St Thomas’ Day Nursery Financial Statements
Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
Charity registration number: 1101149 Company registration number: 02134060
St. Thomas Day Nursery Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Charity Reference and Administrative Details | 3 |
| Trustees' Annual Report | 4 - 7 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 8 |
| Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account) | 9 |
| Balance Sheet | 10 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 11 - 14 |
St Thomas’ Day Nursery Report for the trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025
Details
Charity Registration Number 1101149 Company Registration Number 2134060
Committee Members
J. Dopke
L. Glitz
B. Hu (resigned December 2024)
K. Kessler
N. Madzio (resigned December 2024)
A. McLean
- C. Van Urk
Staff Members joining the committee:
N. Pargeter (Manager)
C. Black (Deputy Manager)
Registered Office
40 St Thomas Street Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 1JL
Independent Examiner
Lee Baker FCA Wenn Townsend 30 St Giles Oxford OX1 3LE
Page 3
St Thomas’ Day Nursery Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
Trustees' Report
The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report, together with the financial statements of the charity, for the year ending 31 March 2025. These are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
Chair’s report
St Thomas’ Day Nursery continues to provide high quality childcare. This is achieved through the dedication and professionalism of our highly skilled and qualified staff, excellent leadership and a committed and involved parent community. The committee wishes to record its gratitude to all those who have contributed to the nursery’s continued success, particularly those who have faced challenging news in this past year and actively engaged with providing a future home for the nursery.
Our purposes and activities
The objectives as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association are to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age.
St Thomas’ Day Nursery is an independent, family-oriented, not-for-profit nursery situated in the centre of Oxford and established in 1986. Managed by an elected committee of parents, the nursery provides 40 places for children up to school age on a year-around basis.
The nursery receives Government funding for eligible children, generally after the term they turn nine months.
Achievements and performance
St Thomas’ Day Nursery is largely operating in standard operations as happened before the pandemic. We have now successfully hosted a Christmas play for the first time in years (with the previous year failing on an available venue last minute).
The entire early years sector is still under significant pressure to attract and retain staff, and the committee would like to convey its gratitude to the outstanding staff working at St Thomas’. St Thomas' has a strong learning and development culture, both in supporting staff to progress beyond NVQ Level 3 and by offering top quality placements for work experience and initial foundation training.
St Thomas' has continued its commitment to provide high quality childcare at affordable rates to working families by keeping fees relatively low against local averages. In view of our pressure to provide a new location (see below), we had to increase fees this financial year with a goal of forecasting a slight profit, knowing that we would likely have to spend more than we can currently reliably estimate. Being busy with our premises has also kept the committee from engaging with organisation of a fun day, something we hope to do again in 2025.
The nursery has worked hard to offer the children a wide range of experiences this year, making the most of our location in the centre of Oxford by visiting local attractions and travelling to local parks, and enjoying visits from animals, insects and other educational specialists.
Page 4
St Thomas’ Day Nursery Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
Reiterating a crucial matter from the previous year: Having gone through 2023 with little financial challenges beyond the forecasted slight losses, St Thomas’ instead had to cope with building related issues:
We had a very positive meeting with architects in May 2023 regarding the planned renovation of the Galilee rooms, just opposite our current location and belonging to our landlord. However, the year ended with our landlord informing us in late November 2023 that the planned move would not happen after all due to financial constraints on their end. Faced with a current lease end date in mid 2025, we have therefore sprung into action to find a new home for the nursery, as well as extending our lease as quickly as possible. The savings we had intended for a move (about £110k) have been utilised to purchase an industrial unit (11 King’s Meadow Estate), with a view to easy renovation without value loss. Furthermore, we have engaged with grant funding applications. The biggest grant we could apply for was the Community Ownership Fund from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. After an initial forecasted reply in late May, the government called an election just then, preventing any funding announcements. By the time the new government was in place, half a year on, we received a kindly worded rejection, suggesting that they didn’t believe we could succeed, thereby implying we should give up.
It is at this point that the chair wishes to use this report to say praise to his fellow committee members for not giving up then and there.
