2024-08-31-accounts - Acorn Pre-School CIO

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

CHARITY COMMISSION REGISTERED NO. 1173988

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 August 2024

ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Annual Report

for the year ended 31 August 2024

INDEX

1	- 4	Trustees' Annual Report
	5	Independent Examiners Report
	6	Statement of Financial Activities
	7	Assets and Liabilities Statement
8	- 12	Notes to the accounts

ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Trustees' Annual Report

for the year ended 31 August 2024

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2024.

The Acorn Pre-School was originally constituted by deed of gift and was a registered charity, No. 518623 on 30 March 1987. The charity is converted and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales on 27 July 2017, registered number 1173988. The funds were transferred across on 1 February 2021.

The registered address is Acorn Preschool, The Portacabin, Whaplode Primary School, Mill Lane, Whaplode, Spalding, Lincs, PE12 6TS

This is also the principal address for the operation of the preschool.

The charity's trustees and committee members during the year to 31 August 2024 were:

Mrs. Lisa Hollis Chairperson Mrs. Anne Cook Mrs. Lucy Driver Mrs. Tsitsi Samantha Iredia Mrs Helen Rosalind Robson Appointed 22 April 2024 Mrs Holly Wright Appointed 22 April 2024 Mrs. Stacey Stafford Resigned 30 May 2024

Non Committee Members

Mr. M. Hollis Treasurer

Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, 53-54 Market Place, Boston, PR21 6LS.

Independent Examiner: Ken Maggs, Chartered Accountant, Hoekman Way, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 3HE.

Aims and objectives

To enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups and by offering appropriate facilities and training courses, encouraging the study of needs of the children and instigating and adhering to and furthering the aim of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

The trustees will normally be volunteers from parents of children attending the pre-school and therefore their tenure will be relatively short-term. Nominations are agreed at the Annual General Meeting and will be those persons willing to offer the skills and experience required by the charity.

The pre-school may further the aims by providing accommodation, equipment and engage staff, raise money, make payments as necessary, fix and collect fees, control the admission of children to the groups, take up membership of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and take such other action as may benefit the pre-school.

Public benefit

The trustees consider that the objectives and activities of the charity are in accordance with the Charity Commissions' general guidance on public benefit because the children leaving the pre-school are considered to be well placed for the furtherance of their education.

The trustees regard all children and their families as members of our setting who have full participatory rights. These include a right to be:

valued and respected;
kept informed;
consulted;
involved;
included at all levels.

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 August 2024

Review of the year

During the year ended 31 August 2024, the charity provided the pre-school facility to children in the area. As at 31 August 2024, the current account amounted to £19,105, the savings accounts amounted to £24,570 and the petty cash £71.

We have continued to ensure that all the children and their families are in a safe and stimulating environment. Each of the children is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children, as well as volunteer helpers which are also trustees.

The children have the opportunity to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together and thus helps to develop the local community for the long term. They are all helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being helped to build on what she/he already knows and can do. In order to achieve these and their ambitions, each child has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfying progress.

The staff and volunteers cover all the seven areas in the early years foundation stage, which are personal, social and emotional development, Physical development, mathematic development, communication and language, literacy, knowledge and understanding of the world and expressive arts and design.

Over the years and in the current period, we have continued to work on the children's confidence and build their independence to leave familiar adult, and enter a new environment when they are settling into preschool. The children are encouraged to build relationships among adults and peers alike.

The children are given the independence to wash hands, use cups, use the toilet / potty. We aim to ensure that they learn the ability of putting own coats and shoes on and taking them off again. These skills and learning and following daily routines are all important factors in growing up.

We start the children's educational skills by helping them to learn colour naming and recognition and counting in rota to 5 and then 10, setting them up for their coming years of education and providing them with the best start possible.

The staff and volunteers assist the children with sitting and listening to stories for short periods of time encouraging them to join in with singing and rhyming. These systems help them with their learning to share and taking turns.

All the above continuous activities result in showing that the children are building confidence to ask for help and choose their own activities. They are developing confidence to find comfort in familiar adults and the confidence to explore new activities and opportunities developing senses and emotions.

