2023-08-31-accounts - Little Acorns, Crossgates

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/09/22 to 31/08/23

Charity name: Little Acorns, Crossgates

Charity registration number: 1181630

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The aim of Little Acorns is to advance the education and development of pre- school children in Crossgates & the surrounding areas, through the medium of the English language. This is done by: a) providing high quality childcare in a safe and modern environment; b) Focus on development of the Childrens social, emotional, physical, and creative skills, through play and good childcare practices c) arranging other charitable activities in order to help parents support their children’s education. d) providing provision for a 2+ setting as defined by Powys County Council
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	Little Acorns provides education and childcare for children 3+ via government funding term time, a 2YO room and running holiday clubs for 2–11- year-olds. The focus is the provision of reliable, high- quality care at affordable prices for the local area. Concentrating on the individual needs of each child and family, to ensure the children reach their full potential through a variety of challenging planned activities. Little Acorns also occasionally hosts public fun events to promote its name in the local area, support the community and fund raise.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have	Para 1.18	Confirmed. The setting provides benefit for all the children within the setting, their

had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit		families and the wider community. By offering high quality, affordable childcare the setting ensures Children in the local area have access to safe and secure childcare whilst their families are able to return to work to provide benefit in the local community. The setting also provides employmentfor6 staff.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	No grant making is made by Little Acorns at this time nor planned in the future.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	All policies with regard to the running of the setting or handling of its finances are in accordance and supported by the local authority and Care Inspectorate Wales
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Volunteers are welcomed at the setting but require an enhanced DBS and relevant references to ensure safeguarding of clients. Trustees of the charity are all volunteers and provide their time without payment.
Other		Any investments or purchases made must relate to the aims of the CIO and the best interests of its users.

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 Children in the setting have all received excellent childcare during the years and enjoyed learning and celebrating:  St Valentines  Pancake Day  World Book Day  Mother Day  Fathers Day  St Davids Day  King Coronation  Sports day  Christmas  Children in Need Trips during the year included Pumpkin Picking and to a farm park which the children and staff thoroughly enjoyed. The staff completed numerous training course and engaged with the local authority and outside agencies. Holiday club has continued to run providing care for 2-11 years. During the year the 2-year-old room which was new in March 2022 developed and took on more children. This new room provides additional childcare for younger children further increasing the abilities for families in the local area to access high quality and affordable childcare.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other		N/A

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At the end of the year the Charity had funds of £22,654 this was a reduction in the year of £27,363. The reduction was driven by 2 key factors outline below alongside a general increase in costs such as utilities and staff wages. Government income increased partially in the year to offset the inflation but will not be fully offset until the current year.  ~£6k of fees related to provision during the year had not been paid at the year end  the newly opened 2YO room required 2 new members of staff. The uptake of Children using the room increased during the year but didn’t cover the additional costs across the period. The outstanding fees were subsequently paid during the current financial year The income from the 2YO room has continued to increase as more children access the provision. In addition, government funding for part of the 2YO childcare has now been secured to start in September 2024. The accounts for the current year to end of June 2024 show a surplus generated of £18,665, based on current forecast for July and August the full year should drive a surplus.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Little Acorns has made the decision to continue to hold £12,000 to ensure staff wages and bills can be paid in case of any enforced closure.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£12k
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Funding comes from Government and local council related to the “Childcare offer for

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Wales” in addition grants are received from local authority for specific applications e.g. for new equipment. In additions parents pay for fees not covered by the childcare offer including holiday club which runs outside of the usual school term.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	Any investments or purchases made must relate to the aims of the CIO and the best interests of its users.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Key risks are:  Parents do not pay their top up invoices resulting in loss of income.  Keeping and retaining high quality staff to provide provision.  Any changes to government policy on childcare funding as large amount of the income relates to government funded childcare.
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	CIO
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	Volunteers.

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	All trustees must hold an enhanced DBS as registered with CIW as Registered Individuals.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	n/a
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	None
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Little Acorns
Other name the charity uses	N/A
Registered charity number	1181630
Charity’s principal address	Grounds of Crossgates CP School Crossgates, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD16RE

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(if any)
	Sarah Jarman
	Clare Haslam
	StaceyPowell		1/9/22 to 17/2/23

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for n/a 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)

Rebecca Pritchard (Manager/Person in Charge

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

n/a

Other optional information

n/a

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) S. Jarman Full name(s) Sarah Jarman Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc) Date 12/7/2024

C Haslam Clare Haslam

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Little Acorns, Crossgates

On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages	31 August 2023	Charity no (if any)	1181630

	11 and 12

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/08/2023.

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 6 August 2024 Signed: Name: Susan Davies Relevant professional MAAT qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: PAVO, Unit 30, Ddole Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 6DF

Page

Little Acorns 1181630

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023

Receipts PCC Term Funding PCC / PHB other Income LA and WAG Funding Parent Funding Uniforms School Meals Other Income TOTAL receipts Payments Salaries & oncosts Training DBS Utilities Telephone & Broadband Repairs & Renewals Insurance Stationary / Consumables Equipment Governance PCC School Meals Snacks Uniform Purchase Trips / Events Play Equipment & Craft Outdoor Environment Total Payments Total surplus / (deficit) Cash Fund B/Fwd 1 September 2022 Cash fund C/Fwd 31 August 2023	General Funds Restricted Funds Total 2023 £ £ £ - 23,369 23,369 16,051 16,051 54,134 54,134 48,538 48,538 88 88 2,193 2,193 - - 121,004 23,369 144,373 113,190 23,369 136,559 516 516 105 105 3,685 3,685 991 991 1,819 1,819 486 486 2,063 2,063 3,374 3,374 290 290 2,955 2,955 4,166 4,166 1,120 1,120 5,558 5,558 7,075 7,075 972 972 148,366 23,369 171,736 27,363 - - 27,363 - 50,017 - 50,017 22,654 - 22,654	2022
		£ 21,568 12,758 54,181 31,138 128 2,251 10
		122,033 95,855 210 220 3,224 885 300 437 1,432 3,008 670 3,838 2,523 1,953 2,767 9,803 63
		127,188 5,154 - 55,172
		50,017

Page

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023

Cash Assets Bank accounts - Barclays 43132269 Debtors Assets Retained for Charity's own use Computer & Printer 3 x iPads Smart TV Desk, Filing Cabinet & Office Essentials Educational Resources Childrens Tables & Chairs and other furniture Games Consoles Outdoor Equipment inc Bikes Kitchen Resources Robot Lawnmower Liabilities Accounts approved by: Chair Print Name: Signature Date	Cash Assets Bank accounts - Barclays 43132269 Debtors Assets Retained for Charity's own use Computer & Printer 3 x iPads Smart TV Desk, Filing Cabinet & Office Essentials Educational Resources Childrens Tables & Chairs and other furniture Games Consoles Outdoor Equipment inc Bikes Kitchen Resources Robot Lawnmower Liabilities Accounts approved by: Chair Print Name: Signature Date	31/08/2023 £ 22,654 General Funds Restricted Funds Total 2023
		- - - General Funds Restricted Funds Total 2023
		- - -