Trustees. Annual Report for the period
Period start date
. Period end dale
31
August
2025
From
'To
Section A
Reference and administration details
Charlty name
Sweet Peas PTrSchool CIO
Other names charlty Is known by
Sweet Peas
Regl8ter•d charity nurn￿r (If any)
1172751
Charfty'$ princlpal addros8
The Memorlal Hall, Bedford Road. Wootton, 8edlord
Po•tcod•
MK43 9JB
Namos of the Gharfty tru*to•8 who manago the charlty
Ollk• IK •ryl
D•t•• ￿•d If nut forwhote y••r
Nam• of porson lor bodyl èntitl
olnt trusts
ifAn
Tru•t•o nam•
Nicola O'Halloran
Chair&
Safeguarding
Manager
Trustee
Claire Buchanan
Samantha Gadsden
Gita Parekh
Trustee
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025

Section B
Structure,
overnance and mana
ement
Description of the ¢harity's trusts
Type of governing document
Constitution
How the charity is constituted
fey IrLlSI, associaiion. compel
Incorporated charity
Trustee selection methods
Election by mémber8
Addilional governance Issues Ioptlonal Infomiatlonl
Sweet Peas Pre-school CIO Is a registered GhildGare provider with
OFSTED. the independent governing body within childcare. Sweet Peas is
a member of the Pre-school Learning Alllance and has clos8 links lo
Bedford Borough Council. We take advice from the Depajtrent of
Education and follow the EYFS Statutory Frameworf(.
Sweet Pea$ 18 a committee run Pre-school with an employed manager,
deputy manager, flnanGe l admlnlstralor, lead pra¢lilioner, and early y8ors
praclilioners. The committee members are all volunteers with the
exception of the manager. Pay for 8mployee$18 agreed by the committee
and is based on role, responslbllily, perfomiance, qualifications and
minimum wage. The day to day running of the Pr8-School is perfomed by
tha manager and depuiy manager. Recruitment Is jolnlly overseen by the
management team and committee. Policies within the charity are
approved by the committee.
Commlttee members ar8 voted by the members 8t the Annual General
Meeting although they can join al Sny time if the trustees are in
agreement. We do not ask ¢ommittee member8 to have any pric
experience, just the willingness to want lo help and support our charity.
We offar free training through Educare Early Years Alliance to support
new Iruslees, All Iruslees must complete Ih&ir safeguarding and prevent
training as a minimum ￿quireMent. All committee members are subje¢ted
to our safer recruitment policy which includes slatutory OFSTED
requir8menl$ such as suitability, DBS Certrficales and references.
Thè minimum number of commille6 members is 3 and the maximum is 12.
You may choo80 to include
additional information, where
relevant, about..
policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees.,
the charity's organisational
structure and any wider
neI￿orK wtlh which the charity
relationship with any related
part18S'.
trustoes. conslderation of
major risks and the system
and procedures to manage
them.
Committee ar8 responsible for overseeing rlsks fa￿d by the Pre-school.
The three main risks are.. .
Reputation: lo ensure the succe5$ of Sweet Peas. Risk is
managed through safeguarding policies.. safer recruitment. staff,
children and family's wellbeing policie5 are all up to date and
enforced. To ensure all policies are up to date, ￿levant and
implemented.
Finances: to ensure Sweet Peas remains financially viable to
remain open. Risks such as low intake of children, managing Cash
flow, managing spending, ensuring reserve funds are adequate
and relevant. The committee meet once a month and alwa
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025

