Trustees’ Annual Report to 31 August 2025
The trustees present their annual report for Willow Bank Preschool (registed charity number 293012) for the year ended 31 August 2025. The report has been prepared to provide an overview of the Preschool’s governance, purpose, and activities during the period, in accordance with the responsibilities of trustees to act with due care, diligence and in the best interests of beneficiaries.
Trustees
The Preschool is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the charity.
The trustees serving during the year were:
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Chairpersons: Carly Rice and Emma Mylum
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Treasurer: Jade Smith
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Secretary: Taylor White
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Trustees/Committee Members: Rebecca Wellings, Emma Lockwoord, Hanne Deweer, Shannon Rosier
Appointment and Election of Trustees
Trustees are elected by the members of the Preschool, typically comprising the parents or guardians of children attending the setting. Elections are normally held at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where nominees are proposed and seconded by members and appointed through a formal vote.
Trustees may also be co-opted during the year where additional skills or capacity are required. All trustees serve on a voluntary basis and are subject to relevant safeguarding and governance checks.
This structure ensures that the governance of the Preschool is representative of its stakeholder group and operates in accordance with good charity governance principles.
Governance Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for:
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Ensuring the Preschool is managed in accordance with its constitution and applicable regulations
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Acting in the best interests of the children and families served
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Safeguarding the Preschool’s assets and ensuring proper financial management
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Maintaining appropriate systems of control, oversight, and communication
These responsibilities reflect the broader duties placed on trustees to act fairly, diligently, and in good faith.
Purpose and Objectives
Purpose
Willow Bank Preschool is a registered charitable organisation established to provide highquality early years education and childcare within a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment.
Objectives
The Preschool’s key objectives are:
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To provide care and early years education for children aged 2½ to 4 years
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To support children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
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To prepare children for transition into primary education
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To offer a safe, secure and inclusive environment for all children regardless of background
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To work collaboratively with parents and carers to support each child’s individual needs
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To promote positive health, wellbeing and early learning experiences
Activities
The Preschool delivers structured and play-based learning activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Activities are designed to encourage creativity, independence, and confidence, supporting children during their formative developmental years.
Public Benefit
The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Preschool operates for the benefit of the local community, providing accessible early years education and childcare services to families and contributing to children’s development and school readiness.
Financial Summary
During the year, total receipts increased by 9% to £198,334, compared with £181,373 in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by higher funded session fees and additional
session fees. Total payments also increased by 13%, from £165,949 to £186,751, principally reflecting higher staff costs, electricity costs, and repairs and maintenance expenditure.
The Preschool generated net receipts of £11,583 for the year, 25% lower than the £15,424 net receipts in the prior year. Although the Preschool remained in surplus, the operating margin reduced as costs increased at a faster rate than income. Cash reserves have increased from £204,125 to £215,708 at the year end, demonstrating a strong liquidity position and providing an appropriate level of financial resilience for future operating requirements and contingencies.
The report shows a financially sound Preschool with strong cash reserves and continued positive cash generation. The trustees must ensure that cost control is carefully monitored and additional fundraising opportunities are explored to maintain a positive financial outlook for the Preschool.
The trustees are satisfied that Willow Bank Preschool continues to operate in accordance with its objectives and governing principles, providing a valuable service to the community. The trustees remain committed to maintaining high standards of care, governance and financial stewardship.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on: 29/06/2026
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Carly Rice Chair of Trustees
Willow Bank Preschool
Duffield Road, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 4RW
Willow Bank Pre-school Registered Charity No. 293012
Receipts and Payments Accounts for 01/09/24 - 31/08/25
| Receipts Session Fees - Funded Session Fees - Additional Lunch Club Registration Fees Fruit/Snack Money Fundraising Income (NET) Salary Subsidies/tax refunds Interest Received Total Receipts Payments Salaries/PAYE/NI/Pensions Training Other Staff Costs Professional Fees Cabin Consumables Cabin Equipment Insurance/PLA Electricity Ground Rent Repairs & Maintenance Registrations/Subscriptions Safety/inspections/DBS Telephone/Broadband/SMS Website/Advertising/Software Printing/postage/photocopying Bank Charges Miscellaneous expenses Total Payments Net Receipts/(Payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
142,524 1,836 422 2,665 2,890 3,446 3,662 9,514 582 11,815 288 119 1,264 3,783 954 128 859 186,751 |
2024-25 £ 177,326 13,771 3,019 300 500 682 - 2,736 198,334 11,583 204,125 215,708 |
131,004 562 543 1,755 3,156 2,154 3,343 6,379 925 9,143 164 218 1,240 3,617 859 186 702 165,949 |
2023-24 £ 163,487 5,277 7,957 690 950 1,098 - 1,915 181,373 15,423.71 188,702 204,125 |
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Signature:
(Independent Examiner)
Date: _22 06 2026___
Signature:
(Chairperson)
Date: ____
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Signature: (Treasurer) Date: _____
Willow Bank Pre-school Registered Charity No. 293012
Receipts and Payments Accounts for 01/09/24 - 31/08/25
| Cash Funds Barclays Business Account Barclays Community Account Cash in Hand |
2024-25 £ 185,392 30,304 12 215,708 |
2023-24 £ 182,758 21,341 26 204,125 |
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Other Monetary Assets
Assets retained for use by Preschool
Pre school cabin Cabin fixtures and fittings Cabin furniture and equipment Games and Toys Personal Computers
Reconciliation of cash flow with closing bank/cash balances
Registered Charity No. 293012
| Opening cash balances as at 01/09/2024 Income minus expenditure for Sept 24 - Aug 25 Closing balance Closing cash balances as at 31/08/2025 Note 1 Late deposit Less late payments: Total late payments Deduct advance fee payment Opening bank account balance Community A/c 01/09/24 |
(unbanked receipts) £0.00 £52,910.29 |
Community account true balance (Note 1) Business Account Cash £21,341.45 £182,757.86 £26.17 Community account true balance (see Note 2 below) Business Account Cash £30,304.48 £185,392.41 £11.58 Note 2 £74,251.74 Less late payments: Total late payments £0.00 Deduct advance fee payment £56,543.84 £21,341.45 Closing bank account balance Community A/c 31/08/25 |
Totals £204,125.48 £11,582.99 £215,708.47 Totals 215,708.47 £ £86,848.32 £30,304.48 |
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CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR FNGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tha tru3teesl members of Willow Bank Pre School on accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charlty no (if any} 293012 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on Tny examination of the aGcoun15 of the above charity I'lhe Trust") for the year ended 31 August 2025. Re8ponsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustccs, you arc rcsponsiblc for tho prcparation of Ihc 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Comfflission Linder gection 145(51{b) of the Act. Independent examinèr's statément I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have Goiiie lo niy attention in coiiiiection with Ilie exaiiiiiiatioii (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect. the accounting récords were not kept in accordance with section 130 of Ihe Charities Acl., or the accounts did not aGcord with the accounting reGords', or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports} Regulations 2008 othor than any requiremonl thai the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is noi a maner considered as part of an independent examination. I have no Gon[5 and have Gome aGross no other matters in GonneGlion 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. Please dele¢e the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2210612026 Nama: Gisela Sharpe FCCA Relevant professlonal qualificatlonls) or body lif any). Association of Chartered Certified Accouniants Addrèss: 16 Lincoln Gardens IER Oct 2018
Twyford Reading RG10 9HU Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examinei needs lo hi9hlight maler1al matters of concern (89.8 CP32, Indp.pgnrlent Pxgmination of charity acr.oiintq' dirp.rtions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018