2025-08-31-accounts - Saltwood Play & Learning Centre

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Company registration number: 05866317 Charity registration number: 1118798

SALTWOOD PLAY & LEARNING CENTRE TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Beresfords Chartered Certified Accountants 1-2 Rhodium Point Spindle Close Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent CT18 7TQ

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Contents

	Page
Reference and Administrative Details	1
Trustees' Report	2—4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)	6
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)	7
Balance Sheet	8
Notes to the Financial Statements	9—14

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Reference and Administrative Details For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Trustees	Mrs K Bridges
	Mrs E Geering
	Mr P Newton
Charity Number	1118798
Company Number	05866317
Registered Office	Saltwood Ce Primary School
	Grange Road, Saltwood
	Hythe
	Kent
	CT21 4QS
Business	Saltwood Ce Primary School
	Grange Road, Saltwood
	Hythe
	Kent
	CT21 4QS
Independent Examiner	Daniel Payne FCCA
	Beresfords
	Chartered Certified Accountants
	1-2 Rhodium Point
	Spindle Close
	Hawkinge, Folkestone
	Kent
	CT18 7TQ

Page 1

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Company No. 05866317 Trustees' Report For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Objectives and Activities

Aims and Objectives

A summary of the objects of the charity as set out in its governing document is:-

The advancement of the education and spiritual, physical mental and social development of children; and the provision of facilities for recreation for such children in the interests of social, welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Significant Activities

The main activities of the charity in relation to these objects are; the provision of a pre-school nursery between 9am and 3pm every week day in term time; a breakfast club facility between 7.45am and 8.45am and an after-school club between 3.20pm and 6pm. The out-of-hours school clubs are available to all school-age children aged 4 - 11 years old.

The charity depends on the flexibility of its staff some of whom work in more than one service. This also ensures it can offer continuity for the children who attend from nursery through to year 6 of primary school. The charity welcomes and actively recruits volunteers from parents of children at the school or nursery and works closely with local secondary schools to provide work placements for students during the year.

Services are provided in a purpose-built building provided through Kent County Council’s Sure Start programme which allows the trustees to closely monitor the provision in respect of all the charity’s aims. The charity has joint policies and procedures across its departments and benefits from economies of scale in regards to purchases and overheads.

Public Benefit

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Achievements and Performance

Main Achievements

Attendance at our Services

At the start of September 2024, our pre-school nursery attendance levels returned to the levels of years prior to the anomaly year of 2023. The sessions were 71% full (43% in same period 2023). The split of 2 years olds to 3/4 year olds was almost 50/50 and we had one child under 2 starting in the term with the new government funding for this age-group.
By 1st April 2025, nursery places rose to 82% full – the split of ages having reduced to just 20% 2 year olds and 80% 3-4 year olds. Only 10% of the total child hours our provision provided for the academic year (21,900 hours) were non-funded hours and we received EYPP (Early Years Pupil Premium) for two children. Our wrap-around clubs remained full throughout the year.
Club services continued in a room within the school for which services were charged, keeping them separated from the nursery provision.

A small waiting list was held for specific club and nursery days where services were full.

Staff Training and Development

All staff benefitted from continued professional development with training in house and externally in all areas from first aid to food hygiene. Keeping up to date on all safe-guarding issues remained paramount. Ofsted preparations were maintained by the centre manager and any new early years curriculum changes incorporated.
Tapestry (Early Years Online Learning Journal) training updates were undertaken by all nursery staff. The software records all the learning and fun experienced by the children and enhances and simplifies early years learning for teachers, practitioners and parents.

The trustees consider staff development to be a very important to making a success of our centre.

Community, Grants and Fund Raising

...CONTINUED

Page 2

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Main Achievements - continued

The children raised an impressive £907 for the Bumblebee Trust.

Our nursery/centre manager continued to collaborate with local nursery managers in many areas including local grants and nursery policies.
Parents were kept fully informed and consulted about our activities and policies through emailed newsletters, via our website, social media platforms and their children’s personal Tapestry journals.

Annual surveys were conducted in the services for feedback.

Marketing and Recruitment

Our Facebook and Instagram pages were used to keep parents informed and our activities shared with the local community; encouraging several new parents to come along and visit us.

We used social media for the recruitment of staff ; successfully recruiting three new after-school club playworkers.

Daily Management

Regular, management meetings and discussions between the centre manager, trustees and the business manager continued in person and online where necessary.
The after-school supervisor continued to order food and resources for all services online to allow for economies of scale and reduce time spent shopping.

All our policies were updated and shared as they are each year and staff fully involved in their development.

Financial Review

Financial Position

Cash flow remained very good due to the part-prepayment of all our government funding for 2, 3- and 4-year-olds from the local authority and the majority of parents paying their club term fees within a week of term starting.

