[eJpping sto
Pre-school
Lynsted Little Hall
Lynsted Lane
Sittingbourne
Kent
Me9 Orl
Ofsted no: 127646
Telephone:
795 522 736
Charity no: 1038393
Email: '.ficeLulsteppiiiRstonesly_nsted.or%.uk
Annual Report Apr 2023-Mar 2024
Our staff team saw some chan8es wlth the same core staff still In place-manager. deputy manager; I full-time staff
member & I part -time staff member; administrator & I volunteer.
Our numbers continue to drop, despite the introduction of 2 year old working entitlement. Thls is stlll the impact of
Covid and low birth rates.
We are still using our independent SALT (Speech & Language Teacher} to support staff and assess complex language
needs.
During Term 5 & 6, we had Piggy the pony visit with the children learning safety & how to care for horses from
having his feet trimmed by a farrier to grooming-we all got to use a brush.A part-time member of staff moved to
bank staff only. We celebrated the King's coronation jolnlng the school for a picnic and games afternoon on the field.
Our long-standing manager handed In her notlce after 28 years.
During June & July, we a8ain offered parents evening in person, on an individual basis.
We continued to have a high level of SEND children, 3 of which were supported at a high level.
In early July, we had Sports Day with a good turnout of children & families and had some stalls.
All staff supported their key child ren with transitions to school by sharin8 social stories featuring their school
environment & uniform, meeting with teachers in person at the setting or over the phone, to pass on end of year
reports & any relevant information.
Graduation was again held outside in the garden at the end of term. It was a lovely day to celebrate our children's
achievements and say goodbye to the manager.
During the summer, the committee had interviews to consider her replacement. The school upgraded their fencing
and security cameras, with a buzzer system and key fobs for staff-this makes the whole site safer.
Ofsted
Good
Provider

[@pping Sto
Pnp-.£rhnnl
Lynsted Little Hall
Lynsted Lane
Sittingbourne
Kent
Me9 Orl
Ofsted no: 127646
Telephone:
- 795 522 736
Charity no: 1038393
Email: :ficE
'i)i)iii%stoni-'
In September, numbers were low and a level 3 member of staff left for a position at a full time nursery. One of our
SEND children gained an EHCP and deferred entry to Reception to stay with us for the year. The school began works
on their Forest School classroom which we will have access to.
Staff attended Autism Awareness Training which is bein8 rolled out to all early years and primary settings.
We welcomed Grandparents in for story time to celebrate Grandparents, Day.
In November, our deputy was appointed interlm manager to later be conflrmed in the positlon In the New Year. A
former practitioner returned to the team.
We held our annual Welly Walk, fundraiser, started having cake sales and December saw the chlldren perform their
Christmas production in the school hall wlth a total of £287.65 being ralsed over these events.
It came to li8ht that the lease had expired for the buildin8 and the school had been approached about the possibillty
of takin8 over pre-school by the exitlng Manager in the summer. Dlscussions ensued to explore all possibilities.
Over the year, staff made use of the training platform with Early Years Alliance completin8 Safeguarding, SEND and
Characteristics of Effectlve Learning courses amongst others.
In the New Year, the school met with us to say that a takeover wasn't financially viable for them at present but we
WOLJld continue to work closely & collaboratively with them.
Numbers didn't increase significantly, a nd this continues to Impact the fundraising which covers the shortfall. We
had a paramedic visit in February and the children thoroughly enjoyed learnlng basic care and I, Aid.
A member of staff started their Level 3 training with Parenta.
In March we celebrated World Book Day, dressing up a5 favourite characters & sharin8 Stories & book themed
activities with some parents joining us for Stories. We welcomed the Mums in for Mother's Day tea with a high
attendance.
To conclude, it continues to be challenging to keep the setting operating with increasing costs & fa Iling numbers-
Covid is still impacting birth rates.
We need to explore grants and funding streams to help bridge the gap.
Good
Provider