discuss finances to ensure the above risk factors are assessed
and resolutions can be made quickly should a risk arise.
Education: to ensure Sweet Peas delivers the EYFS statutory
framework. Regular reviews, training and development
discussions can help to ensure the framework is being
implemented within th8 setting alongside updating policies and
learning objectives.
Through risk management by the committee, the committee are satisfied
that the major risks identified have b88n adequately mitigated where
necessary. It is re¢ognised not all rlsks can be predicted or protected
against, but the committee feel all reasonable risks have be6n adequately
managed.
Section C
Ob'ectives and activities
Sweet Peas is an inclusive Pre-school providing childcare for Children
aged 24 years old. Sweet Peas works for the public beneflt, supporting
the local community. Sweet Peas key objedive 18 the early years
education and development of young children. Sweet Peas achieves this
by;"
Summary of the objects of tho
charSty 80t out In Il•
governlng document
Promoting children's care and Safety.
Dellverlng the EYFS and learning through play
Maintaining a working partnership with par8ntslcarers
Prornoting health and w&llb8ing
Providing a service to support chlldren and thelr famllies.
Enabling a safe and stimulating environment for children to
thrive
The main objective of Sweet Peas Pre-school CIO is lo provide high
quality childcare to the residents of Wootton and surrounding areas.
Sweet Peas supports children and parentslcarers in their Child's early
years development. Sweet Peas provides home from home childcare and
accepts all forms of govemmenl funded pay such as, 2 years funded for
both low-income families and the worklng parenvcarer funding. 15 hours
funded for ￿-Year-OldS and the extended 30 hours for working families.
Sweet Peas also supports a high number of SEND children each year,
relying on Small amounts of additional government funding to be able to
offer the individual support for each child.
Summary ofthe maln
activities undertaken for tho
publlc benefit In relatlon lo
these obiects {Include wlthln
this Saction Ihe statutory
declaration that trustses havo
had regard to the guidance
issued by tho Charlty
Commission on public
benefiti
Sweet Peas is an inclusive setting and as such we accommodate a range
of needs within the setting ensuring we are supporting all families within
our community.
We lake an actlve role in supporting low-income families by offertng
cultural capital experiences. Sweet Peas is an authorised signatory of the
food bank and LOFFS offering food vouchers and support to our families.
Our fees are set at a level to ensure the financial viability of the charity
but to make oursettin
as accessible as
ossible to all families.
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025

Sweet Peas objective is to continue to support the community. children
and families by providing a safe, nurturing and educational environment
for children aged 24 years. Our long-temi objective is to have our own
single use building where we can move away from being a pack away
setting. This would allow us to increase th8 size of the setting and
SUPFQrt more families.
SI￿1 Peas Is a memt*r of the hxal communty and takes part in events
suth as the Parish Council Remembrance Day memortal parade. We
held a very successful summer fet& in June 2025 and invited the
communty to come and Join us. We were lucky enough lo be sponsored
for our summer fete arKI provided a free magic show to th8 community.
Sweet Peas is an equal opportunity charrty and is committed to a working
environment free from any discrimination.
Sweet Peas is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
thildren and expeds all staff and volunteers to sharé this commitment.
Addltlonal datalls of obJectl¥es and actlvltles IOplSMal Infomwtlon)
The charity is heavily reliant on the help of volunteers and fundraislng
efforts. The committee i¥ fomied of amazing volunteers not only to assist
in fundraising bul also to supwrt the pre-schod in its overall functioning.
Sweet Peas 1$ very grateful lo everyone who gives up their free time lo
ensure the charity can go from strength to $tr8Wh.
INe are a small setting and have no bKJ investrnent plans. Whon we
review our finances, we are aNvays looking for opportunities to release
funds for resources, however. with the current climate and lack of
govemmenl funding this is in￿asinglY more challenging.
We have had some wonderful donations from our amazing parents such
a$ water trays, ride on bikes. both%s and craft materials. The local
communtty are also very sup[￿tiVe, we often have people dropping off
children's resources.
You may choose to includ8
further stalements, where
relevanl, about..
policy on grantmaking:
policy programme related
investment..
contribution made by
volunteers.
Section D
Achievements and performance
TAR Sgpt 2024 to Aug 2025

