CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's report on the FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts Section A Independent ExaMineS Report Report lo the trustees Whitchurch on Thames Pre School On accounts for the year ended 3151 March 2025 Charity no (if any Set out on pages 14 Attached I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust") Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'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 examinalion, 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 confim 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 seclion 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 sel out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue 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 wilh the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. pi se dele the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Robert H C Plumb Relevant professional qualification{sl or body Ilf any): B Comm CA ISAI FRICS Address: Uplands Cottage Whitchurch RG8 7HH
Treasurer's Summary
Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School For the year ended 31 March 2025 Cash Basis
Summary of 2024/2025 Performance
Business Income and Expenditure
Due to significant capital spending on constructing a new building, the charity ran at a deficit of almost £69K this financial year. The additional fundraising and spending related to the building project make it more difficult to compare this year with previous years.
However, if we exclude building-related expenditure and associated fundraising—and assume a similar level of fundraising to previous years—we would be showing a surplus of between £10K and £15K. This is a marked improvement on the losses of the last financial year.
This surplus in operating income and expenditure is chiefly due to:
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Savings made on staff costs during the year
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Higher income from funded spaces
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Better management of savings, leading to more interest being accrued
Building Project & Reserves
We have paid for approximately 94% of the construction costs of the new building. We are currently in discussion with the contractor regarding the completion payment, which was originally expected to be around £8K, with a further £5K due after the 12-month defect period has elapsed.
Our current reserves stand at approximately £61K, of which we estimate that £20K–£25K could be allocated to the outside space and storage.
Looking Ahead
We will need to monitor the charity’s finances carefully in the new financial year. With increases in the minimum wage and other changes, we can expect our staffing bill to rise by at least 15%, or approximately £10K in the next financial year.
Financial Year End Report 2025 Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School
Receipts and Payments
Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School For the year ended 31 March 2025
| Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School For the year ended 31 March 2025 |
Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School For the year ended 31 March 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| Operating Income | |
| Business Income | |
| Fees and lunch club 32,049 32,813 |
|
| Grants 75,450 53,176 |
|
| Registration 137 - |
|
| Bank interest 3,982 1,293 |
|
| Total Business Income 111,619 87,282 Other Income |
|
| School Lunch Fees 3,191 - |
|
| Children's Uniform (207) 25 - |
|
| Other Income - 93 |
|
| Total Other Income 3,216 93 |
|
| Total Operating Income 114,834 87,375 Operating Expenditure |
|
| Employment | |
| Staf Wages 69,205 71,373 |
|
| HMRC 5,635 5,156 |
|
| Training 645 485 |
|
| Fees inc Agency & Recruitment 1,118 1,076 |
|
| Staf Uniforms 80 - |
|
| Total Employment 76,683 78,090 Operating Costs |
|
| Stationery and Printing 237 787 |
|
| Educational costs 4,514 1,821 |
|
| Food and drink 247 124 |
|
| Hygiene and Sanitation 673 1,155 |
|
| Insurance 891 2,076 |
|
| Advertising 17 150 |
|
| Memberships and Registrations 2,320 2,167 |
|
| School Lunches 3,402 2,897 |
|
| Total Operating Costs 12,300 11,177 Utilities |
|
| Electricity 636 933 |
|
| Gas 413 588 |
|
| Telephone & Internet 701 906 |
|
| Total Utilities 1,749 2,427 Property |
|
| Building Project 206,409 - |
Financial Year End Report 2025 Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School
Receipts and Payments
| 2025 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| Cleaning 1,080 855 |
|
| Repairs and maintenance 1,459 12,892 |
|
| Fire and security 423 778 |
|
| Outdoor Equipment 759 463 |
|
| Allotment 290 432 |
|
| Total Property 210,420 15,420 Other expenses |
|
| Children's Uniform (320) 228 - |
|
| Gifts 322 640 |
|
| Miscellaneous 132 392 |
|
| Occasions / Entertainment 266 561 |
|
| Outdoor Learning 84 147 |
|
| Total Other expenses 1,032 1,739 |
|
| Total Operating Expenditure 302,185 108,854 |
|
| Operating Surplus / (Defcit) (187,350) (21,478) Fundraising |
|
| Fundraising & Donations 119,265 3,696 |
|
| Cost of Fundraising (534) (158) |
|
| Fundraising Purchases (364) (482) |
|
| Fundraising Surplus / Defcit 118,367 3,056 |
|
| Combined Surplus / (Defcit) (68,983) (18,423) |
Financial Year End Report 2025 Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School
Statement of Financial Position
Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School As at 31 March 2025
| Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School As at 31 March 2025 |
Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School As at 31 March 2025 |
|---|---|
| 31 MAR 2025 | |
| Current Assets | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | |
| CAF Cash Account 2,344 |
|
| CAF Gold Account 57,453 |
|
| Equals Money - GBP 230 |
|
| Total Cash at bank and in hand 60,027 |
|
| Accounts Receivable 2,687 |
|
