ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
CHARITY COMMISSION REGISTERED NO. 1173988
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 August 2025
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Annual Report
for the year ended 31 August 2025
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 2025
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2025.
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 2025 were:
Mrs Lisa Hollis Chairperson Mrs Lucy Driver Mrs Tsitsi Samantha Iredia Mrs Helen Rosalind Robson Mrs Holly Wright Ms Belinda Needham Appointed 1 April 2025 Mrs Anne Cook Retired 1 April 2025
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:
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valued and respected;
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kept informed;
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consulted;
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involved;
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included at all levels.
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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
for the year ended 31 August 2025
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Review of the year
During the year ended 31 August 2025, the charity provided the pre-school facility to children in the area and the wider community of surrounding villages.
As at 31 August 2025, the current account amounted to £7,536, the savings accounts amounted to £30,184 and the petty cash £149.
We have continued to ensure that all the children and their families are in a safe, warm, welcoming and stimulating environment where each one of the children have been given generous care and attention because of our ratio of qualified staff to children as well as volunteer students and helpers which are also trustees.
The children have the opportunity and encouragement to join in with other children and adults, to grow, play learn and develop together, this helping to enrich and develop local community for the long term. All children are helped and encouraged to build on their over all development and knowledge by giving all children experiences that they may not have a chance to experience and by all children having a personal key person, whom have a strong understanding and knowledge of where each child is at in their development through ages and stages and what next steps the children needed to develop further in their care and education.
The key person supports families through ideas, lending bags and homework activities to give families the tools they may need to support their child/ren at home creating a strong, firm working together ethnic between the school and the home environment.
Staff and volunteers cover all the areas in the early year’s foundation stage, these being:
Prime areas:
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Personal, Social and Emotional development;
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Physical Development;
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Communication and Language.
Specific areas:
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Literacy;
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Mathematics;
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Understanding the world;
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Expressive Arts and Design.
Over the years and in the current period we have continued to work on the Children’s confidence and build on their independence to leave familiar adults and enter a new environment where they are settled into preschool. We have recently started home visits before a child begins so the children had a familiar face in their key person on their first day.
The children are encouraged to build relationships among adults and peers alike, we helped to develop this by ensuring we had information on what the children enjoy playing with and their interests at home. We asked parents/Carers for Photos of the child’s family and pets, which we displayed on our walls for the child’s first day to encourage a smooth transition and to support parents/carers on their first day of leaving their child, we send lots of photos of their child playing and having a good time, to ease that anxiety for the family too.
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for the year ended 31 August 2025
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Review of the year (continued)
The children are encouraged to follow a routine that encourages the development of individual independence which includes:-
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Removing and putting on own shoes and coats;
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Finding name cards;
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Placing personal possessions in required areas, e.g. lunch boxes and drinks on the lunch table;
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Use the toilet/potty*Hand washing and teeth cleaning;
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Choosing own activities / equipment;
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Pouring own drinks into a cup;
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Helping adults with jobs e.g. choosing a story for reading time, Helping set tables up for meals etc.
All important factors in growing up and becoming confident and independent.
We start the children’s educational skills by assessing and identifying where each and every child is at in their development and then we plan activities and provide resources to enable children to achieve their next goals.
Staff and volunteers complete training and develop their own CPD regular to ensure all their knowledge and skills are kept up to date. Staff and volunteers role model behaviours and play enabling children to learn important aspects of daily life and social skills such as taking turns, sharing and making relationships.
Acorns has been working on bridging the gaps between home and preschool by introducing the family app allowing staff to place photos observations and messages straight to parents/carers and encouraging parents to do the same, this opens up communication channels, not only for adults but also between adults and children. Each child has been given a book bag to take home, a book from the lending library they have chosen and share with their families
Future developments
We have recently opened a breakfast and after school club to help meet the needs of our families and giving staff more opportunities to help and support individual children who are struggling in some areas of their development.
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 2025
Reserves policy (continued)
The level of reserves expected to be required is approximately, £6,000 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 2025, amounting to approximately £27,000 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:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SOP 2019 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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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: …...................................... 2026
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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 2025, 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records, or
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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: …........................................ 2026
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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 August 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Income from:
Investments 523 - 523 244
Charitable activities 2 123,592 2,259 125,851 111,348
Fundraising 527 - 527 1,025
Total income 124,642 2,259 126,901 112,617
Expenditure on:
Costs of charitable activities 3 129,830 14 129,844 98,101
Grants paid out and administration - 2,259 2,259 2,260
Total expenses 129,830 2,273 132,103 100,361
Net (expenditure) / income (5,188) (14) (5,202) 12,256
Fund balances brought forward 53,481 144 53,625 41,369
Fund balances carried forward 48,293 130 48,423 53,625
----- 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 Page 6
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Assets and Liabilities Statement
at 31 August 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 6 10,539 Error 9,360
Current assets
Debtors:
Prepayments and accrued income 1,629 1,758
1,629 1,758
Cash at bank and in hand:
Current account 7,536 19,105
Reserve account 30,184 24,570
Petty cash 149 71
37,869 43,746
Current assets 39,498 45,504
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year:
Charitable activities' creditors 75 75
Accruals and deferred income 1,539 1,164
(1,614) (1,239)
Net current assets 37,884 44,265
Total assets less current liabilities 48,423 53,625
Income funds
Unrestricted funds 48,293 53,481
Restricted funds 8 130 144
48,423 Error 53,625
----- 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 …............................... 2026.
