REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07079369 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1136923
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
FOR THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
McCabe Ford Williams Chartered Accountants Invicta Business Centre Monument Way Orbital Park Ashford Kent TN24 0HB
THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 2 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 5 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 | to | 10 |
THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL (REGISTERED NUMBER: 07079369)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
To enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age in particular but not exclusively by:
i) offering appropriate play, education and care facilities and training courses and by
ii) creating a happy and caring and inclusive environment in which children can explore and develop and to nurture their self esteem and work alongside parents and prepare them for their transition to school.
Public benefit
In carrying out the Charity's objectives the Trustees have had due regard for the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
This charitable company was set up on 18 November 2009 and subsequently achieved registered charity status on 15 July 2010.
The charity has continued to strive to meet its objectives which have been assisted by fundraising activities, initiatives and staff training.
An Ofsted inspection was carried out in March 2023 and we were very proud to achieve the grading of 'Outstanding'. We continue to review our practices to ensure that we maintain our standards.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overview
The Little Ark has had another successful year and continues to maintain a good reputation in the local area, which has also been boosted by our Ofsted grading. The waiting list remains consistently healthy.
The figures for the year show a surplus of £13,204 (2024: £23,093).
Increases to fees were implemented from September 2024 and will also be increased again from September 2025 to keep fees in line with other local settings. The majority of children are now funded by the Government and so there are fewer families paying childcare from their own pocket.
We employed a new Apprentice from June 2024, she had previously attended the Little Ark when she was young and had come in for work experience from her school. She is continuing her studies for a second year whilst we have a member of staff on maternity leave. We are using surplus funds from the current account to fund her wages.
Reserves policy
The charity monitors its funds and funding requirements informally on a regular basis and is still looking to adopt a more formal reserves policy which will be presented to the Committee in November 2025.
FUTURE PLANS
We continue to be part of a large collaboration of 22 settings in Ashford, and two of our staff continue to hold key roles within this group (Chair and Treasurer). The group is thriving by sharing good practice.
Next year: The Collaboration are giving each setting up to £950 to spend on items to benefit the children in the setting, this should be available from October. The focus this year is "building on effective strategies for partnership with families and STEAM provision within settings - this is to include requirements for updating technological facilities, outdoor provision, working with EAL, healthy eating and S&L.
Setting Improvements: We are replacing the kitchen area in the main setting and converting a toilet to storage during August 2025.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL (REGISTERED NUMBER: 07079369)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The policy of the charity is to appoint trustees from the following positions within the school: Head Teacher, School Governor, Office Manager.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
07079369 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1136923
Registered office
The Little Ark Wesley School Road Cuckoo Lane Ashford Kent TN23 5LW
Trustees
P G Spragg Mrs C A Clark Miss R S Harrington Mrs P M Wood (resigned 13.11.24)
Company Secretary
C Rae
Independent Examiner
McCabe Ford Williams Chartered Accountants Invicta Business Centre Monument Way Orbital Park Ashford Kent TN24 0HB
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
P G Spragg - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Little Ark Preschool ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's 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 2. 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.
Mark C Greenwood FCA
McCabe Ford Williams Chartered Accountants Invicta Business Centre Monument Way Orbital Park Ashford Kent TN24 0HB
20 November 2025
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities Income from charitable activities 184,927 Operation of the preschool - Other trading activities 2 1,952 Investment income 3 1,104 Total 187,983 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Operation of the preschool 174,757 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 13,226 Transfers between funds 13 442 Net movement in funds 13,668 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 184,985 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 198,653 |
Restricted funds £ 900 22,032 - - 22,932 22,953 (21) (442) (463) 463 - |
2025 Total funds £ 185,827 22,032 1,952 1,104 210,915 197,710 13,205 - 13,205 185,448 198,653 |
2024 Total funds £ 170,414 18,573 1,450 1,230 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 191,667 | |||
| 168,574 | |||
| 23,093 - |
|||
| 23,093 162,355 |
|||
| 185,448 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL (REGISTERED NUMBER: 07079369)
BALANCE SHEET 31 JULY 2025
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 9 1,519 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 10 615 Debtors 11 369 Cash at bank and in hand 200,325 201,309 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 12 (4,175) NET CURRENT ASSETS 197,134 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 198,653 NET ASSETS 198,653 FUNDS 13 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - |
2025 Total funds £ 1,519 615 369 200,325 201,309 (4,175) 197,134 198,653 198,653 198,653 - 198,653 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,355 671 1,665 185,981 188,317 (5,224) 183,093 185,448 185,448 184,985 463 185,448 |
|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
-
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
-
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 20 November 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
P G Spragg - Trustee
R S Harrington - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, 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 financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Statutory Information
The Little Ark Preschool is a charitable company, Limited by guarantee and registered in England. The charity's registered number, principal address and nature of operation can be found within the Report of the Trustees.
