Hillside Pre-school (Chorleywood) Ltd A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements For the period I September 2024 to 31 August 2025 Registered Charity Number: Company registration Number: 7013187 1132378 CONTENTS Report of the TNstees Page 3 Independent ExamlneVs Report Page 9 Unaudited Finandal Statements Page 10 HILLSIDE PRE4CHOOL {(IIORLfiwooD) LTD (THE'COMPANY) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD I SEPTEMBER 2024 TO 31 AUGUST 2025 The Trustees are pleased to presenttheir annual ￿p¢￿t togetherwith the financ4al Statements fort period I September 2024 to 31 Augist 2025. The finan¢ial ststements have been prepared in accordance with the accountinB policies set out in note I to the financial statements and comply with the Charities Act 2011. the Companies kt 2C(J6. the Memorandum and Artides of Association. and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Prartice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordan￿ with the Financial Reporting Standard applKable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective I January 20151. REFERENCEANDADMlhllSTRATrVEIAIFORAUTION Charfty name: Reglstered char5ty number. Company Re8istratlon number. Hillside P￿5th0o1 Ichorleywoodl Ltd 1132378 7013187 Address of principal office and rezlstered office: Hillside Centre Hi115ide Road Chorteywood Hertrordshire WD3 SAS Trustees: The Trustees, who are also the directors forthe purpose of company law, and who served during the period are listed below. The Trustees together comprise the management wmmittee. Co-chair: Kayleigh Maxwell Resigned I September 2025 Co-chair: Hannah Watson Resigned 30 April 2025 Co-chair: Jacob Dyer Appointed 16 September 2024 Co-chair: Emity Dainton Appointed 10 January 2026 Treasurer: Nicholas Moeke Secretary: Emma RLrth Dyer Acting Secretsry: Verlty Smart Resigned iothjanuary 2026 Elected Member: James Maxwell Ele¢ted Member: Sarah Olgun-Knight Elected Member: Jessica JenningsTredell ReSI￿d 30° April 2025 Appointed I September 2025 Resigned 1° SepteM￿r 2025 Independent Examiner. N￿e1 Challis FCA Bankers: Natwest Bank 13 High Street Chesham Buckinghamshire HP5 18Q C4F Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue ngs Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4TA Webslte: www.hillsidepreschool.co.uk STRucniR£ GoVERNAN￿AND MANAGEMENT GovernSn8 Document Hillside Pre-khool IChorleyThTh)odl Ltd ￿ a company limited by guarantee, incorwrated on 8th September 2LX)9 and registered as a charity ¢)n 28 October 2009. The Company does not have any share capital. It 15 governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association date(14 September 2009. as amendedon 4 May 2010 and subsequentlythe 13 Ociober2010. In the eventof the Company being , wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exteeding £1. . Appolnlment of Management Commltteellhe Comnmtted) The Directors of the Hillside Pre-school ICl¥)rley*oodl Limited are also the charrws Trustees for purpose of charlty law and underthe company's Articles of Association are known as members of the Management Committee {￿he Committee"). Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Artides of AssoCia￿n, the members of the Committee are elected at the Annual General MeetirE I"AGM"I to serye for a perlod of one year after which they must be reolected at the next AGM. All members are arculated wrth invrtations to nominate trnstees priorto the AGM. The Committee must wnsst ofa Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary plu5 a minimum of2 and no more than 9 elected members. All members of the Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or benefrts from the charity. OBJECTIVE5ANDACTiwnES Purposes ofthe u￿rIty The aims of the Pre-sc1￿1 are to enhance the development and education of chIld￿n primarily under ststlrtoryschool age by encouraging parentsto urKlerstand and provide for the needs of their children through communitygroups and by Offering appropriate play. education and care faalr(iesand trainingcourse5, together with the right of Pa￿nts to tske responsibiltty for and to become invofved in the artivities of Such groups. ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever thelr race. cultu￿, religion, Means or ability,. Encouraging the study of needs of such children and their frdmil￿ and promoting public interest in and re￿gnitIOn of such needs: Instigating and adherlng to and furthering the aims aml objects of the Pre-sehool Leaming Alliance. Summary of the main a¢tivities The Pre-school operates 5 day5 a weeK from 9am to 3Fxn {Ipm Friday), during terni time on￿. The sesslons are available as follows: 9am•3pm. 9aTrlpm or 12pnF3pm. During each 5e55pJn the Pre-school will: Develop the varKSUS skllls of the thildren through play and education: • Introduce different themes throughout the yearto help focu5 and educate the children Encourage the children to experience drfferent artivitses during a session. Value of Public Good by the tharfty Our charty provides education for children under the statutory school age in our area of operation. This includes both Social and educational artivit￿$ for the ¢hiklren durin8 our mornin8 sessions, our lunch club, which encourages ￿¢181 eatin& and our afternoon session givinB the children an opportunity for further educational development and play. Our charity works alongside the local community, attending local events such as the Christmas Evening and Village Day. ACHIEVEMENTSAND PERFORMAPICE thalrfs Report: This past year has been one of significantd￿llenBe. d￿nge and renewed ho￿ for Hillside Prevsthool. This report offers an oveNiew of the key developments. Suc￿sseS and ongoing efforts that have shaped the academic year from September 2024 to Augwt 2025. At the stsrt of the year. Hi115ide faced a particularty difficult financial position. A low thild intake in September 2024 meant that the setting was running well bèlow the level needed for long-term SLrstainability, and the committee had to ¢on%der Carefully and honesdy what steps were needed to secure the future of the Pre-SchtKJl. This i￿luded ￿viewing staffing levels, looking closely at expenditure. considerin8 how best to increase chikl numbers, and exploring whether changes to openin8 hours or provision would make HillsKle attractr¥e to families. Staffing has been a major area of change thrs year. We said gc*)dbye to Tracey Keane. which created a vacancy in the deputy role. and Later saw further changes within the stsff team and management structure. Following Florence Mundee's resignatM)n as Manager, Belinda Flaherty stepped intogreater leadership responsibility, first as Deputy Manager and then as Interim Manager. providing stability and commitment during an uncertain period. The committee i$ext￿Me￿8r?tefu] forthe way Belinda and the wider staff team contlnued to provide a wann. caring and nurturing environment for the chlldren throughout a year of transrtion. We a150 pleased to wekome Ingrid to the team, alongside sUPPQrt from bank staff and volunteers when needed. A key focus for the committee this year has been the future sustainability of HilLside. In the autumn and winter terms, the outlook was very challengin& with reserves falling below the target level and the Pre-school needing to reduce its monthly deficit. However, through a combination of increased attendan￿. reduced operating costs, careful financial management, and the generou5 SUPPOrt of St Andrev/s Church through a temporary rent breaL the position improved signtficantly as the year progressed. Bythesummer. HÈllside was in a much healthierfinanual [￿sit￿In, with projerted resetves once again at*)ve the tsrget level. While thi5 is encouragir& we recognise that the early years sector remains a challenging environment and that careful finandal overslght will continue to be essential. Fundraising has once again played an important role. not On￿ in supportirE the finances of the Pre- School but also in building c(Knmunity. The Good Friday toy sale at St Andre￿S was a great success, raisingvaluablefund5, and the 8ingo Night injune was"a particulartry s￿ceSSful event. bringingfamilies and 5UPPOrters tO8ether and rai%ing around £i,c¥JJ. The annual raffle was aly) organised for the end of the summer temi, with generous support from lo￿1 businesses and families. We are very 8rateful to everyone who helped or8anise. promote. donate to. and attend these events. There have also been positive de¥eloFrf)ients in the life and provision of the settih& Enquiries Increased as the year went on, new children Tr)ined Hillside, and there were encouraging Sl8ns for September 2025, with several sesstons close to capauty. The stsff tsam also began b)oling at Way5 to strengthen the experiencefor olderchildren. including plansto separatetheolderchildrenforfocused preparatlon tor Reception. Support from an early years teacher around phonics and school readiness "was 3 helpful step