LITTLE OWLS PRE-SCHOOL PLYMOUTH CIO Unaudited Statement of Financial Activities Year to 31 August 2025
Page 1 of 8
Contents:
| Page No. | |
|---|---|
| Highlights | 3 |
| Chair’s Foreword | 4 |
| The Board of Trustees | 5 |
| Charity Information | 6 |
| Trustee Report | 7 |
| Strategic Objectives 2024-2025 | 8 |
| Financial Governance & Financial Accounts | 8 |
Page 2 of 8
Highlights
The Board of Trustees of Little Owls Pre-School (Plymouth) CIO is pleased to present their annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 August 2025 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Commission.
Charitable Objects
To provide high quality childcare for children primarily under statutory school age and to work for the public benefit by having as its objects the development and education of children and young people by:
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Promoting their care and safety.
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Promoting their education and parental involvement.
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Promoting their health and wellbeing.
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Providing services to support them and their families and carers.
Little Owls
Little Owls has been established in the local community for over 40 years. The setting provides childcare and education for approximately 60 children and employs seven members of staff full-time on both all year round and term-time contracts.
Financial Summary
The financial year to 31 August 2025 generated total revenues of £230,343.
The total cost, including administrative expenses, to deliver the revenues was £193,673 resulting in a surplus of £36,670 for the financial year.
Total Shareholders (Trustee’s) funds as at the 31[st] August 2025, including the £85,000 invested in a business bond was £196,249.
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Chair’s Foreword
I provide my report for the year ended 31 August 2025.
During this financial year, the Manager departed Little Owls, and the setting was unable to recruit a replacement despite offering an attractive salary and benefits.
Along with many other nurseries, Little Owls has struggled and was continuing to struggle with recruitment for several years. Furthermore, whilst the introduction of additional funded hours for parents/carers is positive news for families, it placed a further recruitment burden on the Little Owls Board.
Thus, the Board held an Extraordinary General Meeting on 20[th] January 2025 and agreed, that to survive, Little Owls would need to become part of a larger nursery. The Board agreed to seek a setting with a similar ethos to take over the operation and aimed to achieve this in the 2025-2026 academic year to ensure our families experienced continuous provision and the impact was minimal/negligible. Thus, in late 2024, the Board held discussions with Honeyshutes Childcare who operate a chain of similar sized nurseries in the local community. Both parties felt there were many synergies and the handover process commenced after the EGM in January with a complete handover of the operation, including the lease, by the new academic/financial year.
A detailed list is contained in the 2024/2025 Annual Report however, the following key elements were successfully completed as part of this process:
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Two members of staff left for alternative employment, one member of staff returned to college, one was paid statutory redundancy and two were transferred over to Honeyshutes Childcare in accordance with TUPE legislation.
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The lease was legally transferred, and the assets were valued and purchased by Honeyshutes Childcare.
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All the requisite documentation (including SEN and Safeguarding) the Charity is legally obliged to retain has been carefully catalogued and is currently in secure storage.
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The remaining charitable monies will be disposed of in accordance with the charitable objects and in conjunction with our Accountants.
Skye Godfrey, MSc, BSc (Hons), CIPS Chair, Little Owls Pre-School (Plymouth) CIO
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The Board of Trustees
Skye Godfrey, MSc, BSc (Hons), CIPS – Chair
Skye Godfrey took over as Chair of the charity in January 2013 after being on the committee for a period. Skye has senior level commercial experience and has led most of the key organizational changes over the years and thus enjoys helping charities/not for profit businesses become more commercially aware, competitive and sustainable. She has been instrumental in identifying and implementing key opportunities to improve the care and education for our children and passionately believes children should have the best start in life with Early Years education playing a vital role in this.
Mark Pickersgill, MBA, CEng, FIMechE – Treasurer
Mark joined the Board in 2017. During his 30-year career in the UK and international rail industry, Mark held senior engineering, operations, commercial and customer management roles, including three Board positions for award winning companies within the privatised passenger and freight sectors. Mark ended his rail career as the UK’s senior director with the world’s largest transportation company – Bombardier Transportation. He has a proven track record of improving the financial and operational performance of businesses safely, which has been a common theme throughout his career, and which remains an area of particular interest and enjoyment for him today. Mark is currently a Trustee and Director of Devonport High School for Boys, a local Grammar school.
Nick Hellings, MBA – Secretary
Nick Hellings originally joined the Board in 2017 to assist with governance. Nick is a local businessman and was the Chair of Governors at a local school prior to his role with us; bringing a huge amount of relevant experience.
The Board members give their time and expertise freely and no remuneration costs or expenses were paid to the individuals during the year as Trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
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Charity Information
Charity Number: 1159402
Little Owls Pre-School (Plymouth) CIO Allard House 82-84 Higher Compton Road Higher Compton Plymouth PL3 5JD
Bank: Natwest
Registered Charity Address:
Little Owls Pre-School (Plymouth) CIO Allard House 82-84 Higher Compton Road Higher Compton Plymouth PL3 5JD
Solicitors:
Howard and Over Plym House 3 Longbridge Rd Plymouth PL6 8LT
Accountants:
TS Partners Limited 4-5 Russell Court Palace Street Plymouth PL1 2AS
Page 6 of 8
Trustee Report
Trustee Responsibilities
The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the Charity demonstrates financial probity, is compliant with relevant legislation and encourages good practice.
