Charity number 1126437
Bright Sparks Pre School
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Bright Sparks Pre School
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 4 |
| Examiner's report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the accounts | 8 to 11 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2025
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates Julie Hobson Chair Emma Rogers Secretary Tracey Allen Tracey Wilson Christina Brooks Alexander Smith
Appointed 10 December 2024
Charity number
1126437
Registered in England and Wales
Registered and principal address Bankers
Great and Little Preston Junior School Barclays Bank PLC Preston Lane 93-95 Main Street Great Preston Garforth Leeds Leeds LS26 8AR LS25 1AF
Independent examiner
Katy Sargeant ACA
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 21 July 2008
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.
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Bright Sparks Pre School Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
The charity's objects are to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children, offering appropriate play, education and care facilities, family learning and extended hour groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved with the activities, ensuring that we offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means or ability.
The charity's main activities
Bright Sparks is a non-profit making Pre-School for children from age 2 to school age. Opening Monday to Friday, with a morning, afternoon and full day sessions. During the full day session our staff provide lunch cover for the children. There is a maximum of 30 children in each session.
We offer a wide range of activities and opportunities for children to learn through play in a large indoor and outdoor environment which we let from Great Preston Primary School. We feel our setting is a welcoming and friendly place for children to attend at very affordable prices for families.
In addition we offer wrap-around care with breakfast and after school clubs for children aged 2 to 11 years providing working parents with provision from 7.30am to 6.00pm.
Our setting is a friendly place for children to attend and a valuable community service.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of education.
Achievements and performance
We currently have 48 children who attend, some of which will move across into the reception class at school, Bright Sparks has a good relationship with the school, the school provides lunches for Bright Sparks children who stay over the lunch period, the children go over to the school hall for their lunch.
This year we have a couple of visits from the Ice Cream van as a treat for the children, we also took the children to Skye Pies Soft Play for the end of year summer party and for Christmas party which each child received a present from Santa.
Bright Sparks have continued with their weekly Spanish lessons for the children which the children join in every Wednesday.
We have regular fundraising events within Pre School by holding Raffles, selling Christmas treats and Bun sales and Raffle at Easter to help raise money to purchase new resources and equipment.
We continue to offer places for special needs children and have staff in place to offer them one to one attention. All staff are qualified to level 3 and regularly do online and in house training courses to give them the knowledge and understanding to offer the level of service the community expect.
Financial review
The net income for the year was £25,636, all of which was unrestricted in nature.
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Reserves policy
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £222,123.
The trustees have adopted a formal reserves policy to ensure the charity properly manages its resources and currently monitors the amount of reserves held to ensure that they are adequate to fulfil the charity’s continuing obligations for 6 months as well as staff redundancy costs. Based on the 2024/25 expenditure this comes to around £123,000, and estimated redundancy costs are approximately £35,700, giving a total of £160,500.
The trustees recognise that free reserves held at year end are still in excess of our policy however are comfortable with this as it provides a buffer for any unexpected expenditure which may arise - such as repair and maintenance on the building.
Approved by the board of trustees on 19/1/2026
Tracey Allen (Trustee)
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bright Sparks Pre School
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. 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 examiner's statement
Since the charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a fellow of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a fellow of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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3 the accounts do 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.
Katy Sargeant ACA
19/1/2026
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Statement of Financial Activities
(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Notes 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ Income from: Grants (2) 207,799 - Nursery fees 52,209 - Bonds 1,240 - School meals, uniform and other contributions 3,704 - Bank interest 1,215 - Fundraising (Inc. photos and book club) 819 - Other income 68 - Total income 267,054 - Expenditure on: Salaries, NI and pensions (3) 181,136 - Rent 24,910 - School meals cost 2,985 - Bond refunds 1,200 - Events and activities 3,250 - Materials and resources 2,135 - Speech and language - - Food 2,177 - Children's uniform costs 152 - Fixtures, fittings and extension work 1,072 - Repairs, maintenance and cleaning 1,016 - Equipment 348 - Photocopying, stationery and postage 2,752 - Telephone 1,549 - Insurance 1,479 - Memberships and subscriptions 1,954 - Staff training, expenses and uniform 4,376 - Advertising and publicity 489 - Independent examination 1,188 - Legal and professional fees 4,784 - Fundraising costs (inc. photos and book club) 306 - DBS checks 177 - Bank charges 143 - Casual workers 1,107 - Depreciation 733 Total expenditure 241,418 - Net income / (expenditure) 25,636 - Fund balances brought forward 197,953 Fund balances carried forward 223,589 - |
