Preschool CIO Lyme Road, Axminster EX13 5BE OFSTED EY496057 Charity no. 1160739 Tel: 01297 639329 Email: dragonflies@stmarysaxminster.devon.sch.uk Website:www.preschoolaxminster.co.uk
Trustees’ Annual Report 2024
Trustees 2024-5:
Natalie Shaw (Chair) Kayleigh Beer Jessica Ellis Sarah Fawcett Grace Herbert
Dragonflies Preschool is a small preschool which takes children from age 2 to 4, until they begin their Reception year at school. It operates within a school building (St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster) and pays rent for one classroom and an outside area, plus cleaning and utilities, to the multi-academy trust which runs the school (Plymouth Cast). The preschool operates within the school day and term times only, and we can look after a maximum of 24 children at one time, up to 5 2-year-olds and the rest 3 and 4-year-olds. Most children do not attend full time but their parents choose the hours and days they attend according to what works best for them.
Trustees are generally recruited from parents of children who attend the preschool, although other interested parties (such as grandparents or other members of the community) would be welcomed if they wished to join.
Our activities and objectives are to provide an excellent preschool - the aim of our preschool is to begin the education process for young children, providing this in a caring but structured way so that the transition to school is a smooth process. We aim to make the children feel happy and confident in our care and to help parents feel involved with this process.
We promote equal opportunities and encourage children to think of others but also of themselves. We encourage self-confidence, good health and a responsible attitude in all our children. We aim to provide a safe, secure, fun place for children to learn whilst also providing more challenging activities. Families can always talk to us in the strictest confidence and be assured that everything we learn about the children remains confidential. Our staff and Trustees recognise that the wellbeing of the children is paramount; we are continually looking for ways to improve our knowledge and practices to the benefit of the children. Our ultimate goal is for our children to leave us and go on to Primary School as happy, healthy individuals who mix well with others, consider the feelings of others but are also able to stand up for what they believe in.
In 2023 we were inspected by Ofsted and were given a rating of “Good”. We also regularly receive positive feedback from parents and are currently almost full to capacity by summer term 2026.
We are funded mostly by Early Years government funding which we claim via Devon County Council, with whom we have a providers agreement, and claim hours for eligible children both through Universal funding for 3 and 4-year-olds, targeted funding for 2-year-olds and working entitlements for all early years children.
We also charge directly for children who attend more hours than they are entitled to claim under funding, and hours outside of our funding period.
We carry out some fundraising locally e.g. at school fetes and through local supermarket fundraising schemes, as well as selling branded uniform items for children at a small profit - these are not compulsory for parents to buy.
Most of our costs are for staff salaries. We employ a team of highly motivated and qualified Early Years practitioners, including an EY Room Manager/SENCo and Deputy, as well as a Finance and Business Manager. We also take on apprentices and work experience students, and have external providers to lead PE, music and outdoor/woodland activity sessions.
We have no debts but keep a reserve both for redundancy of £9k and emergency funds of £7k to cover us in the short term in the case of unforeseen emergencies.
Our accounts are checked annually by a local chartered accountancy firm.