Policies
Little Owls regularly reviews its policies to ensure compliance with legislation and to reflect good practice. Little Owls has a suite of approximately 40 policies including key policies such as Safeguarding and Child Protection, Whistleblowing, Equal Opportunities, SEN Provision, Complaints.
New employees, student placements and volunteers are required to read and accept the policies as part of their induction. New or revised policies are briefed at staff meetings and cascaded appropriately.
Parents/carers are briefed about the policies during the Child Registration Process and are available to them.
Fees
Fees are set at Board level and consideration is given to operational costs, market sustainability and competition. Fees are reviewed as/when appropriate.
Curriculum
Little Owls is fully compliant with the EYFS and ‘Development Matters’.
Health and Safety
Little Owls has a member of staff dedicated to Health and Safety. The member of staff is responsible for carrying out fire drills, highlighting health and safety issues to the Board and for ensuring records are maintained.
Skye Godfrey has Board responsibility for Health and Safety.
The Little Owls Fire Safety documentation was developed by external consultant ‘Fire Safety Matters’.
Employees have received fire safety training in accordance with their roles.
Insurance
Our insurance is provided by Royal Sun Alliance via the Early Years Alliance. We hold £5m of Public Liability insurance and £10m Employers Liability insurance.
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Strategic Objectives for 2025/2026
To dispose of the remaining charitable monies as outlined in the Foreword.
Financial Accounting, Procedures and Governance
Legislation requires the Board to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of the financial year. The Accounts are independently examined as a part of this process.
In preparing the accounts, the Board is required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and apply these consistently; Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departure disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial accounts.
The Board is responsible for keeping proper records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable to ensure the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Corporate Governance
During the year, the Board consisted of the three First Charity Trustees. Details of these Board members are given on page 4 of this report.
The Board members and the Manager meet as required with the Charity’s Accountants, TS Partners Limited, to discuss the Charity’s accounts and also meet as a Board to discuss and agree key strategic issues.
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Registered number: CE003352
LITTLE OWLS PRESCHOOL PLYMOUTH CIO DIRECTOR'S REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 AUGUST 2025
TS Partners Ltd 9 High Street Wellington Somerset TA21 8QT
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Company Information | 1 |
| Director's Report | 2 |
| Accountant's Report | 3 |
| Income and Expenditure Account | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6—7 |
| The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts: | |
| Detailed Income and Expenditure Account | 8—9 |
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Company Information For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
| Director | Mr Mark Pickersgill |
|---|---|
| Company Number | CE003352 |
| Accountants | TS Partners Ltd |
| 9 High Street | |
| Wellington | |
| Somerset | |
| TA21 8QT |
Page 1
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Company No. CE003352 Director's Report For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
The director presents his report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 August 2025.
Directors
The director who held office during the year were as follows:
Mr Mark Pickersgill
Statement of Director's Responsibilities
The director is responsible for preparing the Director's Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the director has elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the director must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing the financial statements the director is required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The director is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. He is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The director is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
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.
On behalf of the board
Mr Mark Pickersgill
Director 29/06/2026
Page 2
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Accountant's Report For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
In accordance with the engagement letter dated , and in order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have compiled the financial statements of the company from the accounting records and information and explanations you have given to us.
This report is made to the director in accordance with the terms of our engagement. Our work has been undertaken to prepare for approval by the director the financial statements that we have been engaged to compile, to report to the director that we have done so, and to state those matters that we have agreed to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's director for our work or for this report.
You have acknowledged on the balance sheet as at year ended 30 August 2025 your duty to ensure that the company has kept proper accounting records and to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view under the Companies Act 2006. You consider that the company is exempt from the statutory requirement for an audit for the year.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit of the financial statements. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the financial statements.
Date
TS Partners Ltd 9 High Street Wellington Somerset TA21 8QT
Page 3
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Income and Expenditure Account For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
| Notes TURNOVER Cost of sales GROSS SURPLUS Administrative expenses OPERATING SURPLUS Other interest receivable and similar income Interest payable and similar charges SURPLUS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these financial statements. |
2025 £ 230,274 (39,686) |
|---|---|
| 190,588 (153,756) |
|
| 36,832 69 (231) |
|
| 36,670 | |
Page 4
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Balance Sheet As At 30 August 2025
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible Assets 4 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 5 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 6 NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS Income and Expenditure Account MEMBERS' FUNDS |
2025 £ £ 6,754 6,754 85,000 111,458 196,458 (4,347) 192,111 198,865 198,865 198,865 198,865 |
2025 £ £ 6,754 6,754 85,000 111,458 196,458 (4,347) 192,111 198,865 198,865 198,865 198,865 |
|---|---|---|
| 6,754 192,111 |
||
| 196,458 (4,347) |
||
| 198,865 | ||
| 198,865 | ||
| 198,865 | ||
| 198,865 |
For the year ending 30 August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The member has not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The director acknowledges his 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
Date
The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
1. General Information
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO is a private company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, registered number CE003352. The registered office is .
