COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER : 07187744
SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Charity Number : 1147212
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Edmund Carr LLP Chartered Accountants 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 OAW
SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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CONTENTS PAGE
Company information 1
Trustees' annual report 2
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the financial statements 10
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
COMPANY INFORMATION YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Charity Number 1147212 Company Number 07187744
Registered Office
Springfield Bees Pre-School Perryfields Community Hall Lawn Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 7PP
Trustees
Debbie Pepper Chair Laura Hudson Treasurer (resigned January 2025) Sophie O'Sullivan Secretary Laura Martin Lauren Land (appointed November 2024) Daniel Clark (appointed November 2024) Helen Barkham (appointed January 2026)
Independent Examiner
Alex Stone FCCA Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited financial statements for the charity for the year ending 31 August 2025.
The Trustees of the charity as shown on page 1 are also the directors of the charity.
Structure, Governance and Management
Springfield Bees Pre-School was incorporated on 12 March 2010 and was registered as a charity by the Charity Commission on 11 May 2012. The assets of the predecessor unincorporated charity, Springfield Bees Pre-School, were transferred into the new charity with effect from 1 June 2012.
The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Trustees, assisted by the Management Committee, are deemed sufficiently educated to provide management of the charity. The Trustees of the charity make all major decisions.
The charity trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks.
Public Benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Objectives and Activities
The charity's objectives as set out in its governing document are to enhance the development and education of children, primarily under statutory school age, by working in partnership with parents to help children to learn and develop and add to the life and wellbeing of the local community.
The Pre-School offers appropriate play, education and care facilities and training courses together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means or ability. Springfield Bees Pre-School encourage the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs.
Play helps young children to learn and develop through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think. Our setting uses the Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance to plan and provide a range of play activities, which help children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development. In some of these activities, children decide how they will use the activity and, in others, an adult takes the lead in helping the children to take part in the activity. In all activities, information from 'Development Matters' the Early Years Foundation Stage has been used to decide what equipment to provide and how to provide it.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Objectives and Activities (continued)
We aim to ensure that each child:
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is in a safe and stimulating environment;
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is given generous care and attention;
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has the chance to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together;
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is helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being encouraged to build on what she/he already knows and can do;
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has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfactory progress;
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is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop;
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is in a setting in which parents help to shape the service it offers.
Achievements and Performance
Over the past year we have welcomed a variety of visitors to the preschool, including officers from Essex Police, a veterinary surgeon and nurse, and teachers from local primary schools. Feedback from children’s transition to primary school continues to be very positive, with schools praising the detailed and thorough information we provide to support each child’s move on to the next stage of their education.
We remain a highly inclusive setting. This year we have supported three children with Special Educational Needs, two of whom are currently in the process of obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). We have used Disability Access Funding (DAF) to support Speech and Language Therapy sessions. We also host termly meetings and provide detailed One Plans, as well as applying for Inclusion Funding to support children’s development and allow for lower staff-to-child ratios where needed. We have invested in resources such as an A frame, spinning chair and trampoline.
We have sent a member of staff on Trauma Perceptive Practice training which was delivered over 2 days, she has then been training other staff in the staff meetings. We also encouraged another staff member to complete a Persona Doll training, the purpose of persona dolls is to tell stories through the doll, during the year this has been used to talk about taking things from shops, and talking about privacy with body parts and whilst using the toilet.
We have further developed our preschool library, encouraging children to borrow books and enjoy reading at home with their families.
The setting has also been involved in several projects, including Nourishing Our Future with Anglia Ruskin University. This ongoing project focuses on promoting healthy and nutritious eating habits in early years.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Achievements and Performance (continued)
Demand for places at the preschool remains strong and we continue to have a considerable waiting list. This year we moved our waiting list onto a digital system, allowing us to access information more easily and allocate places more efficiently.
Staff retention has presented some challenges this year. Our Room Leader left in December 2024, our Manager left in February 2025, and our Business Manager left in March 2025. We successfully recruited a new practitioner in January 2025, a new Manager in May 2025, and a Finance Assistant in September 2025. Despite this period of change, the wider team has remained strong and committed, ensuring stability and continuity for the children.
We have continued to recruit for the committee, and in 2024 we welcomed Lauren Land and Dan Clark. The committee has remained very involved throughout the year, meeting regularly with the Manager and supporting the running of the setting.
Our Parents’ Evening in February 2025 was very successful. Parents were invited to complete anonymous surveys and the feedback received was extremely positive, with many parents expressing strong support for the preschool.
The committee has also worked to ensure the ongoing financial stability of the preschool and that sufficient funds are in place to allow the setting to continue operating successfully.
Financial Review
The Pre-school showed a surplus of £40,970 at the end of the period 2024/2025 (£7,260 - 2023/2024). This reflected an increase in fees received and reduced staff costs in the year due to the changes mentioned above.