Some of the activities we have undertaken are as follows:

Role play doctors and babies - imaginative play, playing cooperative.
Hand painting spiders - discussing textures and counting spider legs.
Help the veg escape from the evil pea (Vegetables are taped down in tray for children to release) - Refining motor skills and vegetable identification.
Recognising their own names and beginning to trace over their cards - Name recognition and phonics.
Christmas theme treasure hunt, (tinsels and baubles hiding items chosen from around the room) working on developing speech and communication development.
Pass the Parcel working on taking turns.
Scissor control and safety understanding.
Letter to Santa - expressing ideas and thoughts.
Make playdough - looking at measuring and exploring mixing.
Making marks in sand - developing fine motor skills and hand dominance.

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 August 2024

Review of the year (continued)

Although the following are events for enjoyment that have occurred during the year, they have also provided valuable learning for the children:

Guess who the baby in the photo is' - sense of self and pride, beginning to notice the differences within each other.
Halloween themed tough tray with jelly and eyeball - discuss textures and building vocabulary.
Painting real pumpkins - looking at and discussing the world around us. Also included exploring the inside of the pumpkin - discussing textures.
Baking breadstick sparklers - learning how to combine different ingredients to create a yummy treat while discussing fire safety.
Sound Lotto - working on attention and listening skills.
Dark den and light sensory play - self reflection, self regulation time and developing emotions.
Hoop playing outside - fine and gross motor skills.
Large construction digger in the mud kitchen - imaginative play and turn taking.
College rocket pictures - fine motor skills and awareness of rockets. Children learn to take pride in their own work.
Throwing and catching ball skills - fine and gross motor skills.
Conker playdough - developing hand control and muscle formation.
Creating Xmas pictures using shapes - shape recognition and naming.
Making Xmas cards - Sense of people who are important to us.
Christmas lights on the Xmas tree (Threading coloured cotton buds onto a box) - colour recognition and naming.
Make reindeer food using natural ingredients - developing vocabulary and communication skills.

The trustees are very grateful for the assistance of the staff and parents at these events which makes the whole outing more exciting for the children. They have, jointly provided the high quality care and education for children below statutory school age which cannot be done by the trustees alone.

Future developments

The trustees are aware that funding is currently tight with government cuts and tax increases. There is little they can do about the economic climate but they can try to raise funds internally and continue to provide the children of the area with this much needed support and learning.

The trustees with to be above to build funds in order to undertake building repairs to the portacabin and to also ensure that they are able to continue in the long term. This does not only require funds but will need more volunteers and some taking on the longer term supporting roles as trustees.

Reserves policy

The charity has a small reserves policy in place due to the nature of the charity. The trustees will be made aware of the changes in Government policy well before such an eventuality would ever occur. Therefore, if Government funding was ever to be removed then the charity would be forced to cease. In such circumstance, the trustees consider that it would only be necessary to hold reserves to cover redundancy. The Government would be required to provide a replacement for the benefits offered by the charity.

Funding is received at the start of each term and the summer break so government funding dictates the continuance of the charity. Any excess funds that the charity is able to raise can then be put back into expenditure for the good of the children attending.

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 August 2024

Reserves policy (continued)

The level of reserves expected to be required is approximately, £5,000 to cover the term costs if funding was not to be available. The trustees are expecting the level of funding required to cover repairs and maintenance in ongoing years to the portacabin and equipment is likely to be significant.

The current excess funds at 31 August 2024, amounting to approximately £34,000 is likely to be short of this requirement but any suplus is always available for spending on the children inproving the activities they are able to undertake and safely.

The trustees would love to be able to expand the facilities and provision to enable a wider coverage, at the date of the last Ofsted report in May 2022, they had 20 places available but 31 children on the roll. This means that not everyone can be provided the necessary and valuable start to life and education.

Going concern

The pre-school has many plans for the future as indicated above and expects to be here now and for future generations to continue with the good work within the local community.

Statement of Trustee's Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles of the Charities SOP 2019 (FRS 102);
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed by order of the Trustees:

Mrs. Lisa Hollis - Chairperson

Date: 20 January 2025

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Independent Examiners Report

I report to the charity on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 2.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records, or
the accounts do 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.