2. Accounting Policies
2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 section 1A Small Entities "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Companies Act 2006.
2.2. Turnover
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover is reduced for estimated customer returns, rebates and other similar allowances.
Sale of goods
Turnover from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods has transferred to the buyer. This is usually at the point that the customer has signed for the delivery of the goods.
Rendering of services
Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs. Turnover is only recognised to the extent of recoverable expenses when the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably.
2.3. 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:
3. Average Number of Employees
Average number of employees, including directors, during the year was:
4. Tangible Assets
| Cost As at 1 September 2024 Additions As at 30 August 2025 Depreciation As at 1 September 2024 Provided during the period As at 30 August 2025 Net Book Value As at 30 August 2025 As at 1 September 2024 |
Plant & Machinery £ 2,235 6,770 |
|---|---|
| 9,005 | |
| - 2,251 |
|
| 2,251 | |
| 6,754 | |
| 2,235 |
Page 6
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
5. Debtors
| . Debtors |
|
|---|---|
| Due within one year Other debtors . Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Other creditors Taxation and social security |
2025 £ 85,000 |
| 2025 £ 3,775 572 |
|
| 4,347 |
- Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
7. 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 7
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Detailed Income and Expenditure Account For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
| TURNOVER Sales Grants and subsidies received COST OF SALES Direct labour Refreshments Crafts and Activities Consultancy fees Other direct costs GROSS SURPLUS Administrative Expenses Wages and salaries Employers NI Employers pensions - defined contributions scheme Staff training Staff entertaining Rent Rates Property management and service charges Light and heat Cleaning Computer software costs Repairs, renewals and maintenance Insurance Postage Advertising and marketing costs Equipment expensed Telecommunications Accountancy fees Legal fees Payroll fees Bank charges Depreciation Sundry expenses OPERATING SURPLUS Other interest receivable and similar income Bank interest receivable |
2025 £ £ 47,046 183,228 230,274 32,518 1,064 336 280 5,488 (39,686) 190,588 105,455 2,967 1,915 350 353 14,400 1,344 109 2,500 2,019 2,488 1,649 3,129 173 19 1,851 579 4,613 3,709 583 295 2,251 1,005 (153,756) 36,832 69 69 ...CONTINUED |
|---|---|
| 105,455 2,967 1,915 350 353 14,400 1,344 109 2,500 2,019 2,488 1,649 3,129 173 19 1,851 579 4,613 3,709 583 295 2,251 1,005 |
|
| 69 | |
Page 8
Little Owls Preschool Plymouth CIO Detailed Income and Expenditure Account (continued) For The Year Ended 30 August 2025
| Interest payable and similar charges Bank interest payable SURPLUS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR |
231 | (231) |
|---|---|---|
| 36,670 |
Page 9
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectiori A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of i.iliie CNS pre-ScAl CLO 31-0s- Zo25 On accounts for the ar endod Charity no (If any} Set out on pag•8 IIK4ry14ry-, cr 10 li1clP Ilie nkimt)ef>oI aO¢Jiliong18hefrisl I report to the trustees on my axamlnatlon of the accounts of th8 above charity (Ihe Trust°} for the yéar ended ? j O 7 20 ZK. Responslbllltles and AS the ch8rfty trustees ol the Trust. you are r88ponslbl8 for the preparatlon basls of report of the a¢¢ounts in accordance wlth th8 requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('Ih8 Acr). I report In respect of my examlnatlon of tho Trust'8 8co)unts carrted out under sectlon 145 of th6 2011 Act and In canylng out my examlnatlon. I have followed the applicable Dlrections glv8n by the Charlty Comm188ton under sectlon 145151{b) of the Act. I have completed my axamlnatlon. I confinn that no matedal mattern havo come to my attention (other than that dl8cIo8ed below.) In cnneCtIOn wlth the examlnatlon vthich glve8 me ¢au8a to believe that In, any materlal respect: accountln9 r6cord$ wero not kept In accordance wlth se10n 130 of the Act or the accounts do not 8¢cord vAth the accountlng rerd8 Ind•pand8nt examlnerfs statement I have no concems and hav8 come across no other matters in connectlon vAth the examlnatlon to whlch attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to b8 re8ched. ' Plaase delete the words In the brackets rfthay do not 8ppIy. Slgned: Oate: 2AIcw26 Nam•: DANTEL cKtrJS Relevant profe88lonal quallficatlon(s) or body {If any): Addrass: PLY IER Oetob•r 2018
Section B Disclosur¢ Only compl8te rf the examlner need5 to htghlight matters of cone8m (se8 CC32, Indep8ndent examln8tion of charty accounts: dlrecilons and guldance for examiners). Glve hore brfof detslls of any Itams that the examlner wlshes to dlsclose. IER October 2018