The bulk of our non-funded and club fees are now either paid by childcare voucher, tax free childcare or BACS payments which has made the collection of fees more efficient. 44% of our total fees received were for our club services. Of the 56% from nursery services, 10% related to non-funded hours and were paid directly by parents.

A voluntary contribution of £2 per nursery, funded day was charged to make up the shortfall in government, funding rates. The charge covers additional costs of consumables that the funding does not provide for. 65% of the billed amount was paid by parents.

The overall turnover of the charity is therefore split almost 50/50 between government funding and direct parent fees.

Reserves Policy

The charity’s policy on reserves is to maintain a reserve as close as possible to at least one term’s staff salaries and, in view of the temporary nature of our building, to continue to build a reserve for the (temporary) building’s ongoing maintenance and eventual renewal. This policy is reviewed annually in the light of attendance figures, pay reviews and reports on the buildings condition. The trustees feel that the reserve is compliant with this at August 2025 without any major spending on maintenance during the year.

Planning permission was renewed and full planning permission was granted which means the nursery has a secure position for the future at this site. Furthermore, the reserve is in a good position with regards to the likely requirement for a new building in the coming years. The building is currently 16 years old.

Structure, Governance and Management

Page 3

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Governing Document

The governing document for the company is the Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 4th July 2006 as amended by special resolution of 8th January 2007.

The charity is constituted as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

Proposed members are elected by unanimous agreement of all trustees.

Trustee Selection Methods

The charity’s organisational structure consists of at least three, voluntary, elected trustees who oversee the management of the sub-departments of the company; the Saltwood Nursery, the Breakfast Club and the After School Club. The charity is closely connected to the school.

The trustees currently consist of the current head teacher of Saltwood School, a teacher from another local primary school and a business owner whose children previously attended the school. All the trustees are able to offer help and support to the services, giving their time voluntarily as and when it is required to ensure the smooth-running of the operations. A business manager is employed to prepare and oversee the reporting, accounting, payroll, funding and other financial issues as well as advise on the strategic development of the charity. The services report directly to the trustees on all operational issues and are supported in all financial matters by the business manager.

All the trustees, in consultation with the centre manager and business manager are fully involved in the formulation of policies and procedures to manage HR and operational issues. Regular meetings (including the AGM) are held to discuss issues brought to their attention by the department heads and financial reviews provided by the business. Other centre meetings are arranged as and when required by the centre manager.

Risks

The trustees consider the major risks affecting the charity by assessment annually at the trustee meetings.

Small Company Rules

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Mr P Newton Trustee Date

Page 4

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Saltwood Play & Learning Centre For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity trustees of the 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 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 2011 (‘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

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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
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.

Daniel Payne FCCA Date Beresfords Chartered Certified Accountants 1-2 Rhodium Point Spindle Close Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent CT18 7TQ

Page 5

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 138,934 23,640 84,433 1,778 500	Restricted funds £ - - - - -	2025 Total funds £ 138,934 23,640 84,433 1,778 500	2024 Total funds £ 104,525 24,818 88,167 1,689 -
249,285	-	249,285	219,199
(137,576) (25,765) (62,907)	(7,385) - (15)	(144,961) (25,765) (62,922)	(118,073) (22,538) (59,691)
(226,248)	(7,400)	(233,648)	(200,302)
23,037	(7,400)	15,637	18,897
23,037 136,800	(7,400) 73,725	15,637 210,525	18,897 191,628
159,837	66,325	226,162	210,525

The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these financial statements.

Page 6

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 104,525 24,818 88,167 1,689	Restricted funds £ - - - -	2024 Total funds £ 104,525 24,818 88,167 1,689
219,199	-	219,199
(110,679) (22,538) (59,672)	(7,394) - (19)	(118,073) (22,538) (59,691)
(192,889)	(7,413)	(200,302)
26,310	(7,413)	18,897
26,310 110,490	(7,413) 81,138	18,897 191,628
136,800	73,725	210,525

The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these financial statements.

Page 7

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Balance Sheet As At 31 August 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 4,467	Restricted funds £ 66,326	2025 Total funds £ 70,793	2024 Total funds £ 77,795
4,467 1,141 160,969	66,326 - -	70,793 1,141 160,969	77,795 1,280 133,809
162,110 (6,740)	- (1)	162,110 (6,741)	135,089 (2,359)
155,370	(1)	155,369	132,730
159,837	66,325	226,162	210,525
159,837	66,325	226,162	210,525
		66,325 159,837	73,725 136,800
		226,162	210,525

For the year ending 31 August 2025 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

On behalf of the board

Mr P Newton

Trustee Date

The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these financial statements.

Page 8

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

1. General Information

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, registered number 05866317 and registered charity number 1118798. The registered office is Saltwood Ce Primary School, Grange Road, Saltwood, Hythe, Kent, CT21 4QS.

2. Accounting Policies

2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "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 2019)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Companies Act 2006.