Since purchasing the building in summer 2024, our financial situation has held steady at a 3 month reserve (not including the building value), which the committee deems appropriate, in case a next pandemic comes around.
We have successfully engaged with an architect to draw up plans for renovation, as well as with the County Council’s early years team to earmark funding for our cause. In January 2025 we have approached a local charitable business (ACETraining) to help us with initial clearing of the structure for future renovation, which they have done at little cost to ourselves and benefit to their own cause. An application for permitted development to allow us operation with an improved staff room with natural lighting through upper floor windows has been declined by Oxford City Council, suggesting that they disagreed with our assessment and required a full application, which we started preparing at the end of March 25, while demolition was making good progress.
Financial review
The nursery has sustained a reasonable financial performance this year and the trustees report an account profit of £13,944 (2024: loss of £8,919) for the year, with total cash funds of £278,145 (2024: £264,201) at year end. We planned our year with a target small profit, expecting to be challenged by expenditure for a new building, and with an exceptionally good refill of places in late summer/early autumn, we managed to produce a net profit.
Occupancy rates have remained good overall, nationally there has been a shortage of good quality staff as well as people signing up to do apprenticeships or training in Early Years. This is despite the Government leading a recruitment drive for Early Years. The sector has seen many nurseries close due to staffing issues and our nursery has been inundated with parents needing to find alternative provision. Coupled with the new funding for children under the age of 3 this means we have a healthy waiting list. We have been home-growing our own apprentices which will mean that we will have good quality staff to continue the high standards we strive for in the next 12 months. Therefore we are confident in the nursery's ability to continue as a going concern.
Many Early Years providers have suffered significant financial distress in recent years, exacerbated by the impact of the pandemic and more recently by the sharp increases in the cost of living. The trustees have been monitoring the evolving factors carefully, and have worked hard to balance modest fee increases with the need to ensure fair and sufficient pay for our staff. The nursery's charitable structure, good reserves and careful management of administrative costs means that it is well positioned for the future. Due to our healthy reserves, designated as well as general, we found ourselves in a situation where we were able to acquire property for the nursery, using our designated move reserves for a deposit on the new building.
Page 5
St Thomas’ Day Nursery Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of public benefit
St Thomas’ Day Nursery provides full day care for children up to the age of five years. The nursery’s aim is to enable parents to go back to work by providing full day care at a reasonable cost and to provide care and education for children before they start school. The nursery encourages parents to take advantage of government funding and tax-free childcare to help with the cost of childcare.
The committee engages closely with the parent body and encourages parents to join the committee and become more involved in the learning and development of their children as well as supporting the management team through sharing their knowledge and experience. Parents can become involved in activities with the children, including annual fun days. These opportunities promote public interest in the recognition of the needs of families and young children. This also gives parents the opportunity to become involved, gain new skills and grow in confidence and form friendships with other parents.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
St Thomas’ Day Nursery is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 21 May 1987 as amended by special resolution dated 3 October 2013 and registered at Companies House on 22 October 2013. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are elected at the AGM held each year. All parents of enrolled children are invited to attend the AGM and can stand for election to the committee. Trustees may also be elected to the Committee during the year by vote of the Committee.
Trustee induction and training
Parents are invited to learn about the trustee role before standing for election and may attend committee meetings to find out more, provided an NDA is signed. We have prepared an induction pack to help to onboard new trustees and to guide them through key things they need to do, such as registering with Ofsted and undertaking DBS clearance.
