2024-07-31-accounts - Brightwell Pre-School

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/08/2023 Period start date To 31/07/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Brightwell Pre-school

Charity registration number: 900373

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The aims of the Preschool are to enhance the development and education of children primarily under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the need of their children through community groups and by: A) Offering appropriate play, education and care facilities, family learning and extended hours groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children whatever their race, culture, religion, means or ability; B) Encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local areas; C) Instigating and adhering to and furthering the aims and objects of the Pre-school LearningAlliance.
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	Most of our permanently employed staff are qualified above the minimum standards or training towards this level and we continue to invest in staff development. All of our staff are trained in paediatric First Aid and continue to refresh mandatory training. We have employed a new staff member who is able to run Forest School sessions for the children as part of our standard offer. The outside decking needs to be removed and replaced with a new astro-turfed surface after safety concerns were raised in previous years. This is to take place in August but has been fun-raised for during this financial year. We have also moved towards a more energy- efficient preschool, moving to LED lighting throughout.

		The preschool trustees have continued to support families to access their fully funded entitlement throughout the introduction of greater entitlements for working families and for younger children. The preschool works closely with the school on a programme to support the transition of children from the preschool to school incorporating information evenings, guidance to parents, settling in sessions, opportunities to get involved in school activities such as sports day and the use of the school grounds for P.E lessons, all helping children to get used to the environment and feel supported during the transition. The Trustees of the preschool seek different ways of involving the parent community in the running of the preschool such as: - invitations to parents to attend general meetings and sit on the committee - invitations to parents to participate in the parent survey - supporting the maintenance of the preschool - a continued presence within the community, such as displays in the phone box art gallery, trips with the children to the farms in the village, visits out and about within the village at least once a week, articles in the local village magazine - involvement in community events such as representation in the children’s zone at the Brightwell music festival.
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 given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

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

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers

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	●As is often the case, we began the academic year low on numbers and saw an increase throughout the year ●One new permanent staff member was employed, who has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience. The staff team is feeling steady and we have benefited from this. ●After school club now runs Monday- Thursday and has seen increasing numbers signing up ●Completed a major maintenance project, replacing old, worn out decking with new astroturf, which has transformed the use of the space. Fundraising for this through local events was very successful, and we received some support in the form of donation of materials from local businesses. ●Further building maintenance projects completed, including replacing the kitchen and renewing the lighting.

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

Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set

Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	It was a successful year for fundraising, as we were able to hold our annual events, including wreath making, a carol concert, children’s welly walk, cake sales and a pub quiz.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other
Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Position at year end showed a surplus: a. Decision taken to increase voluntary contribution fee for parents to increase preschool fee income b. Intake was variable but positive during the year; c. The cost of energy and food increased; d. Pay rises in line with minimum wage increase and providing a fair wage increase to all staff, despite receiving limited increase in Government funding; and e. Spending on preschool premises and maintenance items, such as repairing and cleaning outside decking and replacing a dishwasher.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We aim to have £24,x000 in reserves, the equivalent of 3 months running costs of the preschool. Funds held in the fundraising account (see accounts) were kept in reserve this year in order that they could be added to the total funds in the deposit account, providing the total reserve amount recommended by the Charities Commission). We are still in line with the preschool learning alliance recommendations of 3 months operatingcosts.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£12,179 in deposit account plus £8,594 in fundraising account
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23

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	Principal funding sources are: Government grant funding Private fees Fundraising
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution – Preschool Learning Alliance Model Preschool Constitution 2011
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Trust
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	Elected by committee

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
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Brightwell Preschool
Other name the charity uses	Previously Allsorts Preschool (changed in December 2019)
Registered charity number	900373

Charity’s principal address BRIGHTWELL CoE PRIMARY SCHOOL BRIGHTWELL-CUM-SOTWELL WALLINGFORD OX10 0QH

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Barbara Isaacs	Co-chair	Whole year
Emma Diserens	Co-chair	Whole year
Tom Fewson	Treasurer	Whole year
Gillian Kitchen	Secretary	Whole year
Ester Atkinson- Sweetman	Member	Whole year
Charlotte Smith	Member	Whole year
Emmy Burd	Member	Whole year
Charlotte Calvert	Member	Whole year

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

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
Ruth Kimber
Angus Dart
Caroline Annetts

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets NA held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for 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)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Tom Fewson ~~ee~~ Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair, etc) ~~rs ee~~ Date 27 / 05 / 25 ~~[~~

BRIGHTWELL PRESCHOOL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31 JULY 2024

Current Account

Income	£
Fees	46,221
Grant	88,795
Donations	1,815
Other	4,752






Total	141,583

Expenditure	£
Salaries	106,186
Premises costs	2,683
Energy costs	3,883
Catering	3,835
Consumables & Equipment	4,514
Training	158
Payroll company	1,058
Cleaning	1,201
Other	3,299
Transfer to fundraising account	599
Total	127,416

Surplus for period = £14,168

Statement of condition

31-Jul-22 31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 Balance a/c £28,385 £18,778 £32,946

Deposit account

Income	£		Expenditure	£
Interest	30
Total	30		Total	-

Surplus for period = £30

Statement of condition

31-Jul-22 31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 Balance a/c £12,149 £12,149 £12,179

31-Jul-22

31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 40,534 £30,927 £45,125

Total of Current account and Deposit account £

Fundraising account

Income	£	Expenditure	£
Fundraising/donations	3928	Premises costs	2,326
Transfer in from main account	599	Fundraising expenses	316
Total	4,527	Total	2,642

Surplus for period = £1,885

Statement of condition

31-Jul-22 31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 Balance a/c £ 8,499 £ 6,709 £ 8,594

I confirm that I have examined the books, vouchers and bank statements (“the accounting records”) presented to me by Brightwell Preschool and the Statement of condition as of 31[st] July 2024, together with the income and expenditure account for the year to 31[st] July 2024, represent a fair and reasonable view of the accounting records so presented

........................................................ Sophie Smith Independent Examiner Dated 27/5/25

Signed on behalf of all the trustees on

........................................................ Tom Fewson Treasurer

Dated 27/05/25

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of	Charity Name BRIGHTWELL PRESCHOOL

On accounts for the year	31 July 2024		Charity no
ended			(if any)

Set out on pages
		(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)		(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2022. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) 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.

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

Signed:		Date:28 May 2025 ~~—~~	Date:28 May 2025 ~~—~~
Name:	SOPHIE SMITH

Relevant professional	Chartered Accountant (CA)
qualification(s) or body
(if any):

Address:	Croft House, Brightwell cum Sotwell

Oct 2018

IER

Wallingford

OX10 0RJ

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 .

Oct 2018

IER