The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB **Tel:** 01892 664214 **Email:** commitee@stjohns-preschool.co.uk **Website:** www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk ## **Trustee Report (2024/2025)** The preschool is a Registered Charity that is run by parental committee. The committee is currently made up of Sarah Cramp (Chair), Jerry Lamb (Treasurer), Charlotte Farrant (Secretary), general members Denise Baker, Becca Gunn and Amy McIvor plus our Fundraising is led by Amy Brann. Elizabeth Atkinson is our newly appointed Manager and is responsible for the operational day to day running of the preschool; she is supported by Ella -May Freeman (Second in Charge), Jenny Carr (third in charge and SENDco) Holly Holt, Carla Fisk, Katie Wiseman and Jessie Loveday (Administrator) ## **Preschool 2024/25:** In July 2025 we had 34 children attending St. John’s Preschool, 23 of which would be leaving in September to move on to local primary schools. There were 7 new starters planned for Term 1, bringing the number of children attending for the academic year 2025/26 to 18. September 2025 was the start of Mrs Milham’s first full academic year as Manager, and she had put a great deal of effort into the organisation and running of the Preschool, with the positive changes she had made becoming very evident in all aspects of the Preschool, particularly the delivery of the EYFS curriculum and children’s progress. Proprietor St John’s Pre School & Toddler Group Trustee Report 2024/2025 1 of 5 The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB **Tel:** 01892 664214 **Email:** commitee@stjohns-preschool.co.uk **Website:** www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk Unfortunately, Mrs Milham came to the difficult realisation that it was her time to retire, owing to the demands of the role and her time of life meaning the commitment to Preschool was proving tricky to balance with her personal life. A lot of committee time was spent in advertising the position in the New Year with us feeling a little deflated to be back to the search for a manager again. In the New Year Becca had also begun her handover of Chairperson to Sarah, after 3.5 years of being on the Preschool Committee, so there was a lot going on behind the scenes of Preschool at the start of 2025. The main concern was finding a suitable replacement for the Manager, someone to match their passion for enhancing children’s learning in a fun and interactive way! Elizabeth Atkinson joined the team in April 2025 and after a handover with the previous Manager she took over the running of the setting. She had the task of the school leavers final term, and transition to school to keep her busy, before a summer holiday of reflection and brainstorming with a newly appointed Deputy Manager, Jordan Funnell. From April 2025 the Government enforced changes to the way settings can charge fees to parents, in an effort to ensure all children can access the free hours without financial barriers. We changed our ‘Snack contribution’ to a ‘Voluntary snack contribution’ giving parents the option to provide their child’s own snack within our guidelines. In April 2025 we saw an enforced 6.7% increase in the Living Wage, up 77pence per hr. This, along with the change in funding from the government and ongoing overhead increases seen across the board, compounded by low child numbers, means there is the potential for a significant impact on our profit and loss in the Proprietor St John’s Pre School & Toddler Group Trustee Report 2024/2025 2 of 5 The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB **Tel:** 01892 664214 **Email:** commitee@stjohns-preschool.co.uk **Website:** www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk coming academic year. Happily, the preschool has built up sufficient financial reserves in previous years to be able to weather any temporary downturn. The voluntary contributions will be key in maintaining the standard of experiences and activities the Preschool currently offers the children attending. Our main focus in the last 12 months has been – 1. Recruit Committee members- At the start of the Academic year the Committee was made up of just two members (Becca and Denise) with Jessie moving into an employed role. 2. Staffing – recruit a manager in readiness for Mrs Milham’s retirement in April, and recruit a new Deputy to support during session times and with the administrative tasks outside of Preschool hours. 3. Build a Bank team – To ensure that cover is available for any staff absence. 4. Update the image - Redesign the logo and website to be more inclusive, with a better representation of the Preschool ethos. Proprietor St John’s Pre School & Toddler Group Trustee Report 2024/2025 3 of 5 The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB **Tel:** 01892 664214 **Email:** commitee@stjohns-preschool.co.uk **Website:** www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk ## **The Future:** We are excited for the future of the Preschool, with the new Leadership team being the right mix of experience, qualifications and ambition to build on the foundations laid by Mrs Milham. Our challenge over the next 12 months will be increasing child numbers to compensate for the high number of children leaving in the summer. Our numbers are significantly reduced, and with the recruitment and committee change overs taking priority at the beginning of 2025, we haven’t been able to put as much time into advertising those spaces as much as we would’ve hoped. We are planning some Open days in the late summer and autumn and are hopeful that more interest in our fantastic Preschool