LT p
Section D
Achievements and performance
Summary ofthe main
achievements of the charity
during the year
Sweet Peas Pre-school CIO has provided a semce to around 50 families
this academ￿ year.
We have ￿mained with the same committee members. some of whos8
L*ildren have left the setbng but they have chosen to remain on the
committee. We S￿ grateful for everyone's support and commitment.
Chjr trjggest athievemenl trtis financial year has been the development of
our new garden. Prior lo our new garden. our outdoor space was limited
to a gated concrete area. Whilst this provided a lovely space for the
Children. we We￿ unable lo pul any pwmanent fixtures in this area. After
the supp)rt of the Parish Counctl who ha$ allowed us 10 develop a
grassed area of land our bulkling and a £10,OC() grant from a local
business, we now have a wonderful gated OLrtdt)or space. We have a
slide, dimbing frame, a road with a bridge, a reading hut and a much-
needed staff room- wh￿h also doubles up as a space to do focused
activrtie8 With small groum of children. We also have a sand pil and a
herb garden. Sweet Peas contributed their own ￿ndS towards the garden
project as well,. this consisted of reserved money for the project and
money from fvndraising. The children have hugely ben8frtted from the
garden and are eryoying ri8ky play, ImagKtative play, and sensory
eXFeri8n￿s.
We conllnued fundraising with our popular'movie nights, lor the thildren,
where they enjoy 8 movie, paty food and games. We hèld a Halloween
paty with prizes for best dress8d. We also had a wonderful Chrlslmas
raffle with s(*ne amazing, donated gts from local charities.
At Chrislmas we had a lovely nativity carol ¢oncert where parents
came to watch. On the last day before we broke up, we held a Christmas
party where Sants came Io vistt and gave all of IP* ¢hildren a little glft.
We have contlnued to er¥oy our leaverf8 school cebbration$,' this yaar
Safari Slu hosted our leave1$ party, followed by our very ovm graduation
eremony.
As a PrtrSdKLIl and charity. we support the gr￿h and development
within the earfy years seL#or. We have had some Bedford College
student placements join us and a work experien¢X Student from Wootton
Upper S¢hool. The children have enjoyed their trme with these student$.
We a￿ very proud of our apprenti￿ who has completed her Level 3 in
Early Years Childcare. We hope lo open the apprentice posrtion up again
ithin the coming year.
Section E
Financial review
Sweet Peas Pr￿sChool CIO has a sufficient Reserves Policy that is
reviewed regularty and to ensure that rt remains adequate (to cover 8u¢h
things as redundancies or dosure, relocation costs, unforeseeable
repairs). This is also in place to reserve money for future proj'ects like a
new building for Sweet Peas. The money will also ensure our charrty is
atAe lo o
ate durin
riods of h)wer income.
Brief ststsm8nt of the
charity's policy on reserves
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025

As of 31 August 2024. Sweet Peas holds £49265.93 in its reserves
account wtlh a £7.50 monthly bank charge coming out.
Sweet Peas ￿elveS policy has been reviewed and is continuing to be
held between £45 OC(1 and £50 000
Details of any funds materlally
In deficlt
NIA
Further Ilnanclal rovlew detalls Iopllonal Infomiallon)
The charity's principal source of income comes from funded ¢hildcare
hours from the local govemment as foll¢)ws.' .
2 years fvnded - up to 15 hours a week- low-income families
2 year funding- up to 15 hours a week- working familie8- this
increased to 30 hours.
34 year funded- up to 15 hours a week- temi after chlld tums 3
years
34-year fvnding- an adrfrtional 15 hours per week (referred to
as 30 hours funding)- for qualifying parenlslcarers.
This is supptemented by fee paylng hours invoiced directly to the
p8renlslcarers.
Sweet Peas total income from funded hours amounted to £184,045.12.
Sweet Peas total income from fee invoicing amounted lo £59,351.07.
Total from fundraising events amounted to £2328.97
Grant for Garden Project amounted to £10,000
Total spend for the Garden Project amounled to £50,069.03
Sweet Peas invested £40.069.03 into the Garden Project
Additional Funding associated wtth SEND amounted to £5939.59
There have been no other Investments this
You may choose to indude
additional infomlation, where
relevant about:
the charity's principal
SoUr￿S of funds (Including
any fundraisingl.,
how exp8ndilure has
supported the key objectives
of the charity;
Investment policy and
objectives induding any
ethical investment policy
adopted.
Section F
Other optional information
As a charity, the families of the children at Sweet Peas are assured that all income of the charity will be put
straight back into the charity, ensuring excellent childcare is provided and the advancement of education is
mel through our ethos of Ghild led play in a free )low setting.
Section G
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025
Declaration

The trustees declare that they havè approvad the trustees, report al)ove.
signed on bèhalf of the charlty's trustees
8ignaturel81
Full namel81
Posltion (eg Secrotsry, Chair.
et¢)
Nicola O'Halloran
Chair
Datfr
TAR Sept 2024 to Aug 2025

SWEET PEAS PRE SCHOOL CIO
Charity Number 1172751
AGcounts & Indepandont Accountants Roview
Yoarended 31 August 2025

