EARLYBIRDS PRESCHOOL TRUSTEES REPORT 2024 to 2025 Objectives and Activities Earlybirds Preschool has continued to provide high quality, child-focused early years education during the report period. Over the course of this year, we have had 27 children in setting. Our staff team has increased to 7 members (including one apprentice and one member of staff on maternity leave). Our offer is a high quality, inclusive child-led setting where learning is through play and curiosity. Children with additional needs are individually assessed so that gaps can be promptly identified and, where possible, needs met. We offer excellent links with Newtown Soberton Infant School on the same site, providing a smooth transition to school for our children. In addition, positive relationships have been established with other local settings. We are fortunate enough to enjoy a rural environment, with the children visiting our school hall and playground, local church and surrounding grounds on a regular basis. Structure. Governance and Managément Mana ement Committee The Committee remains stable, and we welcomed three new members towards the end of the financial period. There is a range of expertise within the Committee which we have been fortunate to draw upon for support. Children's data has continued to be monitored for areas of improvement and learning and development opportunities within the staff team. Staffin Our Preschool Manager has been on maternity leave Sin January 2025. In her absence, existing members of staff have successfully stepped up on an interim basis to cover the Manager and Deputy Manager positions. There have been other staff changes within the preschool this year, and additional team members were employed in June 2025.
Agency staff have also been used throughout the period, to cover sickness and other staff absence. Volunteers have not yet been re*stablished in setting following Covid. This may be reviewed in the future. Achievements and Performance Earlybirds continues to receive positive feedback from parents and guardians, and we were able to use some wonderful parent testimonials in the development of our new website. Earlybirds remains fully committed to providing a safe, high-quality, and nurturing learning environment in accordan with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Following a routine Ofsted inspection in September 2024, the Preschool received an initial 'lnadequate' rating with regards to some safeguarding concerns around the revised eating procedures in preschool and nursery settings. The trustees and management team took immediate, proactive steps to address the inspector's feedback, implementing a robust action plan to strengthen our operational procedures. As a result of these swift improvements, Ofsted re-inspected the preschool three and a half months later in early January 2025 and officially awarded the preschool a 'Good' rating across all areas. The trustees are incredibly proud of the staff s hard work, which successfully demonstrated our high standards of care and restored full regulatory confiden. Financial Review Income.. The number of children in setting has been high (27 children at end of school year), generating income from direct payments as well as the local authority Early Years Funding (resulting in an increase in childcare income of £23k vs the prior year). The preschool offers breakfast club and after school club to parents I guardians, which provides further income for the preschool, while serving as essential childcare. Wrap-around care is crucial for many working families when choosing a childcare setting. A review of our rates for non-funded hours is being carried out to ensure competitiveness and financial stability. enditure.. Expenditure exceeded income by a significant amount this year (meaning an overall deficit of £27.8k), partly due to one-off expenses such as agency fees to cover for staff maternity leave, recruitment fees for subsequently employing an agency staff member, and re-developing the Earlybirds website. Expenditure on staff wages (including Statutory Maternity Pay which will later be reclaimed from HMRC) and related costs has also increased.
In addition, we have changed our reporting year-end from 21 August to 31 August this year, which means the 'Wages- Employed Staff figure includes the total for 13 months rather than 12. Adjusting for the additional month would reduce this year's deficit to £21.7k. Fundraisin We received a kind donation from the local 'Allotment for the Labouring Poorf charity which was used for additional learning resources to support the children's needs and development. We have also implemented a 'wish list, board outside of the setting where parents and community members can choose from a list of items to donate. Future Financial Viability Following the financial year-end, and on top of the one-off additional expenditure discussed above, the preschool experienced a temporary reduction in child numbers for September 2025. This was driven by a lower birth year cohort locally, alongside unexpected family cancellations outside our control, leading to a subsequent drop in income. Although outside of the financial year in question, the Trustees feel that this subsequent event should be documented and addressed in this report to give a true reflection of the charity's financial position. The Trustees took prompt and effective action to manage this cash flow constraint by introducing operational efficiency measures and launching successful fundraising initiatives. These corrective measures have fully resolved the temporary cash flow issues. The preschool has Sin stabilised its funding position by increasing child numbers, and the Trustees are confident the charity remains a going conrn with sufficient cash reserves to meet its operational liabilities for the foreseeable future. Thank you We continue to thank the committee, stsff team, parents and local community for their support in ensuring the preschool stays in a financially secure position, to provide high quality early years education in our rural community.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES Earlybirds Preschool (Newtownl 1083648 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from 2110812024 3110812025 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total fvnds Last yéar tothe nearESt tothe n8aT8St £ to the rbPart£ toth• nearest£ to tho Treare £ A1 Receipts Funding P8reThi Payments Donations 94,023 25,242 500 192 57,510 133 258 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 119.967 119,9 A2 A588t and investment sales, Isee table). Sub total Totsl receipts 119. A3Pa ents Advert151ng and Website Staff Expenses HMRC Child Lunches (Re-charg} Repairs and Maintenance MembÈrships Subscllptions Pension Rent ¥Dd se[w Charges Childcare Resources Supply staff and Agfjn¢y Fees 2,2S2 360 3.784 5.548 821 1,313 4,737 5,472 3,270 19,999 2,920 5,34fj 87.190 15B 1.555 1.037 243 48 533 366 5,396 5,609 1,31¥ 3,817 5,642 5.241 7.879 230 3,919 51,462 19,919 Premises Expenses W8ges- Employtd staff Cotnputer Sofware & Maintenan Equipment Stationery & Cansumables Medical & Health Supp11¢5 Posiage & Delivery Sundry Expenses Telephone Staff Uniform Sna¢K and Bre8ktsstClub S.J41 87.1 91 775 786 Sub total 't47JI3. A4 Asset and investment urchases, see table Sub total Totalpayments 147113 147MI Net of receipts/(paymgnts) AS Transfers beeen funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 34.556 29,673 7110 2410612026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearo8t£ Endowment funds to nFarest £ Categorles Detalls B1 Cash funds Treasurerfs AGcounl 87 ReseNe Account 6.613 Total cash funds layre•balance$with receipts and paymeni$ Unrestricted funds to noarest£ Restricted funds to near8$t£ Endowment funds to nBarpst£ Detsils Pund to whlch 888Èt belon Cost loptionall Current ¥alug tional Detalls B3 Investment assots Fund to which assBt b•lon Detailg Cost lop¥onall Curr8ntvalu& onol 84 Assets retalned for the charity's own use Fund whSch relatés Amountdue When ional Detslls BS Llabilities Signed by one or Iruslees on behalf of all the tru51ees Date of rov81 Signature Print Name Catherine Butler-Harris 2510612026 CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 2410612026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES | Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of Eadybirds Pre-SGhool (NeOWn) On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charity no lif any) 1083648 Set out on pages I report to the tnjstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Yhe Trust.) for the year ended 3110812025. Responslblllties and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in ac¢ordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the ACY). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's acwunts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charrty Commission under section 145{5)Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention {otherthan that disclosed below.) in connection with the examination whith gives me cause to believe that in, any material respeGt: £CCgunting.records were-not-kept-in accordance wilh section -180 of . - the Art or the accounts do not accord wilh the accounting records Ind&pendent examiner's statèment I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attenlion should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date". 25106126 Name: Mrs Doreen Madow Relevant professional qualificationls} or body (if any)" Chartered Accountant- ICAEW Address: 24 Hill Road, Portchester, Fareham Hampshire P016 8LA IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of conrn (see CC32, Independent examination of chajity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef dotails of any items that the exarniner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018