K.J. Maggs B.A., F.C.A. Chartered Accountant Spalding

Date: 21 Janaury 2025

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 August 2024

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----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Income from:
Investments 244 - 244 33
Charitable activities 2 106,415 2,315 108,730 98,996
Total income 106,659 2,315 108,974 99,029
Expenditure on:
Fundraising costs - - - 35
Costs of charitable activities 3 94,391 67 94,458 97,947
Grants paid out - 2,260 2,260 1,700
Total expenses 94,391 2,327 96,718 99,682
Net income / (expenditure) before transfers 12,268 (12) 12,256 (653)
Transfers 8 55 (55) - -
Net income / (expenditure) after transfers 12,323 (67) 12,256 (653)
Fund balances brought forward 41,158 211 41,369 42,022
Fund balances carried forward 53,481 144 53,625 40,716
----- End of picture text -----

All income and expenditure in both the current and prior year are regarding unrestricted funds.

The notes on pages 8 - 12 form a part of these accounts

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Assets and Liabilities Statement

at 31 August 2024

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----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 6 9,360 10,238
Current assets
Debtors:
Charitable activities' debtors - 67
Prepayments 1,758 934
1,758 1,001
Cash at bank and in hand:
Current account 19,105 27,184
Reserve account 24,570 3,457
Petty cash 71 210
43,746 30,851
Current assets 45,504 31,852
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year:
Charitable activities' creditors 75 54
Accruals 1,164 667
(1,239) (721)
Net current assets 44,265 31,131
Total assets less current liabilities 53,625 41,369
Income funds
Unrestricted funds 53,481 41,158
Restricted funds 8 144 211
53,625 Error 41,369
----- End of picture text -----

We approve these accounts and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation.

These accounts were approved by the trustees on 20 January 2025.

Mrs. Anne Cook

Mrs. Lisa Hollis - Chairperson

The notes on pages 8 - 12 form a part of these accounts

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 August 2024

1. Accounting policies

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

Expenditure which complies with these criteria is identified to the fund.

Income recognition

All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities when the conditions for receipt have been met and there is reasonable assurance of receipt. Where a claim for repayment of income tax has or will be made, such income is grossed for the tax recoverable.

Grants are recognised in the statement of financial activities when the conditions for receipt have been met.

Investment income is accounted for in the period in which the charity is entitled to receipt.

Donations and all receipts from charitable activities are reported gross and are accounted for on a receivable basis.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is included in the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis and has been allocated as detailed below:

Charitable activities include the costs of the activities defined by the charity's aims for the benefit of the persons sited in the charity objects. Costs of charitable activities includes the direct costs of the activities and depreciation on related assets. Where such assets relate to more than one functional cost category, they have been allocated on either an estimate time or floor space basis, as appropriate.

Within charitable activities, governance costs include the costs which relate to the general running of the charity as opposed to the direct management function inherent in generating funds, service delivery and programme or project work.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost, less estimated residual value, of all tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives. The rates generally applicable are:

Games, toys and equipment 10% reducing balance

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Notes to the accounts (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

2. Incoming resources from charitable activities

Unrestricted £ Fees 105,094 Household Support Grant - Trips and outings 296 Fundraising 1,025 106,415 Local Government funding included above 98,480	Restricted £ - 2,315 - - 2,315 2,315 2024	Total £ 105,094 2,315 296 1,025 108,730 100,795	2023 Total £ 97,105 1,700 191 - 98,996 84,841

3. Costs of charitable activities

Unrestricted £ Wages and salaries 83,009 Outings 200 Computer costs 632 Milk purchases - Training and course fees 90 Repairs and maintenance 253 Cleaning materials and waste disposal 865 Telephone and internet 546 Rent paid and hall hire 200 Rates 327 Licences 207 PLA insurance 676 Building insurance 252 Electricity 2,019 Refreshments and fund raising 176 Purchases of equipment, books and similar items 2,941 Postage and stationery 50 Subscriptions 96 Depreciation 1,022 Independent examiners fees 735 Legal and professional 35 Bank charges 60 94,391	Restricted £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51 - - 16 - - - 67 2024	Total £ 83,009 200 632 - 90 253 865 546 200 327 207 676 252 2,019 176 2,992 50 96 1,038 735 35 60 94,458	2023 Total £ 83,756 370 73 29 45 1,186 954 564 400 201 586 745 252 1,594 225 4,781 92 132 1,141 726 35 60 97,947

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Notes to the accounts (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2024

4. Employee emoluments

There are no employees who received emoluments exceeding £60,000.