SWEEf PEAS PRE SCHOOL CIO
Charlty Number 1172751
INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST2025
INCOME
Faos & Grants
Fees
59,351.07
Nursery Educallon Grant 184,045.12
Grants
10.030.00
AddltK)n81 Fundlng
5,939.59 259,385.78
Staff RèlnbuTsemènts
Train￿9 Rè4mburs8mgnl
Staff Uniform
Fundralslng
Childran's Unifo
Gener81 Fundr81$lng
Donatlons
Other
Interest
MIS￿11$nO0us
EXPENDITURE
Staff
Wag8
Training
Staff Unifom
Other
Premlses
Rent
Equipment Rèpair
Chlldrgn'5 Rg$ources
Equipment
Glfts and Events
Ma18rlals
Con8um8blori
Food l Orlnk
ot Lunche$
Admln15tratlon
Ganeral
Payroll admin Mits
B.T.Ilntem8t
Audllor fees
Insuronco
Partnl relmbursemonts
SubslOl8t8ad
Mlsc8118neous
Fundral8lng
Cost inCUr￿d In fund ralsin
Cost ol Unllorm
Cogt of Ilerns Pur¢hased
Inv¢stment
Gbrden Project
186,933.56
1,316.63
1,795.38
1,301.58 191,347.15
6,223.87
4.500.80
10,724.67
300.30
1,628.67
400.00
5,019.26
1,134.60
6,153.86
2,328.97
4,139.61
6,693.00
10,832.61
279.94
279.94
S78,40
1,237,20
5,688 51
720.00
1,707.66
19.50
1.296.75
1.838.62
13,086.84
1.749.74
348.99
2.096.73
S0,C69.03
50,069.03
Sulpkns I ID8llcill Y￿rI0 Dat•
122.338.001
261972.69
Totsl
261972.69
Total
Roconeillatlon of movem6nt In lund8
Opening funds as al 1 Sep 2024
Surplus I (Deficill
Closlny Funds a¥ at 31 Aug 2024
152,544.05
22,338.00
130 206.05
Helll os
Petty Cash
Bank
Reserves
80,940.12
49 265.93
130 206.05
TOTAL

SWEET PEAS PRE SCHOOL
Charity Number 1172751
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
As a Iruslee of the charity l undèrstand that Iho tru8tees 8re responslbla for ke&plng proper 8¢counling records as w811 as
the detection of fraud and mistatemsnl.
Th6 Iruslea8 are 8lso responslble for 6nsurfng the Annu81 Report Is in a¢xordan¢e wlh Unitsd Kingdorn Accounting
Siondards Iunlled Klngdom Generally A￿pIed Accounting Practice).
Any relèvant matters Inonel that would gffect the outcome of the r8vlew or flnanclalg have been ralsed wllh thè Exiemal
Reviewer.
Nlcola O'Halloran (Chalr of Preschool Board of Truste•sl Date..
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION
I rgport in respect of my exBminat4on of the •nc1088d Ilnan¢lo16. carried out In ¥¢cordance wllh the gengr81 Diraclk)n$ gfven
by the Charity Commi88lon. An axamination Includes 8 r•vlow ol th8 8ccountlng records kept by the eharlty and
¢omp8ri$0n of th8 accounts pmsanlgd with those r8COTds.11 a180 Includ88 consSderallon of any unusual Ilern8 or
d15closures In the accounts and ststrklng explanalSons frorn you as trustees concernlng any such matters. The procadures
undertaken do not provbde all the evldence that would be requlred In an audlt and consequently no oplnion Is given as to
whother Ihe a￿Ount$ present a 'lrue and fair view and the report 18 limited lo Ihose matt8rs $01 out in tha slalemènl below.
In connecllon ￿th our revlew. no matter has come lo our attention that,.
Buggos18 tho Charity has not kapt acc8ptsbl8 accounting reo)rd8
- that th8 figures as 3hown In tho In¢0￿ and exp8ndltur8 8CCOUnt are not In a￿Ordance ￿th th08e records
I have come across no other matters In conne¢llon ￿th the examinatlon to whkh artenllon should bè drawn in IhSs report In
order lo enab18 a proper und&rstgndlng ol the flgures to be reached.
Alex Chandlor ACA
Sygma
Chartered Accountants
Extemal roviawer
28th Januo
Dato
2026

SWEET PEAS PRE SCHOOL CIO
Charity Number 1172751
AGcounts & Indepandont Accountants Roview
Yoarended 31 August 2025