in thi5 direction. Govemance has also been an area of transition. Djring the year, I took on the role of Co-chair alongside K3yleigh Maxwell. and we are very grateful for Kayleigh's leadership and commitment as she stepped down at the end of the summer terni. We are also thankful to committee members who ' have served throughout the year. induding those stepping down or changing roles. As ever, Hillside depends on the willingness of parents and supporters to gNe theirtime skilts, and recrufcing new committee members remains an irnF￿rtant priority forthe year ahead. Looking ahead. our focus is to buikl on the progress made thTrs year. We vrdnt to continue Increasi numbers. strengthening our staff team. developing the provision for drfFerent age groups, and ensuring that Hillside remain5 both financialty sustsin3ble and acce55ible to frdmilies. The year has shown that, while Hillside continues to face external Pressu￿$. it Is also resilient. valued and fvll of potential. In closin& I want to express my sincere thanks to the staff. committee, parents. carers, volunteers, St Andrew's Church. and the wider Chorleywood communtty. This has not been an easy year, but it has been a year in whtch many people have worked hard to secure the future of Hi115ide. Thanks to that commitmen¢ we end the year in a far stronger posit*)n than we began it, and we look ahead with gratitude, determination and hope- Fundralslng We managed to raise a health amount. showin8 Si8nificant increase on the prior year. due to the tlreless efforts of our (Ljrnmittee. staff and parents totalllng £4.iKJ712024: £2,078). Events included: Bingo night Raffle Quiz night Toy sale £2.310 £770 £560 £252 HNANCIAL REVIEW Flnandal Performan¢e Finanual highlights for the year ended 31 August 2025= In the prior yearfs annual report and accounts. The Trustees disclosed a significarbt reduction in reserves shortly after the year end. DespTte a challenging year and due to the remedial artion taken, at the close of the 2025 financial year total income exceeded expenditure, showing a net surplus for the year of £4,38212024: £1.4991. Whilst noting a slgnffi￿nt drop in income from charitable artivities, which decreased to £81,668 In 202512024: £97,838), the actions tsken to res￿ctUre during the year ted to sufficient decrease in totsl expenditure, reducin8 expenditure to £TI386 {2024: £963391. Fundraising inFtiatNes generated income of £4,(K1712024.' £2,078) from various arttr4tties. Unrestricted funds held at the balan￿ sheet date were £Z7J5212024: £23,570>. reflectin8 the fund movements outfined above. The charty has adequate ￿serveS to Cover contingencies and anticipated outflows, with free reserves of£27.71912024: £23.0101. We are pleased to rewrt that the year dosed with reserves in line with the minimum tsrgeL ReseNes Pollcy It 15 the charivs policy that an unrestrlcted reserve of a mlnimum of one term's worth of operating Costs is established in order to: ensure financial continuity in the event of a large variatk)n in ijKome,' maintain a pJsrtr4e cash llow and. cover spe¢Mk future projects as they are agreed. The reseThe level as of the date of approval of these financial ststements ts considered 5uffiaent to fund one term's operating costs. Jacob Dyer (Ctrchair) 20th May 2026 Independent examIne￿$ report to the trustees ofHlllslde Prtrsdmbol {Cl￿rIe￿v00d} Ltd It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under settitin 145 of the 2011 Charitles Act: to follow Dirertions given by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515llbl of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. My examination was carrfe(J out accordlngty. In Connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention that indicates that accounting records have not been maintained in accordance wrth sertion 130 of the Act orthat the xcounts. set out on pages 10 to 14. do not comply with the requiremerts of the 2011 Act. Nigel Challi5 Fellow of the Instttute of Chartered Accountants. England and Wales Shepherds Lodge, Homefield Road. Chorleywood. Hertfordshire. WD3 50J 20, May 2026 srATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcnvmES Ilndudlng IrKome and Expendltwe Acuwnt) Forthe period ended 31 August 2025 Notes Income fram: Charltable actNities 81.668 97,838 Other income Total Income 81.668 97,838 Expendlture on: Charitable actNities 75,899 I.