CAMELSDALE PRESCHOOL
CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CIO)
CHARITY NUMBER: 1167337
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2025
AIMS
The Preschool, in partnership with parents and carers, promotes the learning and development of all children in its care and ensures they are ready for school. This is in accordance with the Preschool’s curriculum, which is designed to promote a balanced, holistic development for preschoolers, allowing them to explore, learn and grow at their own pace in a structured yet creative environment. The Preschool’s key objective is help develop kind, well-rounded children.
ABOUT
Camelsdale Preschool was originally registered as a charity in 1992, and re-registered in 2016. The Preschool is open Monday to Thursday, from 8:45am to 3:00pm, and on Fridays from 8:45am to 12:00pm, during school term times only. The Preschool is eligible to receive funding to provide free early education for children aged two to four years. The Preschool employs seven members of staff, of whom four hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3.
TRUSTEES
At the AGM on 28 November 2025 the Trustees of the Preschool were Carmen Powell, Sarah Kate Goodwin and Camilla Fitzgerald.
It was communicated at the AGM that we would welcome a new Trustee, Matt Boyd, to replace Camilla Fitzgerald. Accordingly, Camilla Fitzgerald resigned as a Trustee and Matt Boyd was appointed as a Trustee with effect from 4 April 2026.
MANAGEMENT
Harriet Hite is the Manager of the Preschool and leads the day-to-day running and decision making, and is supported by all staff, the Trustees and Nikita Gibbons, Finance Administrator of the Preschool.
OFSTED
Ofsted attended the Preschool on 25 September 2025 to carry out an inspection (which falls under the remit of next year’s report but noting here for reference at the upcoming AGM). The overall result was ‘Good’, which is an excellent achievement. A copy of the report was sent by email to all parents and carers on 20 October 2025.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Preschool maintained a healthy financial position during the year.
Attached are the financial results for the year ended 31 August 2025, which show a surplus of £4,697.86, compared with a surplus of £23,869.17 for the year ended 31 August 2024.
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Fee income was lower than in the previous year, while grant funding increased significantly. This reflects changes to government childcare funding and eligibility thresholds, resulting in more families qualifying for funded hours beyond the universal 15-hour entitlement.
Staff costs increased during the year, primarily due to rises in the National Minimum Wage and higher overtime costs. The increase in grant funding helped offset these additional staffing costs, enabling the Preschool to maintain a healthy financial position.
Income, Expenditure and Fundraising:
Income
Total income was £142,524.24, compared to £126,821.03 last year. This includes fees, grant funding from West Sussex County Council, donations and fundraising.
Total fee income was £30,444.13, being a £33,577.29 decrease from last year. However, this was balanced by total grant funding of £110,366.15, which increased by £50,450.18 compared to last year.
The 30 minutes either side of funded hours was raised by 50p in line with previous years, and more was spent this year on training for all staff.
Expenditure
Total expenditure was £137,826.38, compared to £117,831 last year. Most of the expenditure was spent on salaries, tax, National Insurance and pensions, however we are slowly making sure the equipment and everyday items within the Preschool are being updated (such as our new home corner, the circle time mats and the sand and water play station) using surplus and fundraising.
Fundraising
A total of £953.46 was earned by fundraising this year, which included bake sales, summer / Christmas fayre and a sponsored walk. Thank you to everyone for all the fundraising efforts, it makes a huge impact and helps the Preschool continue to invest in itself for the benefit of the children.
£1,380 was also kindly received from a Tesco grant this year for new room dividers.
THE YEAR AHEAD
The Preschool will continue to focus on its curriculum in the year ahead, by developing the children's communication skills, physical development, art and design, maths, understanding of the world, literacy and helping children understand their emotions, build relationships and develop self-regulation skills.
It is positive that the Preschool continues to be financially stable. We will continue to remain mindful of changes to the National Minimum Wage and communication from the Low Pay Commission, as staff salaries account for around 80% of total expenditure. We rely on having the maximum number of children attend the Preschool to help cover rising costs, but we will continue to look for ways to increase overall income and reduce expenditure to ensure a healthy contingency for the future.
Here is to the continued success of the Preschool and the development of the wonderful children that attend.
Kind regards
Carmen Powell, Sarah Kate Goodwin and Matt Boyd Preschool Trustees
Signed: ………………………….. Name: Matt Boyd Date: 30 June 2026
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CAMELSDALE PRESCHOOL CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
For the Year Ended 31 August 2025
| £ | |
| Balance Brought Forward | 57,569.95 |
| INCOME | |
| Fees | 30,444.13 |
| Grant Funding | 110,366.15 |
| Fundraising | 953.46 |
| Transfers / Other Income | 760.50 |
| Total Income | 142,524.24 |
| EXPENDITURE | |
| Wages | 102,727.94 |
| Rent | 9,461.00 |
| Consumables | 1,200.01 |
| Utilities | 751.38 |
| Staff Expenses | 4,771.60 |
| Staff Training | 1,508.73 |
| Extra Curricular | 8,872.50 |
| Bank Charges | 151.02 |
| Insurance | 1,593.25 |
| Equipment | 3,538.78 |
| Miscellaneous | 566.30 |
| Grant Funding Refund | 1,955.03 |
| Fees Refunds | 256.50 |
| £ | |
| Fundraising Costs | 462.34 |
| Transfers / Other | 10.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 137,826.38 |
| Surplus for the Year | 4,697.86 |
| Closing Balance (Current Account) | 63,112.29 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| Monetary Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Petty Cash | 4.13 | 4.13 | 4.13 | 4.13 | 244.13 |
| NatWest Current Account | 63,112. 29 |
57,569. 95 |
71,008. 05 |
51,000. 05 |
34,284. 41 |
| NatWest Reserve Account | 30,871. 91 |
30,491. 22 |
10,105. 68 |
10,105. 25 |
5,010.6 0 |
| NatWest Fundraising / Graduate Fund |
2,854.7 2 |
2,983.0 7 |
941.02 | 1,959.4 3 |
3,400.6 3 |
| Balance Carried Forward | 96,843. 05 |
91,048. 37 |
82,058. 88 |
63,068. 86 |
42,939. 77 |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of
CAMELSDALE PRESCHOOL
CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CIO) CHARITY NUMBER: 1167337
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Camelsdale Preschool for the year ended 31 August 2025.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination by being independent of the charity and have the necessary ability and practical experience.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
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.
Signed: ………………………………………. Name: Rebecca Smith 3 The Retreat, Stein Rd PO10 8EW Address: ………………………………………. Date: 30 June 2026