STEPPING STONES PRE-SCHOOL
nsted
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th APRIL 2024
INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Fees Irom parents
11,465.47
Premlses costs
Rent and seNices
1.727.50
Local authority grant
400.00
Repalrs and renewals
3,144.45
Fund raising
434.11
Phone
KCC vouchers
1,482.49
60,820.71
DBS Checks l Offsted
0.00
Donations
0.00
Equipment
0.00
Slaff training and wages
0.00
Insurance
Inleresl rcceived
2,256.91
0.47
Wao6s
Net Wage5
Paye
NEST Penslon
Staff furlough grants
0.00
53,892.34
5,499.81
1,574.96
Tralnlng
97.20
Accountancy
240.00
Payroll I Software Charges
761.34
Bank Charges
306.50
Uniform Pufchasos
16.00
Refreshments elc.
286.23
Sundries
48.50
73,120.76
Excess of exp&ndllure
over Income
71.334.23
Excess of income
over expenditure
1.786.53
73,120.76
73,120.76
21 / 1112¥&

STEPPING STONES PRE SCHOOL
L nsted
Section 2
Balances brought forward
Lloyds Business Extra Account
Cash In hand
Retained Cash
Instant access
-2,020
32
218
240
Excess of incx)me over expendSlur8
1,787
257
Balances carrled forward
Lloyds Buslness Extra Account
Cash In hand
Retained Cash
Instant access
185
24
41
257
Excess of expenditure over Income
257

Indepelldent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Stepping Stones Pre-school
I reported Ihe accounts on the Siepping Stones Pre School for tlie year ended 5 April 2024,
which are cncloscd.
Respcctive responsibilities of trustees and cxaminer.
As the charity's Irustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. you consider
thal th¢ audit requireincnt of section 43 (2) of the Cliarities Act 1993 (tlie Act) does not
apply. It is my rcsponsibility io stalc, on Ili¢ basis of procedures specified in tlie General
Directions givcn by tlie Charity Commissioners under seciion 43 (7) (b) of thc Act, wliether
particular inatter Iiave coine to iiiy attention.
BASIS of indepcndent examiner's report.
My cxaniination was carried out in ¢1ccordance wilh the General Directions given by the
Lliariiy Coininissioncrs. An cxainiiialioii includcs a rcvieiv of the accouniing records kcpi
by ili¢ cliarily and a COiiiP¢irisoii of ilic accounts preseiited willi iliose i'ecords. It also iiicludes
Loiisidcralioii of aiiy unusual items of disclosures in tlie accounts, and seeking explanations
rroi)i you as IruslLes con¢cri)iiig 1( ny such iiiatlers. Tl)c procedures iindertaken do not
provide all tlie evideiicc Iliat would be rcquiT¢d for an audit, and consequently I do not
¢xpr¢ss ali audit opinion on tlie view giveii by tlie accounts.
Independent examincr's t>tRtement
Iii conneclion willi iiiy exainiiialion, no iiiatlcr Ilas coine to iiiy attciilioii..
( l ) wliicli gives ine reason to believc that in any niaicrial rcspeet tli¢ requirciiienls
to keep accountiiig records in accordanc¢ with sectioii 41 of the Act;
and
lo prcp<1re accounts wliicli accord willi tlie accouiilin8 records and to
coiiiply witli Ilie accounting rcquir¢ments of tlie Act
hav¢ noi been met; or
(2) to wliich in my opinion, attention should be drawn in ord¢r to cnable a proper
understanding of the accou
Is to be reached.
Name:
John Crowder
Date: 21.11.202
Rclevant professional qualifi
Address..
on of body: FFA FTA
16 West Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
MEIO 1AW
J & SAc¢ountancy Ifd
10 Weststmol,
SlnlngbDum•.
K￿t Meio 7AW
Phon•."07795437J77
socc￿n￿c¢M