Trustees responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of St Thomas Day Nursery for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting practises and then apply them consistently;
-
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed
-
and explained in the financial statements;
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will
-
continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 6
St Thomas’ Day Nursery Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
On behalf of the board
J Dopke, Trustee
29 January 2026
Page 7
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Thomas’ Day Nursery
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 8 to 14.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
-
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section
-
145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
-
State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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:
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
Have not been met; or
2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Lee Baker FCA Wenn Townsend 30 St Giles Oxford OX1 3LE
29 January 2026
Page 8
St Thomas' Day Nursery Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Note Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total Funds £ £ £ Income and endowments from: Voluntary income - donations 2 - - - Charitable activities 3 558,953 - 558,953 Other income 4 2,872 - 2,872 Investment income 5 2,339 - 2,339 Total income and endowments 564,164 - 564,164 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 6 550,220 - 550,220 Total expenditure 550,220 - 550,220 Net income / (expenditure) 13,944 - 13,944 Transfers 55,000 (55,000) - Net movement in funds 12 68,944 (55,000) 13,944 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 12 169,201 95,000 264,201 Total funds carried forward 238,145 40,000 278,145 2025 |
Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total Funds £ £ £ - - - 486,514 - 486,514 1,190 - 1,190 5,187 - 5,187 492,891 - 492,891 501,810 - 501,810 501,810 - 501,810 (8,919) - (8,919) - - - (8,919) - (8,919) 178,120 95,000 273,120 169,201 95,000 264,201 2024 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 12 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Page 9
St Thomas' Day Nursery Balance Sheet at 31st March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | |||
| Tangible Assets | 9 | 459,321 | - |
| Current assets | 459,321 | - | |
| Debtors | 10 | 4,737 | 2,885 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 162,453 | 284,603 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due | 11 | 167,190 41,553 |
287,488 23,287 |
| within one year | |||
| Net current assets | 584,958 | 264,201 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due | 11 | 306,813 | - |
| after more than one year | |||
| Net assets | 278,145 | 264,201 | |
| Charity Funds | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 238,145 | 169,201 | |
| Designated funds | 40,000 | 95,000 | |
| Total charity funds | 278,145 | 264,201 |
For the financial year in question, the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section
476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 29 January 2026
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees
J Dopke, Trustee
Trustees Report
The notes on pages 12 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Company registration number: 02134060
Page 10
| Note 2025 Net cash flow from operating activities 14 20,041 Cash flow from investing activities Acquisition of property (459,321) Net cash used in investing activities (459,321) Cash flow from financing activities Interest received 2,339 New loan in period 319,725 Repayments (4,934) Net cash used in financing activities 317,130 Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year (122,150) Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 284,603 Cash and cash equivalents carried forward 162,453 St Thomas' Day Nursery Statement of Cashflows at 31st March 2025 |
2024 (15,433) - - 5,187 - - 5,187 (10,246) 294,849 284,603 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 12 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Company registration number: 02134060
Page 11
St. Thomas Day Nursery Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31st March 2025
1 Summary of significant accounting policies
(a) General information and basis of preparation
St Thomas’ Day Nursery is a Registered Limited Charity in the United Kingdom. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 3 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are the provision of nursery facilities.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
(b) Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Endowment funds represent those assets which must be held permanently by the charity. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the investments form part of the fund. Investment management charges and legal advice relating to the fund are charged against the fund.
(c) Income recognition
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. Fee income is included on an accruals basis with fees received in advance included in deferred income (see note 8).
(d) Expenditure recognition
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
(e) Support costs allocation
Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, and administrative payroll costs. As all costs are deemed to directly relate to charitable activities, support costs have not been disclosed separately.
(f) Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:
Freehold land and buildings - None (buildings are maintained such that no depreciation is deemed necessary)
(f) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price.
(g) Tax
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
Page 12
St. Thomas Day Nursery Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31st March 2025
(h) Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
2 Voluntary income
| Donations 3 Income from charitable activities Regular Booked Fees Special Needs Grant Registration Fees 4 Income from other trading activities Other Income 5 Interest Income Bank interest 6 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Direct costs Wages and salaries Insurance Printing, postage and stationery Subscriptions Computer costs Telephone Repairs and maintenance Utilities Rent - charge for current year Rates Accountancy Ofsted fees Other legal fees General expenses Bank charges Interest payable |
2025 £ - - 2025 £ 555,968 1,425 1,560 558,953 2025 £ 2,872 2,872 2025 £ 2,339 2,339 2025 £ 26,225 443,718 3,327 340 410 1,204 951 10,983 8,790 27,067 2,695 4,672 220 3,790 660 154 15,014 550,220 |
2024 £ - - 20204 £ 479,885 5,189 1,440 486,514 2024 £ 1,190 1,190 2024 £ 5,187 5,187 2024 £ 23,452 429,082 1,583 336 98 1,020 1,000 5,034 4,889 27,012 2,765 3,055 220 1,426 708 130 - 501,810 |
|---|---|---|
Please note, support costs are all deemed to directly relate to charitable activities and as such have been included above
All costs in both of the above years are unrestricted
Page 13
St. Thomas Day Nursery Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31st March 2025
7 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and cost of key management personnel
| Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension costs Casual wages Other staff costs |
2025 £ 410,746 19,436 11,307 1,310 919 443,718 |
2024 £ 391,427 19,244 10,439 2,270 5,703 429,083 |
|---|---|---|
No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: nil). Pension costs are allocated to activities in proportion to the related staffing costs incurred and are wholly charged to unrestricted funds.