| Total Current Assets 62,714 Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year |
|
| Accounts Payable 1,479 |
|
| Total Creditors: amountsfalling due within one year 1,479 |
|
| Net Current Assets (Liabilities) 61,235 |
|
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities 61,235 |
|
| Net Assets 61,235 Capital and Reserves |
|
| Current Year Earnings (67,341) |
|
| Surplus / Defcit 128,576 |
|
| Total Capital and Reserves 61,235 |
Financial Year End Report 2025 Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1st April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
Charity name: Whitchurch on Thames Pre-School
Charity registration number: 1183193
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The charity works for the public benefit having as its objects the development and education of children and young people in particular by: (1) promoting their care and safety. (2) promoting their education and promoting parental involvement. (3) promoting their health and wellbeing. (4) providing services to support them and their families and carers. (5) providing services to individuals holding membership of the CIO; and (6) furthering the aims of the Pre-school Learning Alliance. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identifed in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
In addition to the main activity of providing a safe, caring and nurturing learning environment for our children, the main activities relate to our ongoing plans to renovate and improve the setting. In April 2024 when carrying out routine roofing maintenance we discovered the roof was in a very poor state of repair and a potential health and safety risk. Taking the advice of structural engineer, we made the building safe for use but concluded it was at the end of its life and we needed to come up with an urgent plan to replace the building. Over the next six months we: • Selected a contractor for the building rebuilt • Obtained planning permission and the agreement of our landlord Oxfordshire County Council • Negotiated alternative premises to house the childcare provision in the neighbouring primary school • Fundraised just under £120,000 through fundraising activities, donations and charitable and public |
| grant scheme. Building work commenced at the end of October the new building was completed in mid-December 2024. The new building is an asset to our local community and a benefit to the wider community and families of all backgrounds to access the preschool for years to come. The committee’s and trustees’ achievement has been recognised with a local community award. The Whitchurch Award was given “recognising the remarkable achievement of the parents, committee and trustees at the Whitchurch Pre-School in designing, constructing and fitting out a brand-new school building in a remarkably short time”. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In working towards our charitable purposes and in carrying out the activities outlined above the trustees have had due to the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. |
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 celebrated it’s 30-year anniversary in 2023 and continues to serve the local community and beyond. We have had children attend from local villages and many preferring our setting to those that may be closer to them. With the building of a new classroom facility this year we have a permanent, sustainable setting in which to continue our work. The new building is a modern energy efficient construction with an air sourced heat pump providing underfloor heating and hot water. We are now well placed to continue to provide local children with a safe, nurturing and welcoming place in which they can learn and develop. We have made use of the team’s forest school accreditation to utilise the preschool’s allotment and take the children for regular visits which they have enjoyed immersing themselves in a wide range of activities, enjoying the natural world around them. |
| The preschool continues to work closely with other local providers, such as the school, art café and church to fundraise and embed itself within the local community. The building project and save our preschool campaign brought in help from local builders, surveyors, engineers, architects and ecologists. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Financial Review | ||
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | (please can you provide a statement on this summarising the past year to date) |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | It is our policy to hold reserves to cover normal operating costs for 3 months. Other reserves are currently held to finish off the project to replace the building and improve the playground space. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £61,235 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | NA |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | NA |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Increases in staffing costs and changes to government funding for childcare places, represent a risk to the preschools finances and risk the charities ability to whether any future demographic changes that result in fewer children attending the early years provision we provide. |
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 |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are elected when a new committee is formed before the summer school holidays, for the coming academic year. Should a trustee step down, they are replaced. Our charity handbook includes a section on Trustee responsibilities and |
Trustee declaration
trustees
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Whitchurch-on Thames Preschool |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | N/A |
| Registered charity number | 1183193 |
| Charity’s principal address | Eastfield Lane, Whitchurch on Thames Reading RG8 7EJ |
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