will lead to child admissions increasing. Happy to update that by June 2026 we are back up to 29 children! In the academic year 2025/26 we plan on having more parent social events as fundraisers, to help build on the little community we have and so that parents can get to know each other a little better – more information to come on that in the Autumn. ## **Closing Remarks:** Whilst this year has been one of ups and downs at the Preschool, we feel it is in a great place, and will continue to be a special place for children to start their journey into education. Proprietor St John’s Pre School & Toddler Group Trustee Report 2024/2025 4 of 5 The Reading Room, School Lane, St. John’s Crowborough TN6 1SB **Tel:** 01892 664214 **Email:** commitee@stjohns-preschool.co.uk **Website:** www.stjohns-preschool.co.uk Thank you to the committee, for all the voluntary hours spent planning, supporting and discussing the Preschool, the commitment you show is admirable and is key to the future of the Preschool. Special mention to Jerry whose knowledge and experience is a huge asset to the financial success of the Preschool. Amy Davis Brann, who takes the lead on our large fundraising events – you have the magic touch when it comes to organising these for us, we are so grateful for all the time and effort you spend planning, advertising and selling!! Jessie, your energy and ability to juggle so many responsibilities is impressive - Thank you for all of your support in running behind the scenes at the Preschool. Finally, a huge thank you to the parents and carers of the Preschool, for all of the support, fundraising, favours and more! We hope this little community we have is a treasured memory for you and your child(ren) as they move on the next adventure of ‘Big School’! _Sarah Cramp – Chairperson Jan 2025- Present_ Proprietor St John’s Pre School & Toddler Group Trustee Report 2024/2025 5 of 5 ## **St Johns Pre School Profit and Loss** ## **1 September, 2024-31 August, 2025** ||**Total**| |---|---| |Income
Fees
Fundraising Income, General
Nursery Grant
Sales of Product Income
Snack Donation
Voluntary Contributions
**Total for Income**
Cost of Sales
Consumables (Food/Cleaning)
Equipment & Materials
Fundraising Costs, General
Hall Hire
Miscellaneous Purchases
**Total for Cost of Sales**
**Gross Profit**
Expenses
Advertising
Bank Charges
Bank Interest Paid
Bookkeeping & Administrative Fees
Cleaning
Electricity/Gas
Employers N.I. (Non-Directors)
Employers Pensions
Entertainment
Gross Wages
Gross Wages - Admin
Insurance
IT Costs
Miscellaneous Motor Expenses
Office Stationery
Printing
Refuse Rates
Rent/General Rates
Repairs and Maintenance - Expense
Staff Training Costs/DBS Checks
Subscriptions|33,875.04
4,044.88
84,787.37
32.50
9,908.00
2,937.32| ||**£135,585.11**
1,720.77
2,756.60
1,413.28
583.02
39.33| ||**£6,513.00**| ||**£129,072.11**
19.99
80.37
-269.26
3,656.00
2,386.78
3,434.33
£0.00
54.40
£0.00
89,072.63
1,556.61
1,083.17
762.99
68.85
94.17
34.73
1,348.30
3,499.92
2,668.09
628.11
1,421.30| |Sundry Expenses
Telephone and Fax
Vehicle Repairs and Servicing
**Total for Expenses**
**Net Operating Income**
**Net Income**|8.59
674.31
£0.00| |---|---| ||**£112,284.38**| ||**£16,787.73**| ||**£16,787.73**| Accrual Basis Tuesday, 23 June 2026 09:14 AM GMTZ ## **St Johns Pre School** ## **Balance Sheet** ## **As of 31 Aug, 2025** ## **Total** |Fixed Asset
Tangible assets
Equipment
Equipment Depreciation
**Total for Tangible assets**
**Total for Fixed Asset**
Cash at bank and in hand
Company Credit Card
HSBC Bank Account
HSBC Savings Account
Petty Cash
Santander Bank Account
Santander Savings Account
**Total for Cash at bank and in hand**
Debtors
Debtors Control Account
**Total for Debtors**
Current Assets
Prepaid School Fees
Prepayments
**Total for Current Assets**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade Creditors
Creditors Control Account
**Total for Trade Creditors**
Current Liabilities
Accruals
National Insurance
Net Wages
P.A.Y.E.
Payroll Liabilities
HMRC Tax Payment Group
Smart Pension
Student Loan
**Total for Payroll Liabilities**
Pension Fund
Pre paid nursery fees|6,811.03
-6,811.03| |---|---| ||**£0.00**| ||**£0.00**
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
43.72
22,982.86
36,641.53| ||**£59,668.11**
-2,135.27| ||**-£2,135.27**
£0.00
£0.00| ||**£0.00**| ||**£57,532.84**
513.37| ||**£513.37**
3,170.00
£0.00
£0.00
882.39
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00| ||**£0.00**
£0.00
90.00| |Sundry Creditors
**Total for Current Liabilities**
**Total for Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**
Capital and Reserves
Reserves
Retained Earnings
Profit for the year
**Total for Capital and Reserves**|£0.00| |---|---| ||**£4,142.39**| ||**£4,655.76**| ||**£52,877.08**| ||**£52,877.08**| ||**£52,877.08**
24,382.33
11,707.02
16,787.73| ||**£52,877.08**| Accrual Basis Tuesday, 23 June 2026 09:24 AM GMTZ ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** ## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees** Charity Name St John’s Preschool and toddler group **On accounts for the year** 31 August 2025 **Charity no** 1045290 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31 / 08 / 2025** . **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - • the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. 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. **Signed: Date:** 19/06/2026 **Name:** Oliver Locke **Relevant professional** ICAEW **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** Old Forge Cottage, Church Road TN6 3LG 1 **Oct 2018** **IER** ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . 2 **Oct 2018** **IER**