As at 31 August 2025 the current accounts held £69,686. The Reserve Account held £24,086. Petty cash of £68 was also held.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Reserves
We aim to hold an appropriate level of reserves in place for potential future expenditure and to cover our legal financial obligations in the unlikely event the Pre-School should get into financial difficulties or experience unforeseen circumstances. However, we recognise that as a charity, we need to balance this with our duty to spend our income on charitable activity to further the aims and objectives of the Pre-School.
We need reserves in order to:
meet redundancy liabilities should the Pre-School have to close;
ensure continuity of service provision by holding a general contingency reserves equal to three months (i.e one quarter of annual expenditure) total expenditure, excluding maintenance and dilapidation;
Cover running costs during periods of lower income;
finance agreed expansion/renovation projects;
cover potential payments to debtors should the Pre-School have to close;
replace equipment as it wears out and carry out necessary maintenance;
The Committee carries out a regular assessment (at the financial year end) of the PreSchool’s needs to determine the amount of reserves required. In the event of the reserves falling significantly below the target level, the Pre-School will aim to restore these as soon as possible by increasing earned income and fundraising or reducing expenditure.
Unrestricted funds at the year end totalled £73,841, equating to 3-4 months of annual expenditure.
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (continued)
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees on 7 May 2026 and signed on their behalf:
Debbie Pepper
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D Pepper
Chair of Trustees
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 August 2025 which are set out on pages 8 to 16.
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 company’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
Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member 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 member of the Association of Chartered Cerified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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
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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.
Alex Stone
.................................... Alex Stone FCCA Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0AW
11 May 2026
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| INCOME FROM: Investments 2 Charitable activities 3 TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities 4 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 264 287,666 287,930 244,768 244,768 / 43,162 30,679 73,841 |
Restricted funds £ - - - 2,192 2,192 ( 2,192) 28,504 26,312 |
Total 2025 £ 264 287,666 287,930 246,960 246,960 40,970 59,183 100,153 |
Total 2024 £ 117 272,767 272,884 265,624 265,624 7,260 51,923 59,183 |
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The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above.
All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing.
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2025
| Note FIXED ASSETS 9 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year 11 NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Unrestricted funds 12 Restricted funds 13 TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS |
£ £ 26,312 - 93,840 93,840 19,999 73,841 100,153 73,841 26,312 100,153 2025 |
2024 £ 28,504 - 35,689 35,689 5,010 30,679 59,183 30,679 28,504 59,183 |
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For the year ending 31 August 2025 the 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 company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476,
• The directors 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.
These accounts were approved by the trustees on 7 May 2026 and are signed on their behalf by:
Debbie Pepper
….....................................................................................
D PEPPER
Chair of Trustees
Company Registration No: 07187744
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (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 (effective 1 January 2019) (Charities SORP FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Legal status
Springfield Bees Pre-School Company Limited is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It is incorporated in England and Wales and its registered address is Perryfields Community Hall, Lawn Lane, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7PP. The company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
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.
Incoming resources
Income from fees, donations and grants is included in incoming resources when these are receivable, except when donors specify that donations and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods and the income is deferred until those periods.
Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and includes VAT as the charity is not VAT registered. The majority of expenditure is directly attributable to specific charitable activities. Support costs relate to expenditure to support the charitable activities of the charity which cannot be directly attributed to charitable activities. Governance costs are associated with the governance arrangements of the charity.
Fixed assets and depreciation
Leasehold improvements funded by capital funding grants are capitalised and written off over the term of the lease (20 years). Playschool equipment is not capitalised as its residual value once in use is deemed to be minimal.
Creditors
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognized at their settlement amount.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
Fund accounting
Funds held by the charity are either:
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| Unrestricted funds £ Bank interest receivable 264 Total 2024 117 |
Restricted funds £ - - |
Total 2025 £ 264 117 |
Total 2024 £ 117 |
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All of the charity's investment income arises from an interest bearing deposit account.
