2025-07-31-accounts - Brightwell Pre-School

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/08/2024 Period start date To 31/07/2025 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	The preschool aims to: • Provide a safe, nurturing, child-centred learning environment • Deliver high-quality early years education following the EYFS • Offer Forest School experiences • Maintain high staff-to-child ratios • Support children’s social, emotional, and physical development Our Staff: 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 mandatorytraining.

Throughout this year trustees have been and continue to focus on the below themes and issues:

•	Increasing operational professionalism
	(fire safety, admin systems,
	communication)
•	Rising complexity of children’s needs
	and responsive environmental
	adaptations
•	Growing pressure on the sustainability
	of the parent-run committee model
•	Continued emphasis on staff wellbeing
	and retention
•	Strengthened financial oversight and
	modelling
Educational and Developmental Outcomes
•	Children made strong progress across
	EYFS prime areas: communication and
	language, personal/social/emotional
	development, and physical
	development.
•	Staff introduced enhancedphonics and
	early numeracysessions, improving
	school-readiness indicators.
•	SEN support plans were implemented
	for children requiring additional help,
	with positive feedback from families.
•	Strong partnership with the primary
	school supported smooth transitions
	for children entering Reception - 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 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.

Statement confirming Para 1.18 The trustees confirm they have complied with whether the trustees have the Charity Commission’s guidance on public had regard to the guidance benefit. Brightwell Preschool provides issued by the Charity affordable early years education to all children Commission on public in the community, including those with SEND benefit or additional needs. The preschool supports families through accessible communication, flexible provision, and community-based events.

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	Educational Provision Brightwell Preschool continued to deliver high-quality early years education with strong staff-to-child ratios and a nurturing, child-centred ethos. Staff maintained a warm, positive environment and adapted provision to meet the increasingly wide range of support needs among children, which the Manager noted continue to rise each year . Several environment improvements were implemented to enhance independence, inclusivity, and learning: Going forward, the trustees intend to: • expand outdoor learning provision • invest in staff training, particularly SEN and early literacy • strengthen digital administration systems • increase community fundraising to support capital improvements

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

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Fundraising remained essential. Key activities include: • Love My Preschool Day • Welly Walk Challenge • Village Fete participation The committee continued to refine its fundraising strategy to maintain income and community involvement.
	Para 1.41

Investment performance against objectives 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. Intake was variable but positive during the year; b. The cost of energy and food increased; c. 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 d. 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
Leanne Wilson	Chair	From October 2025
Michelle Wells	Treasurer	From October 2025
Gillian Kitchen	Secretary	Whole year
Ester Atkinson- Sweetman	Member	Whole year
Charlotte Smith	Member	Whole year
Lyndsey Clark	Member	From October 2025
Holly Marriot	Member	From October 2025

– 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

ME Wells Signature(s) Full name(s) Michelle Wells Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair, etc) Date 15/05/2026

BRIGHTWELL PRESCHOOL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31 JULY 2025

Current Account

Account
Income	£
Fees	49,336
Grant	88,759
Donations	1,395
Other	474
Transfer from fundraising account	1,568





Total	141,532

Expenditure	£
Salaries	116,429
Premises costs	3,244
Energy costs	2,739
Catering	5,046
Consumables & Equipment	1,836
Training	873
Payroll company	690
Cleaning	1,375
Insurance	1,993
Other	8,230
Total	142,455

Deficit for period = (£923)

Statement of condition

	31-Jul-23	31-Jul-24	31-Jul-25
Balance a/c	£18,778	£32,946	£32,024

Deposit account

Income £ Expenditure £ Interest 30 Total 30 Total - Surplus for period = £30 Statement of condition 31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 31-Jul-25 Balance a/c £12,149 £12,179 12,209 (calculated)	£		Expenditure	£
	30
	30		Total	-

Total of Current account and Deposit account

31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 31-Jul-25 £30,927 £45,125 £44,233

Fundraising account

sing account
Income Fundraising/donations Total	£	Expenditure	£
	4,267	Premises costs	3,876
		Fundraising expenses	85
		Transfer to main account	1,568
	4,267	Total	5,529

Deficit for period = (£1,262)

Statement of condition

31-Jul-23 31-Jul-24 31-Jul-25 Balance a/c £ 6,709 £ 8,594 £7,332

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 2025, together with the income and expenditure account for the year to 31[ st ] July 2025, represent a fair and reasonable view of the accounting records so presented

Sophie Smith Independent Examiner

Dated 10/11/25

Signed on behalf of all the trustees on

Tom Fewson Treasurer

Dated 15/11/25

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of

Charity Name

BRIGHTWELL PRESCHOOL

31 July 2025

On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages

(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2025.

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 examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have 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:

10 November 2025

Name:

IER

SOPHIE SMITH

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

Chartered Accountant (CA)

Address:

Croft House, Brightwell cum Sotwell

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 .

IER