legal and professional fees Memberships and subscriptions Independent examination 5b Charitable activities expenditure detail Salaries NI and pensions (8c) Casual staff Educational materials, activities and trips Food Stationery and administration fees Telephone Independent examination Training Uniforms Advertising and recruitment costs Repairs and maintenance Bank charges Computer consumables Toddler expenses Cleaning Equipment Membership and subscriptions Insurance Mortgage interest repayments Utilities Depreciation Staff gifts Bad debts Legal and professional fees 5c Staff costs and numbers Gross salaries Social security costs Employment allowance Pensions |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ 173,320 - 1,179 10,901 - - - - - - 43,785 - - - - - - - - - 12,618 - 95 - 241,898 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 181,432 - 7,901 - 4,182 1,176 1,440 1,304 1,645 120 7,662 480 189 55 1,017 844 3,768 2,802 21,290 9,220 - - - 6,718 253,245 |
2025 Total cost £ 53,460 2,587 6,718 3,768 1,440 67,972 2025 Total cost £ 354,752 - 9,080 10,901 4,182 1,176 1,440 1,304 1,645 120 51,447 480 189 55 1,017 844 3,768 2,802 21,290 9,220 12,618 - 95 6,718 495,143 2025 £ 332,895 26,766 (10,500) 5,591 354,752 |
2024 Total cost £ 47,323 2,512 2,400 3,527 1,134 56,896 2024 Total cost £ 315,426 108 5,993 8,973 3,455 1,162 1,134 584 1,686 - 6,391 396 262 26 1,134 1,189 3,527 3,301 23,754 10,654 12,618 511 2,006 2,400 406,690 2024 £ 295,694 19,469 (5,000) 5,263 315,426 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 16.7, being an average of 15.7 full time equivalent (2024: 14.9, 12.5 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
| Defined contribution pension scheme | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year | 5,591 | 5,263 |
| Amount of any contributions outstanding at the year end | 852 | 1,038 |
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Restricted funds CMBC - Early Education Funding CMBC - Inclusion Funding CMBC - DAF EIYTT Apprenticeship - Juniper training Apprenticeship - Eden Training Apprenticeship - Kirklees College CMBC expansion grant |
Balance b/f £ - - - 1,489 - - - - 1,489 |
Incoming £ 231,431 16,304 2,730 1,167 1,000 500 500 1,883 255,515 |
Outgoing £ 231,431 16,304 854 2,656 1,000 500 500 - 253,245 |
Transfers £ - - - - - - - - - |
Balance c/f £ - - 1,876 - - - - 1,883 3,759 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Restricted funds
Fund name
CMBC - Early Education Funding
CMBC - Inclusion Funding
CMBC - DAF EIYTT
Apprenticeship - Juniper training Apprenticeship - Eden Training Apprenticeship - Kirklees College CMBC expansion grant
Purpose of restriction
For the supply of free early years provision for children aged 9 months - 4yrs.
To support early years providers in meeting the needs of individual children with Special Educational Needs.
Disability Access funding
To support for trainees enrolled on the Early Years Initial Teacher Training programme.
Towards costs of apprenticeships. Towards costs of apprenticeships. Towards costs of apprenticeships. Towards staff costs.
| Tangible assets Cost At 1 September 2024 Additions At 31 August 2025 Depreciation At 1 September 2024 Charge for year At 31 August 2025 Net book value At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 Debtors and prepayments Debtors Prepayments |
£ 44,139 - 44,139 6,376 4,414 10,790 33,349 37,763 Building Improvements |
£ 8,814 - 8,814 4,792 2,204 6,996 1,818 4,022 Fixtures and Fittings |
£ 300,000 - 300,000 30,000 6,000 36,000 264,000 270,000 Freehold Buildings |
£ 100,000 - 100,000 - - - 100,000 100,000 2025 £ 8,426 3,676 12,102 Freehold Land |
Total £ 452,953 - 452,953 41,168 12,618 53,786 399,167 411,785 2024 £ 8,089 3,126 11,215 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Tangible assets
8 Debtors and prepayments
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 9 Creditors and accruals Bank loans and overdrafts Accruals Grant funding in advance Taxation and social security Other creditors 10 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Bank loans 11 Related party transactions Trustee expenses Trustee remuneration and benefits Name of trustee or related party Legal authority Sam Pearson Governing document Carly Durrans Governing document Reason for remuneration No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year. |
2025 £ 17,672 1,440 64,766 2,933 852 87,663 2025 £ 229,446 229,446 2025 £ 53,227 2,587 55,813 |
2024 £ 16,796 1,134 56,400 4,040 1,038 79,408 2024 £ 239,136 239,136 2024 £ 47,323 2,512 49,835 |
|---|---|---|
Sam is employed as the pre-school manager, she was apointed as an affiliate member trustee in November 2023.
Carly is a parent member trustee and is paid for bookkeeping work.
No other trustee received any other remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel
The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £62,203 (previous year: £54,946).
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Early Years @ Lightcliffe
Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 2025 2024 Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds £ £ Income Donations and legacies 1,453 - Charitable activities 268,953 263,480 Bank interest 1,121 1,162 Total income 271,527 264,642 Expenditure Raising funds 686 246 Charitable activities 241,898 222,475 Total expenditure 242,584 222,721 Net income / (expenditure) 28,943 41,921 Fund balances brought forward 315,829 273,908 Fund balances carried forward 344,772 315,829 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 255,515 - - 255,515 - 253,245 253,245 2,270 1,489 3,759 |
2024 Restricted funds £ 185,704 - - 185,704 - 184,215 184,215 1,489 - 1,489 |
2025 Total funds £ 256,968 268,953 1,121 527,042 686 495,143 495,829 31,213 317,318 348,531 |
2024 Total funds £ 185,704 263,480 1,162 450,346 246 406,690 406,936 43,410 273,908 317,318 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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