3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted funds £ Fees 24,266 ECC funded fees 258,409 Other grant income - Commission - Other income 2,997 Pupils Prem /SEN 1,961 Fundraising income 33 287,666 Total 2024 272,767 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - |
Total 2025 £ 24,266 258,409 - - 2,997 1,961 33 287,666 272,767 |
Total 2024 £ 49,091 201,705 16,204 49 5,413 - 305 272,767 |
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
4. COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Staff costs Equipment and supplies Other direct costs Support costs(Note 5) Governance costs(Note 6) Total 2024 SUPPORT COSTS Rent Telephone Insurance Training Depreciation Miscellaneous expenses Total 2024 |
Unrestricted funds £ 195,709 4,797 1,158 201,664 36,652 6,452 244,768 263,432 Unrestricted funds £ 22,172 1,127 1,620 1,516 - 10,217 36,652 37,470 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - 2,192 - 2,192 2,192 Restricted funds £ - - - - 2,192 - 2,192 2,192 |
Total 2025 £ 195,709 4,797 1,158 201,664 38,844 6,452 246,960 265,624 Total 2025 £ 22,172 1,127 1,620 1,516 2,192 10,217 38,844 39,662 |
Total 2024 £ 208,985 6,069 5,656 220,710 39,662 5,252 265,624 Total 2024 £ 21,931 3,910 1,543 3,337 2,192 6,749 39,662 |
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5. SUPPORT COSTS
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
6. GOVERNANCE COSTS
| Accounting and examination services Payroll/Pension costs Company secretarial services Fees payable to Independent Examiner Legal & Professional fees Membership fees Total 2024 ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries Employer pension contributions Social security costs |
Unrestricted funds £ 2,664 2,922 192 5,778 34 640 6,452 5,252 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - |
Total 2025 £ 2,664 2,922 192 5,778 34 640 6,452 5,252 2025 £ 182,463 5,871 7,375 195,709 |
Total 2024 £ 1,776 2,544 180 4,500 13 739 5,252 2024 £ 195,375 6,034 7,576 208,985 |
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7. ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS
There were an average of 13 staff employed during the year (2024: 13).
None of the employees' emoluments exceeded £60,000.
8. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION
None of the trustees or persons connected with them received any remuneration for their services as a trustee during the current or preceding year.
During the year three Trustees were paid a total of £38,300 (2024: 2 Trustees - £28,431) in respect of childcare services provided to the charity as employees. Additional Trustees have been recruited to ensure a minority of Trustees are employees, as required by the charity's governing document.
None of the trustees were reimbursed expenses incurred when acting on behalf of the company during the year.
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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9. FIXED ASSETS
Leasehold Total
Improvements
£ £
Cost
At 1st September 2024 43,848 43,848
Additions - -
At 31st August 2025 43,848 43,848
Depreciation
At 1st September 2024 15,344 15,344
Charge for the year 2,192 2,192
At 31st August 2025 17,536 17,536
Net Book Value
At 31st August 2025 26,312 26,312
At 31st August 2024 28,504 28,504
10. DEBTORS
2025 2024
£ £
- -
Prepayments and accrued income
11. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Accruals and deferred income 18,833 3,599
Taxation and social security 1,166 1,411
19,999 5,010
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
12. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Current year: Unrestricted funds Prior year: Unrestricted funds 13. RESTRICTED FUNDS Current year: ECC Capital Grant Prior year: ECC Capital Grant |
Balance 01/09/2024 £ 30,679 Balance 01/09/2023 £ 21,227 Balance 01/09/2024 £ 28,504 Balance 01/09/2023 £ 30,696 |
Income £ 287,930 Income £ 272,884 Income £ - Income £ - |
Expenditure £ 244,768 Expenditure £ 263,432 Expenditure £ 2,192 Expenditure £ 2,192 |
Balance 31/08/2025 £ 73,841 Balance 31/08/2024 £ 30,679 Balance 31/08/2025 £ 26,312 Balance 31/08/2024 £ 28,504 |
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The ECC capital grant was used to fund the building works on an additional room for the preschool.
14. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS (between restricted and unrestricted funds)
| Current year: Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total funds Prior year: Restricted funds Unrestricted funds |
Tangible fixed assets £ 26,312 - 26,312 Tangible fixed assets £ 28,504 - 28,504 |
Other net assets £ - 73,841 73,841 Other net assets £ - 30,679 30,679 |
Total £ 26,312 73,841 100,153 Total £ 28,504 30,679 59,183 |
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SPRINGFIELD BEES PRE-SCHOOL COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
15. RELATED PARTIES
There were no related party transactions during the year
16. COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
Every member of the company undertakes to pay such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 towards the company's assets if the company should be wound up while he, she or it remains a Member or within one year after they cease to be a Member towards the costs of dissolution and the liabilities incurred by the company while the contributor was a Member.
17. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
| Within one year Between one and five years |
2025 7,257 - 7,257 |
2024 7,514 - 7,514 |
|---|---|---|
18. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
During 2017/18 Essex County Council provided capital funding of £43,838 towards the refurbishment of a new preschool room in the premises leased by the pre-school from the Council. Under the terms of the Capital Funding Agreement, the Council has the right to the reclaim the value of the asset improvement for a period of 10 years after completion of the capital works in the event of the pre-school ceasing to operate.
The charity is currently participating in an employment tribunal process. No provision has been recognised in these financial statements as the ultimate outcome, timing and amount of any ruling remain uncertain and it is not possible to reliably estimate the potential financial effect at the reporting date.
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