October 2025
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
DEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT THE TRUSTEE OF DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO I reporl on the accounts of the Dragonflies. for the yeor ended 31 December 2024. which are set out on pages 210 3. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE AND EXAMINER The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparotion of Ihe occounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) ond that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibility to examine the occounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act); lo follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners lunder section 145151 Ibl of the 2011 Act); and to slate whether particular matters hove come to my attention. OF INDEPENDEN MINERS REPORT My examination was corried ovl in accordonce with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of Ihe accovnting records kept by the charity and a comporison of the accounts presented with those records. It olso includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as Iruslees concerning any such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence Ihot would be required in an audit, and consequently. no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a "true and fair view and the report is limited to those motlers set out in the statement below. DEPENDE ME In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my ottention: l . Which gives me reasonable cause to believe Ihat in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the X)I l Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the occounting requirements of Ihe 2011 Act. have not beèn mel: or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. TCAS ilmlled Chartered Certlfied Accounlants 2 Vlclorla Hall Coombe Lone Axmlnster Devon EX13 SAX 16 202
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2023 2024 INCOME DCC EYFS Fees Fundraising Grants Interest Received Uniform Sales 99776 20455 573 92025 22016 2351 62 90 120956 84 126 116602 EXPENDIT Wages Pensions Rent Equipment & Toys Consumables & Resources T-Shirts/Uniform Insurance Training Expenses Professional Costs Repair Costs Telephone Sundry Expenses Cleaning Website/Software Costs stationery & Postage Depreciation Subscription & Memberships Stock Decrease RE 93033 5840 5111 726 4114 453 1289 187 499 84 398 287 143 1916 36 1020 199 89236 5348 5087 715 4671 641 1302 370 572 301 144 2290 33 993 421 115335 112124 5621 SURPLUS DEFECIT FOR THE YEAR 4478 Approved by the committee and signed on its behalf by: Chairman: Treasurer..
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2023 2024 FIXED ASSETS 5782 5169 CURRENT A SETS Closing Stock Bank Current Account Redundancy Account Deposit Account Cash in Hand 204 82875 9000 7066 47 99192 204 88208 9000 7150 47 104609 RRENT LIABILITIE Creditors 1014 1340 NET CURRENT ASSETS 98178 103269 TOTAL NET ASS 103960 108438 REPRESENTED BY: Capital Account @ l January 2024 (Lossl /Profit for the Year 98339 5621 103960 103960 4478 108438
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
DEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT THE TRUSTEE OF DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO I reporl on the accounts of the Dragonflies. for the yeor ended 31 December 2024. which are set out on pages 210 3. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE AND EXAMINER The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparotion of Ihe occounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) ond that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibility to examine the occounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act); lo follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners lunder section 145151 Ibl of the 2011 Act); and to slate whether particular matters hove come to my attention. OF INDEPENDEN MINERS REPORT My examination was corried ovl in accordonce with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of Ihe accovnting records kept by the charity and a comporison of the accounts presented with those records. It olso includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as Iruslees concerning any such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence Ihot would be required in an audit, and consequently. no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a "true and fair view and the report is limited to those motlers set out in the statement below. DEPENDE ME In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my ottention: l . Which gives me reasonable cause to believe Ihat in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the X)I l Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the occounting requirements of Ihe 2011 Act. have not beèn mel: or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. TCAS ilmlled Chartered Certlfied Accounlants 2 Vlclorla Hall Coombe Lone Axmlnster Devon EX13 SAX 16 202
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2023 2024 INCOME DCC EYFS Fees Fundraising Grants Interest Received Uniform Sales 99776 20455 573 92025 22016 2351 62 90 120956 84 126 116602 EXPENDIT Wages Pensions Rent Equipment & Toys Consumables & Resources T-Shirts/Uniform Insurance Training Expenses Professional Costs Repair Costs Telephone Sundry Expenses Cleaning Website/Software Costs stationery & Postage Depreciation Subscription & Memberships Stock Decrease RE 93033 5840 5111 726 4114 453 1289 187 499 84 398 287 143 1916 36 1020 199 89236 5348 5087 715 4671 641 1302 370 572 301 144 2290 33 993 421 115335 112124 5621 SURPLUS DEFECIT FOR THE YEAR 4478 Approved by the committee and signed on its behalf by: Chairman: Treasurer..
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL CIO BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2023 2024 FIXED ASSETS 5782 5169 CURRENT A SETS Closing Stock Bank Current Account Redundancy Account Deposit Account Cash in Hand 204 82875 9000 7066 47 99192 204 88208 9000 7150 47 104609 RRENT LIABILITIE Creditors 1014 1340 NET CURRENT ASSETS 98178 103269 TOTAL NET ASS 103960 108438 REPRESENTED BY: Capital Account @ l January 2024 (Lossl /Profit for the Year 98339 5621 103960 103960 4478 108438