Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1st September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
Charity name: Skylarks Community Preschool
Charity registration number: 1169303
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The Charity’s aim is to advance the development and education of children from the age of 2 to 5 years by: Offering appropriate play, education and care facilities, allowing for parental involvement. Offering opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means and ability |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Providing a safe, rich, rewarding, play based environment. Recruitment, training and development of qualified staff who look after children aged 2 to 5 years including preparation for their transition to primary school. Trustees support all staff members to carry out their roles and with any decision making for the benefit of the preschool. We are an equal opportunity employer supporting families within the village. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have had regard to the guidance issues by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Parent and Trustee fundraising work in this area helps to promote community cohesion and publicity for the preschool. Assisted in the development of the pre-school by providing funds for new equipment to benefit the children. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The preschool is staffed by experienced and well-qualified staff. We operate with good ratios of staff to children. All staff focus on individual child development within the EYFS framework. We offer a safe, fun and stimulating environment in which children learn through play. We ensure all children have the opportunity to develop their learning goals. Since the start in 2021 we have continued to support the village with pre school places and have good communication and interaction with the local schools and village residents, with the expansion of the village demand for places has grown and we have adapted to accommodate more children. We have run child activity and art areas for the Easter and Halloween events run by the Village Centre and liaise with the local Horsham primary schools to facilitate the next steps into school. We still provide a multitude of activities on a daily basis and include weekly visits from dance and exercise groups, a phonics and reading session once a week which the children enjoy and also planned visits from the fire and police service, animal handling specialists and travelling farm. Our re-designed outside area includes a built in mud kitchen area and water play and give more storage for new bikes and scooters for the children, music unit and mark making areas, play zones such as construction and small world and physical activities with balls , hoops, bean bags etc. The soft play area and sensory area has benefitted all children but especially those |
children with SEND. We also arrange visits to the local sensory room to help children with SEND issues. We welcomed 2 new staff. Developed 1 staff member to become Level 2/3 trained. 1 staff member has trained as a SENCO Level 3. All staff are first Aid and safeguarding trained.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We hold reserves for contingency planning, in particular for wages/redundancy/minimum wages increases and utility costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £40,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Nominated by AGM |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Skylarks Community Preschool |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1169303 |
| Charity’s principal address | Broadbridge Heath Village Centre Wickhurst Lane Broadbridge Heath Horsham West Sussex RH12 3LY |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Thomson | Chair | |||
| Ian Thomson | Treasurer | |||
| Rhiannon Wood | Secretary | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Kathleen Thomson
Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc)
Date
09/02/2026
Skylarks Community Preschool Accounts 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025 Charity Number 1169303
Starting Balance: £64,041.30 Total Income: WSCC Fees: Parents Fees: Fundraising:
£ 289,666.04 £ 256,498.93 £ 31,904.74
£ 1262.37
| Total Expenditure: |
£296,078.86 |
|---|---|
Wages |
£182,419.40 |
HMRC: |
£ 35,748.74 |
Rent: |
£14,400.00 |
Pension: |
£9,923.58 |
Maintenance: |
£4,434.75 |
Toys/Learning Resources |
£10,180.25 |
New Equipment |
£7,486.33 |
Educational activities: |
£1,744.73 |
Entertainment: |
£5,924.49 |
Arts and Crafts: |
£3,929.64 |
Cleaning Products: |
£796.59 |
| Paper Towels: | £544.43 |
|---|---|
Nappies/Wipes/Tissues |
£ 774.10 |
Snacks/Fruit/Drinks etc |
£ 4,822.24 |
Stationery |
£935.87 |
Uniform |
£772.03 |
Annual Subscriptions |
£1,550.19 |
Phone/Printer |
£2,870.55 |
Books: |
£641.54 |
Disposable gloves |
£ 213.87 |
First Aid: |
£ 402.15 |
Staf Training: |
£ 1,853.29 |
Sage Payroll |
£ 421.21 |
SEND Resources |
£ 831.51 |
Outside Learning Resources |
£ 240.40 |
Staf Wellbeing |
£ 1,190.38 |
Dance Class |
£ 780.00 |
Fundraising |
£ 136.60 |
Volunteers |
£ 110.00 |
End Balance: £57,628.48
Signed as a true and accurate statement of accounts.
Signed …………………………………………………………………….
Print Name Stephen Wood ……………………………………………
Position chartered accountant ……………………………………………
Date 7 May 2026 …………………………………………………………
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages |
Charity Name Skylarks Community Preschool |
Charity Name Skylarks Community Preschool |
Charity Name Skylarks Community Preschool |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2025 | Charity no (if any) |
1169303 | |
| 1-3 |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2026. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ICAEW.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
Date: | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2026 | ||
| Stephen Wood | ||
| ICAEW | ||
| 111 Bushey Road |
Oct 2018
1
IER
London
SW20 0JN
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
2
IER