Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1 January 2024 Period start date To: 31 December 2024 Period end date
Charity name: St John's Preschool
Charity registration number: 296147
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 the charity is to provide childcare services for children aged 2-5 years of age. |
| 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 |
The main activities are to care for the children during term time. We also carry out activities during the year to develop relationships between staff, children and their families and additionally raise funds which can be used to benefit the Pre-School. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commissionʼs guidance on public benefit when planning all events and determining how best to utilise any funds raised. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making. | Para 1.38 | n/a |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment. |
Para 1.38 | n/a |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Members of the Pre-School Committee are mostly volunteers and assist in organising fund raising activities for the benefit of the setting. They subsequently participate and assist in the running of those activities. |
| Other |
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 | A proportion of the monetary income of the Pre-School both through educational funding and via fundraising activities and donations has been utilised to fund improvements to the setting and to purchase equipment to ensure that the children have plenty of toys / activities etc to occupy and educate them at all times. Our intake numbers are constantly monitored to ensure that we have sufficiently trained staffed to ensure regulatory ratio numbers of staff to children are always maintained and hence to enable us to maximise (where possible) the intake numbers of children attending the setting. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set. |
Para 1.41 |
Objectives are set primarily at the AGM where key areas of improvement are identified. For example, this year we agreed to make improvements to the outside garden area at the setting. In addition, the children were able to enjoy a visit by a national delivery firm lorry and to attend the local pantomime show at Christmas time. All these were achieved by re-investing fund raising and donation income streams. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set. |
Para 1.41 | Our fundraising objectives are always to provide the best possible facilities for the children attending the setting. Therefore, our aim is always to raise funds wherever possible to facilitate that need. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | We hold a Christmas raffle, Easter bonnet day, a sponsored bounce activity etc all aimed at re-investing that income back into the setting. |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Please see attached report. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We employ several members of staff and therefore reserves are held primarily to cover the unlikely event of redundancy payments being required. In addition, we may be asked by the owner of the building (St. John’s Church) to contribute to any major maintenance issues encountered with the building. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Please see attached accounts report. The Savings account amount is the minimum held in reserve. £31,088.34 |
| 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 | We pay an annual rental charge for use of our Pre-School room to the adjacent St. Johns Church. Whilst there is absolutely no indication to suggest we would have to vacate the premise, then if we did, we would have to seek alternative accommodation. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Educational fees paid either privately directly from the child's parents or funded by the local Council. Other income streams are via fund raising activities and / or private donations. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted. |
Para 1.46 | Our investment policy is always to ensure that the setting is a clean, tidy, safe and enjoyable place for the children to attend. Coupled with this is to ensure we provide the necessary equipment for a wide range of thought-provoking activities to occur. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity. |
Para 1.46 | We constantly monitor our financial position and therefore eliminate risks as far as possible. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
Committee consisting of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Manager, Deputy Manager and Fund raisers. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Pre-School Constitution |
| , How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Written constitution document. |
| 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 | All Committee member positions are reviewed annually at the AGM. Names of nominees are tabled in advance (or indeed can be at the meeting) and subsequently voted upon for election / re-election. |
Additional information (optional)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | 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 our current Trustees / Committee members are either staff or hold experience of being Trustees at third party local charities. All new Committee members are required to obtain a satisfactory DBS check. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works. |
Para 1.51 | Committee consisting of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Pre-School Manager. Deputy Manager and Fund- raising volunteers. In addition to the Manager and Deputy Manager the Pre-School employs five other full-time members of staff. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | We have a working relationship with the Church Warden of the adjacent St. John’s Church with whom we consult if any alterations / maintenance is required at the setting. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | St. John’s Pre-School, Newbury |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | n/a |
| Registered charity number | 296147 |
| Charity’s principal address | St. John’s Pre-School St. Richard’s Room St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7PR. |
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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GaryWalsh | Chair | Pre-School Committee | ||
| Rebecca Sykes | Secretary | |||
| Tanya Vokins | Treasurer | |||
| Hannah Millson | Pre-School Manager | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved. Director name n/a
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others.
Description of the assets held in this capacity. n/a Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how n/a these falls within the custodian charity’s objects. Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets n/a from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser |
Name Address |
Name Address |
|---|---|---|
| Educatio n |
Early Years | West Berks Council |
| Building | Church Warden | St. John's Church, Newbury |
| Finance | EJBC Chartered Accountants |
Toomers Wharf, Canal Walk, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1DY. |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
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) Gary Walsh Full name(s) Gary Walsh
Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc)
Date
08/10/2025
St.John's Pre-School, Newbury Charity No. 296147 Accounts 2024
| St.John's Pre-School, Newbury Charity No. 296147 Accounts 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| 1st January 2024 | Bank Open |
| 1st January 2024 | Bank Open |
| Income | |
| (carried forward) Dec 2023 Attendance fees - funded | |
| Attendance fees - funded | |
| Attendance fees - private | |
| St.John's Church contributions | |
| Cash Deposits | |
| Donations | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Bank Interest credits |
Expenditure St.John's Church room hire charges Staff wages, HMRC tax payments and pension scheme contributions Cleaning staff wages Rugbytots Hartbeeps BT bills Amazon bills Website maintenance Equipment purchases Snack purchases Miscellaneous Accountants O2 mobile telephone charges Google Job adverts Staff training SJPS Uniform clothing Tapestry Excess of Expenditure over Income 31st December 2024 Closing Balance Metro Savings Account 31st December 2024 Closing Balance Metro Current Account
I have examined the Bank Statements and records of the St.John's Pre-School and is in accordance with these records.
Signature:
EJBC Chartered Accountants
2nd October 2025
| ing Balance Metro Bank Savings Account ing Balance Metro Bank Current Account Total |
£ 30,744.40 40,166.18 |
|---|---|
| 70,910.58 | |
| Total | 113.50 105,584.06 22,852.25 1,330.00 947.55 525.00 1,484.83 343.94 |
| 133,181.13 | |
| Total | 6,246.48 96,239.71 2,506.00 2,448.00 1,295.00 811.21 2,179.00 1,109.40 3,573.91 1,873.85 6,922.16 1,008.00 330.23 29.88 457.18 585.00 530.00 210.00 |
| 128,355.01 | |
| -4,826.12 | |
| 31,088.34 44,648.36 |
|
| 75,736.70 | |
J confirm that the above Income and Expenditure
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees St John's Preschool On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity no (if any) 296147 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 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 ("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 Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement 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 section 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 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. Signed: Date: 2.10.25 Name: Emma Thomas Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any): ICAEW Address: EJBC, 2 Toomers Wharf, Canal Walk Newbury, RG14 1 DY IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018