2025 Total funds £ 207,799 52,209 1,240 3,704 1,215 819 68 267,054 181,136 24,910 2,985 1,200 3,250 2,135 - 2,177 152 1,072 1,016 348 2,752 1,549 1,479 1,954 4,376 489 1,188 4,784 306 177 143 1,107 733 241,418 25,636 197,953 223,589 |
restated 2024 Total funds £ 145,817 85,891 1,450 3,646 984 367 - 238,155 163,039 22,300 4,814 1,500 2,137 3,164 1,578 2,507 13 2,778 796 234 3,346 1,491 1,372 1,108 2,803 717 1,188 4,184 154 226 168 4,226 - 225,843 12,312 185,641 197,953 |
|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Balance sheet
as at 31 March 2025
| as at 31 March 2025 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted £ £ Fixed assets Tangible assets (4) 1,466 - Total fixed assets 1,466 - Current assets Prepayments 2,374 - Cash at bank and in hand (5) 221,693 - Total current assets 224,067 - Current liabilities: amounts falling due within one year Creditors and accruals (6) 1,944 - Total current liabilities 1,944 - Net current assets / (liabilities) 222,123 - Net assets 223,589 - Funds Unrestricted funds 223,589 - Total funds 223,589 - |
2025 Total £ 1,466 1,466 2,374 221,693 224,067 1,944 1,944 222,123 223,589 223,589 223,589 |
2024 Total £ - - - 199,870 199,870 1,917 1,917 197,953 197,953 197,953 197,953 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 19/1/2026
Tracey Allen (Trustee)
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by 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) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
There has been a change in the accounting policy this year: previously the charity's income was below £250k and therefore it took advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis. Income for this year exceeded the £250k threshold and therefore they have been prepared on an accruals basis.
Prior year figures have been restated on an accruals basis.
Going concern
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, if it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
Expenditure and liabilities
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Pensions
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2 Grants and donations 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ Leeds City Council - Nursery Education Grant 198,780 Leeds City Council - SEN grant 9,019 207,799 - 3 Staff costs and numbers Gross salaries Social security costs Employment allowance Pensions |
2025 Total funds £ 198,780 9,019 207,799 2025 £ 169,684 11,624 (5,000) 4,828 181,136 |
2024 Total funds £ 140,074 5,743 145,817 2024 £ 153,734 9,657 (5,000) 4,648 163,039 |
|---|---|---|
| **4 ** | Defined contribution pension scheme 2025 2024 £ £ Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year 4,828 4,648 Amount of any contributions outstanding at the year end 756 729 Tangible assets Total Cost £ £ £ £ £ At 1 April 2024 - - - - - Additions - - - 2,199 2,199 At 31 March 2025 - - - 2,199 2,199 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 - - - - - Charge for year - - - 733 733 At 31 March 2025 - - - 733 733 Net book value At 31 March 2025 - - - 1,466 1,466 At 31 March 2024 - - - - - The average number of employees during the year was 10.9, being an average of 8 full time equivalent (2024: 10.8, 7.9 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000. Class 4 Class 3 Motor vehicles Equipment |
|---|---|
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 5 Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank Cash in hand 6 Creditors and accruals Accruals Other creditors |
2025 £ 221,681 12 221,693 2025 £ 1,188 756 1,944 |
2024 £ 199,858 12 199,870 2024 £ 1,188 729 1,917 |
|---|---|---|
7 Related party transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
| Trustee remuneration and benefits Details of remuneration and benefits Tracey Allen Gross pay Pensions |
2025 £ 33,335 1,333 34,669 |
2024 £ 30,360 1,006 31,366 |
|---|---|---|
Reason for remuneration
The trustee was employed in the role of Pre-School Manager.
Legal authority for the payment
The legal authority for the payment is via a provision within the charity's governing document.
Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel
The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £34,669 (previous year: £31,366).
No other trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
8 Operating leases
| Within one year In the second to fifth years inclusive Expected future minimum lease payments over the remaining life of the lease, analysed into the period in which the commitment falls due: |
2025 £ 2,232 5,766 7,998 |
2024 £ 2,232 7,998 10,230 |
|---|---|---|
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Bright Sparks Pre School
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
9 Restatement of prior year figures due to change in accounting basis
As a result of the change in the basis of accounting from receipts and payments to accruals, there have been a number of adjustments made to the comparative figures, analysed below.
Effect of change on Statement of Financial Activities
| Total expenditure Original figure in statutory accounts, year ended 31 Mar 2024 Deduct opening accruals (Mar 2023 year end) Add closing accruals (Mar 2024 year end) Add opening prepayments (Mar 2023 year end) Restated total |
2024 Total funds £ 224,332 (1,464) 1,917 1,058 225,843 |
|---|---|
Effect of change on fund balances as reported at 31 Mar 2024
| Original fund balances carried forward as at 31 Mar 2023 Deduct accruals (Mar 2023 year end) Add prepayments (Mar 2023 year end) Restated fund balances carried forward as at 31 Mar 2023 |
2024 Total funds £ 186,047 (1,464) 1,058 185,641 |
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