## **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:
- Chairpersons: Carly Rice and Emma Mylum
- Treasurer: Jade Smith
- Secretary: Taylor White
- 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:
- Ensuring the Preschool is managed in accordance with its constitution and applicable regulations
- Acting in the best interests of the children and families served
- Safeguarding the Preschool’s assets and ensuring proper financial management
- 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:
- To provide care and early years education for children aged 2½ to 4 years
- To support children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
- To prepare children for transition into primary education
- To offer a safe, secure and inclusive environment for all children regardless of background
- To work collaboratively with parents and carers to support each child’s individual needs
- 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**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Signature:
(Independent Examiner)
Date: _____22 06 2026_______________________
Signature:
(Chairperson)
Date: ____________________________
**----- End of picture text -----**
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**|
|---|---|---|
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**|
|---|---|---|---|
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