The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the Charity (2024: £nil) neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2024: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).
8 Staff numbers
The average monthly head count was 19 staff (2024: 23 staff) and the average monthly number of full-time equivalent employees (including casual and part-time staff) during the year were as follows:
| Nursery floor workers Support staff (Cook, Cleaner) |
2025 18 1 19 |
2024 22 1 23 |
|---|---|---|
The key management personnel of the charity, the Trust, comprise the trustees (who are not paid), the Manager and the Assistant Manager. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £77,833 (2024: £73,318).
9 Tangible Fixed Assets
| Tangible Fixed Assets Cost: At 1 April 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 March 2025 Depreciation: At 1 April 2024 Disposals Charge in year At 31 March 2025 Net Book Value: At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2025 |
Buildings - 459,321 - 459,321 - - - - - 459,321 |
|---|---|
Page 14
St. Thomas Day Nursery Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31st March 2025
10 Debtors
| 2025 £ Trade debtors - Prepayments and accrued income 3,250 Other debtors 1,487 4,737 11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2025 £ Trade creditors 3,890 Other tax and social security 6,934 Accruals and deferred income 22,751 Loan 7,978 41,553 Accruals and deferred income includes £22,751 (2024: £16,642) of income received in advance. Creditors: amount falling due after more than one year 2025 Loan 306,813 306,813 |
2024 £ 188 2,697 - 2,885 2024 £ 887 5,758 16,642 - 23,287 2024 - - |
|---|---|
The bank loan totalling £314,791 (2024: £nil) is secured against freehold property.
The bank loan include aggregate amounts of £306,813
12 Fund reconciliation
Unrestricted funds
| 2025 Unrestricted General Unrestricted Designated Building Move Reserve Designated Repairs Reserve 2024 Unrestricted General Unrestricted Designated Building Move Reserve Designated Repairs Reserve |
Balance at 01/04/2024 Income Expenditure Transfers Balance at 31/03/2025 £ £ £ £ 169,201 564,164 (550,220) 55,000 238,145 55,000 - - (55,000) - 40,000 - - - 40,000 264,201 564,164 (550,220) - 278,145 Balance at 01/04/2023 Income Expenditure Transfers Balance at 31/03/2024 £ £ £ £ 178,120 492,891 (501,810) - 169,201 55,000 - - - 55,000 40,000 - - - 40,000 273,120 492,891 (501,810) - 264,201 |
|---|---|
Page 15
St. Thomas Day Nursery Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31st March 2025
13 Net assets by fund
| 2025 Tangible Fixed Assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 2024 Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
General Unrestricted Designated Reserves Total £ £ £ 459,321 - 459,321 4,737 - 4,737 122,453 40,000 162,453 (41,553) - (41,553) (306,813) - (306,813) 238,145 40,000 278,145 General Unrestricted Designated Reserves Total £ £ £ 2,885 - 2,885 189,603 95,000 284,603 (23,287) - (23,287) 169,201 95,000 264,201 |
|---|---|
14 Cash generated from operations
| (Deficit)/surplus for the year Adjustments for: Interest received Movements in working capital: Decrease/(increase) in debtors Increase/(decrease) in creditors Cash generated from operations |
2025 13,944 (2,339) (1,852) 10,288 20,041 |
2024 (8,919) (5,187) 617 (1,944) (15,433) |
|---|---|---|
Page 16