…..............................................
Mrs Lisa Hollis - Chairperson
….............................................. - Trustee
The notes on pages 8 - 12 form a part of these accounts Page 7
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 August 2025
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 2025
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 116,258 Household Support Grant - Employment allowance 6,963 Trips and outings 371 123,592 Included above Central Government funding 6,963 Local Government funding 110,071 117,034 Costs of charitable activities Unrestricted £ Wages and salaries 97,473 Social security costs 6,963 Outings 630 Training and course fees 90 Repairs and maintenance 10,104 Cleaning materials and waste disposal 1,604 Telephone and internet 550 Rent paid and hall hire 475 Rates 240 Licences 257 PLA insurance 994 Building insurance 1,109 Electricity 1,489 Computer costs 2,539 Refreshments and fund raising 234 Purchases of equipment, books and similar items 2,376 Postage, stationery and office expenses 254 Depreciation 1,158 Profit on disposal of fixed assets 455 Independent examiners fees 745 Legal and professional 35 Bank charges 56 129,830 |
Restricted £ - 2,259 - - 2,259 - 2,259 2,259 Restricted £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 - - - - 14 2025 2025 |
Total £ 116,258 2,259 6,963 371 125,851 6,963 112,330 119,293 Total £ 97,473 6,963 630 90 10,104 1,604 550 475 240 257 994 1,109 1,489 2,539 234 2,376 254 1,172 455 745 35 56 129,844 |
2024 Total £ 105,094 2,315 3,643 296 111,348 3,643 100,795 104,438 2024 Total £ 83,009 3,643 200 90 253 865 546 200 327 207 676 252 2,019 632 176 2,992 146 1,038 - 735 35 60 98,101 |
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3. Costs of charitable activities
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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Notes to the accounts (continued)
for the year ended 31 August 2025
4. Employee emoluments
There are no employees who received emoluments exceeding £60,000.
| Average number of employees during the year | 2025 No. 8 |
2024 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
| At 1 September 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 August 2025 Depreciation At 1 September 2024 Charge for the year On disposals At 31 August 2025 Net book value At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 Cost |
£ 14,370 196 - 14,566 7,835 674 - 8,509 6,057 6,535 Leasehold Property |
£ 7,389 2,180 (514) 9,055 5,348 412 (412) 5,348 3,707 2,041 Nursery equipment |
£ 3,443 290 (1,363) 2,370 2,680 71 (1,022) 1,729 641 763 Computers and IT |
Other assets £ 210 140 (99) 251 189 15 (87) 117 134 21 |
Total £ 25,412 2,806 (1,976) 26,242 16,052 1,172 (1,521) 15,703 10,539 9,360 |
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All the assets above are used by the charity in the furtherance of its objectives.
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.
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ACORN PRE-SCHOOL
Notes to the accounts (continued) for the year ended 31 August 2025
8 Restricted funds
| £ Interactive Play for Children 144 Household Support Grant - 144 £ Interactive Play for Children 211 Household Support Grant - 211 The funds are represented by: Tangible fixed assets £ Interactive Play for Children 130 Household Support Grant - 130 2024 Tangible fixed assets £ Interactive Play for Children 144 Household Support Grant - 144 Balance at 1 Sep 24 Balance at 1 Sep 23 |
£ 2,259 2,259 £ - 2,315 2,315 £ - 75 75 £ - 75 75 Incoming funds Incoming funds Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and in hand |
£ (14) (2,259) (2,273) £ (67) (2,260) (2,327) Other assets £ - - - Other assets £ - - - Outgoing funds Outgoing funds |
£ - - - £ - (55) (55) £ - (75) (75) £ - (75) (75) Transfers Transfers Liabilities Liabilities |
£ 130 - 130 £ 144 - 144 £ 130 - 130 £ 144 - 144 Balance at 31 Aug 25 Total Total Balance at 31 Aug 24 |
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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 2025
9 Comparative period
Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted £ Income from: Investments 244 Charitable activities 109,033 Fundraising 1,025 Total income 110,302 Expenditure on: Costs of charitable activities 98,034 Grants paid out and administration - Total expenses 98,034 12,268 Net (expenditure) / income |
Restricted £ - 2,315 - 2,315 67 2,260 2,327 (12) |
Total £ 244 111,348 1,025 112,617 98,101 2,260 100,361 12,256 |
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