￿8 385 95.826 128 Raising funds Depreciation of assets Totsl Expendlt 385 77286 96,339 Net income l {exPendI￿re) forthe perf¢)d I Net movement In funds 4.382 1.499 Balance brought forward at i September Balance ¢arried fonvavd as 31 Augitst I3￿70 27.952 21071 23.570 All amounts relate to continuin8 artiw"tie5. The Company has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the period as set out abo￿. The charity has no Restricted Funds or Endowment Funds. The notes numbered I to 8 fomi part of these finanaal statements. io BALANCE SHEEr As at 31 August 2025 2024 Notes r￿d a55ets 176 559 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 27.066 24.027 251 24.279 Debtors 27,959 CredStsrs: amounts tdlllng due w6thin one year Net current assets T+)tsl a￿ets less Current Uabllltlesl 11.2681 27.779 23.011 27.952 23,570 ReseNes Unrestricted funds 27.952 23.570 'The charity has no Restricted Funds or Erthwment Funds. For the period ended 31 August 2025, the Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Company Act 2[￿ relatir% to small companies. The members have not ￿qUired the Company to obtsin an audit of its financial statements for the period in question in accordan￿ with section 476. In accordance wtth the Charityes Act 2011, the financial Statements have been independentty examined. The d1￿ctOrS acknowledge their responsibilities for comptying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of the finarKial ststements. These accounts have been prepared in a¢cordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small ccffnpanie5' re8ime. The financial ststements were approved bythe Trustees on 20 May 2026. The notes numbered I to 8 form part of these financial Statements Nitholas Moeke. Treasurer 20" May 2026 li Note5 to the flnanclal st*ments Forthe perlod ended 31 Aiqurt 2025 Basts of Pfeparatlon and accounllng polldes The financial ststements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notelsl to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordan￿ with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities prepaiing their accounts in occordance with the Flnancial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 Issued on 16 July 2014 as updated through Update Bulletin I published on 2 February 2016. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. The followin8 principal ac¢ounting policies have been applied: a) Income ondexpenditure Income from charrtable attNrknes comprises pr￿chool fees, government fundin& donation5 and fvnd-raising income. Pre-school fees are recognised when the amunts are invoiced. Govemment funding relating to the current year Is rettenised when the amourts are re¢elved. Donations and fund-raislng income are recognised when received by the charity. Expenditure is recognised on the acuLtals basis. bj F￿edaSSets Equipment used within the Pre-school premises is caimtslised and depreclated on a stralght-llne basls over ten years. Individual items ot equipmènt wtth a purthase price of £l,(KIO or less arè wrrtten off when the asset is acquired. CJ Cashfiow statement The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 for a 9xall enttty from including a cash flow statement in the financial ststements. d) Leases All leases are operating leases. Their annual rentsls are charged to the profft and loss account on a stral8ht-1Sne ba￿$ over the term of the lease. 12 Notes tothe ￿an¢[al statrments For the perlod ended 31 Au8wt 2025 None of the Trustees (or any persons connect with them) re￿iVed any remuneratlon or beneffts from the charity duringthe year. There were no grants awarded in 2024-25 (2023-24: Nill. Tangible fixed assets As at 31 August 2024 As at 31 August 2025 5.977 5.977 Aecumul(rteddepre¢trtkn As at 31 August 2024 5.418 Charge for the year 385 At 31 August 2025 5.803 Net Iiook value at I September 2024 559 Net book value at 31 Awist 2025 174 2025 2024 Prepayments and accrued i￿ome 251 13 Note5 to the finandal statemert5 Forthe perlod ended 31 2025 Credttors: am¢xmts fallry.due ¥Athln one year 20Z4 Trade credrlors Accrua15 and deferred income 1,267 1267 C¢mmlts))ents under operatln8 lea As at 31 August 2025, the Charity had annual commitments under an OFeTatirg lease totalling £7,604 12024: £7.6041. The lease relates to rental of the premises from which the Pre-sthool 0￿rates. Durlng the year, the Landlord aBreed to a partial rent breaL with reduced expenditure reflected in the ststement of Financial ActiVTbes. The rent break ended on the 31" August 2025. There were no Iransactions with related partie5. 14