The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The charity's objectives and principal activities as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association continue to be that of offering appropriate play, education, care facilities and training courses, 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. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objectives remain in place and there has been no change in these during the year.
Meadow Brook continues to be well known in the local community and the nursery is recommended by our families to others.
Meadow Brook has changed the funded hours offering to cover the core education part of the day. Wrap-around care is offered at breakfast, tea time and twilight.
In support of enabling parents to access the activities provided by Meadow Brook, this year we organised a trip to Africa Alive for children and families. Meadow Brook supplied a bus for the travel.
Meadow Brook works with the Saxmundham Community Fridge Group to combat food waste and facilitate distribution to the wider community of food items.
Meadow Brook provides a homely and inclusive environment that supports every child and enables them to achieve their full potential.
To continue to further the charity's objectives and principal activities and ensure that it is available to the wider community:
Meadow Brook welcomes visits from other professionals and strives to have good working relationships.
Staff are committed to maintaining an up-to date approach to practice and develop their understanding.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
These accounts reflect nine years of offering full day care places from birth to five years, for fifty weeks per year. We continue to believe that this is a substantial offering for the local community, providing high quality care in a safe and secure environment. Our staff remain highly trained and experienced.
We continue to support staff to further their qualifications. This has included individual staff taking training on short courses of interest than can and have benefited other staff members across the setting when learning is fed back to the team and implemented as appropriate. Three staff members have completed their Level 5 qualification with the support and backing of the nursery. Meadow Brook has been able to support one of our play assistants to now enrol on a Level 2 qualification. This staff member is classed as a mature student and this opportunity means she can focus on her chosen career path post prioritising her family.
We continue to evolve our curriculum and implementation to best support and nurture the children in our care. We continue to strive for a curriculum at Meadow Brook that enables all children in our care to thrive.
This year and next will be an exciting one for the nursery as we continue to professionalise Meadow Brook. Our new logo and uniform have been agreed and have since been launched (June 2025).
As the Early Years sector continues to experience issues with retaining existing staff and employing new staff members, we have faced some struggles with staffing ourselves, however, we have been able to continue to operate. Meadow Brook's well-being programme has been successful and is heading towards being a staple of our work place culture.
Meadow Brook has made the decision for the following year to reduce the holiday club to reception age children only.
The accounts show a net surplus for the year of £12,536 (2024: net deficit of £4,655, restated after a prior year adjustment).
As at 31 May 2025, the charity had closing unrestricted funds available of £261,136 (2024: £248,600, restated after a prior year adjustment).
Meadow Brook Playcare continues to be the only early years setting within Saxmundham which operates full day care places from birth to five years, however there are other early year providers within the local area with which we compete. As such it is important that we retain sufficient funds to secure our operations and to ensure we can cope if demand fluctuates.
We continue to provide a company pension scheme which has increased our costs and we are impacted by the National Living Wage increases.
The trustees have given due consideration to the finances of the charity and the reserves policy as outlined below and are of the opinion that the charity is a going concern.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
There are plans to remove a temporary porta cabin and replace it with an extension to the main building, to create two new rooms in the nursery allowing us to increase our capacity.
We are currently working with Suffolk County Council for this extension project and have been provisionally granted £169,000 towards the estimated cost of circa £500,000. We are actively seeking further grants from other organisations to fund the rest of the project costs.
We are also in the process of obtaining quotes for the expected building costs of the project. If we are successful in receiving further grants, then building works could commence in the summer of 2026 with the whole project expected to be completed over the next 2-3 financial years.
Meadow Brook Playcare is a company limited by guarantee in the United Kingdom, registration number 06593494, incorporated on 14 May 2008 and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. The directors of the company are also trustees of the charity, charity number 1129278. Eligibility for membership of the charity, and membership of the board of trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. There are no restrictions in the governing document on the operation of the charity or on its investment powers, other than those imposed by general charity law.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
When new or additional trustees are required, the beneficiaries and client organisations are invited to submit nominations, and subject to their compliance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, they are considered by the governing body of trustees for election.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Meadow Brook Playcare (the charity) for the year ended 31 May 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 7 to 15 form part of these financial statements.
Meadow Brook Playcare is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Blyth House, Rendham Road, Saxmundham, IP17 1WA.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
These accounts include some restated figures after making a prior year adjustment in relation to a now determined deferred income position which arose at the charity's previous year end date. Further explanation and disclosure of the adjustment made to the prior year is shown at note 19.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
The Charity does not currently have any restricted funds.
Income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
Charitable activities are measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts and other sales related taxes.
Resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis. Most expenditure is directly allocated to cost categories on the amount attributable to that activity in the year. Charitable activities costs includes costs of preparation of the statutory accounts.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Investments
Resources, Ofsted fees and food
CRB, recruitment, training and clothing costs
Website costs
Bank charges and sundry expenses
Rent
Rates
Insurance
Light, heat and water
Waste disposal and cleaning costs
Repairs and maintenance
Telephone, photocopier, stationery and computer software
Accountancy, payroll and professional fees
None of the trustees were reimbursed expenses during either year.
One of the trustees, Emma Howard, was also employed by the charity for the entire year as the manager. The cost relating to her employment for the year, including Employer National Insurance and Employer Pension Contributions was £38,988 (2024: £32,615).
There were no other transactions with trustees or any persons closely connected with them or related parties in either year.
The average monthly number employees during the year was:
No employees received employee benefits excluding employer pension costs of more than £60,000 in either year.
The key management of the charity comprises of the trustees and the manager (also appointed as a trustee during the year) and the duty manager. The total employment benefits for the key management personnel of the school were £70,123 (2024 : £59,187).
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used.
There are no designated funds that have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.