SWEEf PEAS PRE SCHOOL CIO
Charlty Number 1172751
INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST2025
INCOME
Faos & Grants
Fees
59,351.07
Nursery Educallon Grant 184,045.12
Grants
10.030.00
AddltK)n81 Fundlng
5,939.59 259,385.78
Staff RèlnbuTsemènts
Train￿9 Rè4mburs8mgnl
Staff Uniform
Fundralslng
Childran's Unifo
Gener81 Fundr81$lng
Donatlons
Other
Interest
MIS￿11$nO0us
EXPENDITURE
Staff
Wag8
Training
Staff Unifom
Other
Premlses
Rent
Equipment Rèpair
Chlldrgn'5 Rg$ources
Equipment
Glfts and Events
Ma18rlals
Con8um8blori
Food l Orlnk
ot Lunche$
Admln15tratlon
Ganeral
Payroll admin Mits
B.T.Ilntem8t
Audllor fees
Insuronco
Partnl relmbursemonts
SubslOl8t8ad
Mlsc8118neous
Fundral8lng
Cost inCUr￿d In fund ralsin
Cost ol Unllorm
Cogt of Ilerns Pur¢hased
Inv¢stment
Gbrden Project
186,933.56
1,316.63
1,795.38
1,301.58 191,347.15
6,223.87
4.500.80
10,724.67
300.30
1,628.67
400.00
5,019.26
1,134.60
6,153.86
2,328.97
4,139.61
6,693.00
10,832.61
279.94
279.94
S78,40
1,237,20
5,688 51
720.00
1,707.66
19.50
1.296.75
1.838.62
13,086.84
1.749.74
348.99
2.096.73
S0,C69.03
50,069.03
Sulpkns I ID8llcill Y￿rI0 Dat•
122.338.001
261972.69
Totsl
261972.69
Total
Roconeillatlon of movem6nt In lund8
Opening funds as al 1 Sep 2024
Surplus I (Deficill
Closlny Funds a¥ at 31 Aug 2024
152,544.05
22,338.00
130 206.05
Helll os
Petty Cash
Bank
Reserves
80,940.12
49 265.93
130 206.05
TOTAL

SWEET PEAS PRE SCHOOL
Charity Number 1172751
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
As a Iruslee of the charity l undèrstand that Iho tru8tees 8re responslbla for ke&plng proper 8¢counling records as w811 as
the detection of fraud and mistatemsnl.
Th6 Iruslea8 are 8lso responslble for 6nsurfng the Annu81 Report Is in a¢xordan¢e wlh Unitsd Kingdorn Accounting
Siondards Iunlled Klngdom Generally A￿pIed Accounting Practice).
Any relèvant matters Inonel that would gffect the outcome of the r8vlew or flnanclalg have been ralsed wllh thè Exiemal
Reviewer.
Nlcola O'Halloran (Chalr of Preschool Board of Truste•sl Date..
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION
I rgport in respect of my exBminat4on of the •nc1088d Ilnan¢lo16. carried out In ¥¢cordance wllh the gengr81 Diraclk)n$ gfven
by the Charity Commi88lon. An axamination Includes 8 r•vlow ol th8 8ccountlng records kept by the eharlty and
¢omp8ri$0n of th8 accounts pmsanlgd with those r8COTds.11 a180 Includ88 consSderallon of any unusual Ilern8 or
d15closures In the accounts and ststrklng explanalSons frorn you as trustees concernlng any such matters. The procadures
undertaken do not provbde all the evldence that would be requlred In an audlt and consequently no oplnion Is given as to
whother Ihe a￿Ount$ present a 'lrue and fair view and the report 18 limited lo Ihose matt8rs $01 out in tha slalemènl below.
In connecllon ￿th our revlew. no matter has come lo our attention that,.
Buggos18 tho Charity has not kapt acc8ptsbl8 accounting reo)rd8
- that th8 figures as 3hown In tho In¢0￿ and exp8ndltur8 8CCOUnt are not In a￿Ordance ￿th th08e records
I have come across no other matters In conne¢llon ￿th the examinatlon to whkh artenllon should bè drawn in IhSs report In
order lo enab18 a proper und&rstgndlng ol the flgures to be reached.
Alex Chandlor ACA
Sygma
Chartered Accountants
Extemal roviawer
28th Januo
Dato
2026