The accounts are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charitable company.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures, fittings & equipment
- 20% on a straight line basis
It is the policy of the Charity to capitalise items that will be used for more than one year. These items are initially recognised at cost.
Stocks
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
Debtors
Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
Creditors
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
3.
4.
| OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Fundraising events | 1,952 | 1,450 |
| INVESTMENT INCOME | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Deposit account interest | 1,104 | 1,230 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation - owned assets | 836 | 1,019 |
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
6. STAFF COSTS
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
7.
| All staff No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fund £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities Income from charitable activities 169,664 Operation of the preschool - Other trading activities 1,450 Investment income 1,230 Total 172,344 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Operation of the preschool 149,046 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 23,298 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 161,687 |
2025 10 Restricted funds £ 750 18,573 - - 19,323 19,528 (205) 668 |
2024 9 Total funds £ 170,414 18,573 1,450 1,230 |
|---|---|---|
| 191,667 | ||
| 168,574 | ||
| 23,093 162,355 |
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| 7. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued Unrestricted fund £ TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 184,985 8. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REMUNERATION During the year the following fees were incurred for the examination of the accounts. Independent examiner’s fees Accountancy services fees paid to the independent examiner 9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025 DEPRECIATION At 1 August 2024 Charge for year At 31 July 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 July 2025 At 31 July 2024 10. STOCKS Stocks 11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors Other debtors |
Restricted funds £ 463 |
Restricted funds £ 463 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||
| £ | ||
| 630 | ||
| 1,000 | ||
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Trade creditors Social security and other taxes Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 456 429 10 3,280 4,175 |
2024 £ 1,986 333 10 2,895 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,224 |
The deferred income is in relation to deposits received for the following school year.
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net | Transfers | ||||
| movement | between | At | |||
| At 1.8.24 | in funds | funds | 31.7.25 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General fund | 184,985 | 13,226 | 442 | 198,653 | |
| Restricted funds | |||||
| System Leadership Supplement | 17 | (21) | 4 | - | |
| Contain Outbreak Management Fund | 446 | - | (446) | - | |
| 463 | (21) | (442) | - | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 185,448 | 13,205 | - | 198,653 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above | are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |||
| resources | expended | in funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General fund | 187,983 | (174,757) | 13,226 | ||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| System Leadership Supplement | 22,932 | (22,953) | (21) | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 210,915 | (197,710) | 13,205 |
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds System Leadership Supplement Contain Outbreak Management Fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.8.23 £ 161,687 - 668 668 162,355 |
Net movement in funds £ 23,298 17 (222) (205) 23,093 |
At 31.7.24 £ 184,985 17 446 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 463 | |||
| 185,448 |
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THE LITTLE ARK PRESCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds System Leadership Supplement Contain Outbreak Management Fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 172,344 19,323 - 19,323 191,667 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (149,046) 23,298 (19,306) 17 (222) (222) (19,528) (205) (168,574) 23,093 |
|---|---|---|
The System Leadership Supplement from Local Government was contributed to the Ashford Early Years Collaboration in accordance with the terms under which this supplement was awarded.
The Contain Outbreak Management Fund is funding from KCC for initiatives that support proactive containment and intervention measures in relation to COVID-19.
14. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2025.
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