The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

2.2. Incoming Resources

General

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants Receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Deferred Income

Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:

The donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods; or The donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.

2.3. Resources Expended

General

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Raising Funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

2.4. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

2.5. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.

3. Investment Income

Page 9

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

Activities undertaken directly £ 124,042 25,206 58,314	2025 Unrestricted funds £ 1,778	2024 Unrestricted funds £ 1,689
	2025 Unrestricted funds £ 500	2024 Unrestricted funds £ -
	2025 £ 8,486 484	2024 £ 8,424 132
	Support costs (see note 7) £ 20,919 559 4,608	2025 Total £ 144,961 25,765 62,922
207,562	26,086	233,648
Activities undertaken directly £ 98,945 22,291 55,673	Support costs (see note 7) £ 19,128 247 4,018	2024 Total £ 118,073 22,538 59,691
176,909	23,393	200,302

Page 10

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

7. Support Costs

Employee costs Premises expenses General administration Depreciation Governance costs	Nursery £ 262 1,846 9,207 8,879 725	Breakfast Club £ - - 559 - -	After School Club £ 315 981 3,221 91 -	2025 Total £ 577 2,827 12,987 8,970 725
	20,919	559	4,608	26,086

Employee costs Premises expenses General administration Depreciation Governance costs	Nursery £ 679 1,815 7,502 8,442 690	Breakfast Club £ - - 247 - -	After School Club £ 211 972 2,721 114 -	2024 Total £ 890 2,787 10,470 8,556 690
	19,128	247	4,018	23,393

8. Independent Examiner's Remuneration

. Independent Examiner's Remuneration
Independent examination of the financial statements . Staff Costs taff costs were as follows: Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs	2025 £ 725 2025 £ 191,745 3,501 4,557 199,803	2024 £ 690
		2024 £ 165,166 906 2,740
		168,812

9. Staff Costs

Staff costs were as follows:

No employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) for the reporting period of more than £60,000.

10. Average Number of Employees

Average number of employees during the year was: 16 (2024: 16)

Page 11

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

11. Tangible Assets

11. Tangible Assets
Cost As at 1 September 2024 Additions Disposals As at 31 August 2025 Depreciation As at 1 September 2024 Provided during the period Disposals As at 31 August 2025 Net Book Value As at 31 August 2025 As at 1 September 2024 12. Debtors Due within one year Trade debtors Other debtors 13. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Accruals and deferred income 14. Deferred Income Deferred income movements in the year were as follows: Balance at the start of the period Income deferred in the current period Amounts released in income from previous periods Balance at the end of the period	Land & Property Freehold £ 183,631 - -	Equipment £ 30,504 1,969 (2,174)	Total £ 214,135 1,969 (2,174)
	183,631	30,299	213,930
	110,177 7,345 -	26,164 1,141 (1,690)	136,341 8,486 (1,690)
	117,522	25,615	143,137
	66,109	4,684	70,793
	73,454	4,340	77,794
		2025 £ 74 1,067 1,141 2025 £ 6,741 2025 £ 1,370 5,460 (1,128)	2024 £ 57 1,223
			1,280
			2024 £ 2,359
			2024 £ 4,932 1,368 (4,930)
		5,702	1,370

Deferred income are amounts received in advance for the next school year.

Page 12

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

15. Pension Commitments

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund.

During the year the charge to the statement of financial activities in respect of defined contribution schemes was £4,557 (2024: £2,740).

At the balance sheet date contributions of £NIL were due to the fund and are included in creditors.

16. Movement in Funds

6. Movement in Funds
Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Restricted funds Building Fund Home Grown Graduate Incentive Kent County Council - Early Years Pupil Premium Shepway Rural Funding Collaboration Total restricted funds Total funds Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Restricted funds Building Fund Home Grown Graduate Incentive Kent County Council - Early Years Pupil Premium Shepway Rural Funding Collaboration Total restricted funds Total funds	As at 1 September 2024 £ 136,800 73,576 26 48 75	Income £ 249,285 - - - -	Expenditure £ (226,248) (7,371) (5) (9) (15)	As at 31 August 2025 £ 159,837 66,205 21 39 60
	73,725	-	(7,400)	66,325

	210,525	249,285	(233,648)	226,162
	As at 1 September 2023 £ 110,490 80,952 32 60 94	Income £ 219,199 - - - -	Expenditure £ (192,889) (7,376) (6) (12) (19)	As at 31 August 2024 £ 136,800 73,576 26 48 75
	81,138	-	(7,413)	73,725

	191,628	219,199	(200,302)	210,525

17. Transactions with Trustees

None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current or previous year.

No trustee expenses have been incurred.

Page 13

Saltwood Play & Learning Centre Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 August 2025

18. Related Party Disclosures

Ms E A Geering

Trustee

Ms Geering used the services of the nursery and was billed £2,497 for these services in the year.

19. Company limited by guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of a winding up, such an amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

Page 14