Average number of employees during the year	2024 No. 8	2023 No. 8

5. Payments to trustees

No trustee has been paid in respect of their position as a trustee. All trustee work has been on a voluntary basis only.

Due to the nature of the charity's activities several trustees are also employees. However, no element of their remuneration is linked to their role as trustees.

6. Fixed assets

Portacabin Extension Fridge Fence and gate Outdoor equipment Computer Police car, dumper truck and tractor Filing cabinet Henry Hoover Skills compact discs Camera Computers and laptops Chairs Play shelter Paint "n" Store tray units Sophia armchairs Book and toy storage units Tables and chairs Playhouse Oil heaters Room dividers High wooden fence Outside sink Water dispenser Post box LED lighting New rectangular table Six new radiators New laminate floor Outdoor sorting boxes and table Drying rack Two tablets	Cost £ 1,227 2,819 81 576 3,284 499 353 30 99 94 90 2,693 169 1,126 515 326 187 630 200 100 346 3,560 390 166 20 987 352 2,990 675 512 156 160 25,412	Depr'n £ 1,133 2,601 76 531 3,030 460 307 26 87 82 77 2,126 145 945 412 261 150 459 82 34 119 1,224 134 45 7 268 96 810 182 97 30 16 16,052 2024	NBV £ 94 218 5 45 254 39 46 4 12 12 13 567 24 181 103 65 37 171 118 66 227 2,336 256 121 13 719 256 2,180 493 415 126 144 9,360	Cost £ 1,227 2,819 81 576 3,284 499 353 30 99 94 90 2,693 169 1,126 515 326 187 630 200 100 346 3,560 390 166 20 987 352 2,990 675 512 156 - 25,252	Depr'n £ 1,122 2,577 75 526 3,002 456 302 26 86 81 76 2,063 142 925 401 254 146 440 69 27 94 964 106 32 5 188 67 568 127 51 16 - 15,014 2023	NBV £ 105 242 6 50 282 43 51 4 13 13 14 630 27 201 114 72 41 190 131 73 252 2,596 284 134 15 799 285 2,422 548 461 140 - 10,238

All the assets above are used by the charity in the furtherance of its objectives. Page 10

ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Notes to the accounts (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2024

7. Related parties and control

The trustees consider that there are no related parties to the charity requiring disclosure.

The charity is controlled by the Board of Trustees and no individuals can or do exert control.

8 Restricted funds

£ Interactive Play for Children 211 Household Support Grant - 211 £ Interactive Play for Children 211 Household Support Grant - 211 The funds are represented by: Tangible fixed assets £ Interactive Play for Children 144 Household Support Grant - 144 2023 Tangible fixed assets £ Interactive Play for Children - Balance at 1 Sep 23 Balance at 1 Sep 22	£ - 2,315 2,315 £ - 1,700 1,700 £ - 75 75 £ 211 Cash at bank and in hand Incoming funds Incoming funds Cash at bank and in hand	£ (67) (2,260) (2,327) £ - (1,700) (1,700) Other assets £ - - - Other assets £ - Outgoing funds Outgoing funds	£ - (55) (55) £ - - - £ - (75) (75) £ - Transfers Transfers Liabilities Liabilities	£ 144 - 144 £ 211 - 211 £ 144 - 144 £ 211 Balance at 31 Aug 23 Balance at 31 Aug 24 Total Total

Interactive Play for Children fund relates to the balance of a grant received from Lincolnshire County Council in order to provide interactive play and learning for the young children within a safe and controlled environment.

Household Support Grant fund relates to funds provided to schools and early years providers for children eligible for free school meals and early years pupil premium and to support to care leavers in supported living accommodation received from South Holland District Council. A small surplus is eligible for use against the costs of administration by the school.

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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL

Notes to the accounts(continued) for the year ended 31 August 2024

9 Comparative period

Statement of Financial Activities

Unrestricted £ Income from: Charitable activities 97,296 Total income 97,329 Expenditure on: Fundraising costs 35 Costs of charitable activities 97,947 Grants paid out - Total expenses 97,982 (653) Net expenditure	Restricted £ 1,700 1,700 - - 1,700 1,700 -	Total £ 98,996 99,029 (35) (97,947) (1,700) 99,682 (653)

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