| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| for |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| for |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Contents of the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| Page |
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 7 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 8 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 9 |
| Balance Sheet | 10 | to | 11 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 12 | to | 18 |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2026. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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). |
| OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
| The objective for which Stepping Stones is established is to provide a safe and stimulating play environment for pre-school children with special needs by |
| (1) promoting their care and safety; |
| (2) promoting their education and promoting parental/care givers involvement; |
| (3) promoting their health and wellbeing; |
| (4) providing services to support them and their families and care givers |
| The Management Committee continues to meet the objectives of the charity by providing high quality facilities and qualified staff. We provide sessional specialist support on our premises for children aged 2-5 and Stay and Play sessions for children aged under 2 where children are accompanied by a parent/carer. Our catchment area is restricted to West Wiltshire. |
| Stepping Stones continues to provide substantial benefits to children and families in West Wiltshire. Through multi-agency working we can help ensure the best outcomes for children and their families. At every opportunity we support the Inclusion of children with additional needs into their local community by providing information, support and advice to other early years settings. Referring and signposting to relevant agencies as appropriate. |
| Stepping Stones works hard to ensure that best outcomes are achieved for all children and that they have a successful transition into their school placement or mainstream nursery setting through Inreach and Outreach support. |
| Stepping Stones has facilitated and provided a well-respected District Specialist Centre service for West Wiltshire since 2007. During this financial year Stepping Stones celebrated their 50th year of providing a unique service to children with special needs and their families in West Wiltshire. To highlight this remarkable achievement a number of celebration events were held. |
| Ofsted inspected Stepping Stones on 18.09.25 and was judged to be outstanding. Accreditation of Outstanding Provision has now been achieved for consecutive Inspection years, 2025, 2020, 2015, 2010, 2007/8. |
| Bristol Standards Quality Assurance Accreditation of Reflective Practice was achieved May 2025 - 2026 and has been awarded to Stepping Stones annually since 2007. The validation team commented, 'our overwhelming feeling is that it must be lovely to be a child at Stepping Stones'. |
| The Bristol Standard model has been utilised to monitor the impact of our service and how we work so that we can continue to adapt and embrace best practice. This year we have been advised by Wiltshire Council that Bristol City council have taken the decision to cease the Bristol Standards Quality Assurance scheme in the current format. We are currently seeking to identify a suitable Quality Assurance scheme for 2026-2027. |
| We are also active members of the National Early Years SEND Providers Forum. We are invested in this to highlight children's rights, challenge discriminatory practice and ensure that children with SEND are considered as a specific group. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| Safeguarding |
| An effective safeguarding culture is embedded where all staff have confidence in their accountability and shared responsibility for keeping children safe. Policies, procedures and training have been updated as required. Safeguarding is regularly discussed and reviewed as a separate Agenda item at each staff team/Management Committee meeting. |
| All staff continue to undertake regular internal and external safeguarding training. |
| 'There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.' - Ofsted 18.09.25 |
| Stepping Stones has taken measures to ensure we remain GDPR complaint. |
| Staffing |
| This year represented a period of transition planning for Trustees as senior members of the Staff team advised them of their retirement plans from September 2025. |
| Jane Hammett Senior EY SEND Practitioner retired after 20 years at Stepping Stones. |
| The request by the long standing Manager to reduce her hours in preparation for her retirement was approved. The Trustees saw this as an opportunity to ensure that knowledge, skills and professional contacts were not lost to Stepping Stones. The Trustees were required to review the present Management structure and contracts to enable an effective transition plan which included changing the Manager's role to that of Strategic Director and appointing a new Centre manager from September 2025. |
| Volunteers |
| Stepping Stones has regular volunteers both supporting the team within the playroom sessions and supporting us at our fundraising events. |
| We have welcomed Student Health Visitors/nurses/trainee EP's who have spent some time with us to develop their understanding of children who present with additional needs. |
| We have also supported a Student Placement from Bath College who is undertaking a Level 3 T in Education and Childcare. |
| Trustees |
| Strong governance is encouraged, and the Trustees meet for regular face to face meetings where minutes are taken and shared, Trustees can successfully reflect on and monitor actions, plan for the future, addressing any concerns that may arise. |
| All Trustees have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in delivering the District Specialist Centre Service specification for West Wiltshire to support children with SEND and their parent/Carers. |
| Trustees are encouraged to take advantage of any training available to help fulfil their duties and responsibilities. |
| Three Trustees moved on during the course of the year which has left vacancies on the Management Committee. Supporters of Stepping Stones have expressed interest in joining the Committee but Trustees are continuing to seek new ways to recruit more members. |
| Additional value for money |
| As an established local charity well known to and well supported by the West Wiltshire community our excellent reputation both attracts income through fundraising and grants and provides Parent/Carers with confidence that their child's needs and their own concerns will be represented and addressed. |
| Stepping Stones provided additional income through fundraising and the receipt of charitable funds and donations to supplement core funding received from Wiltshire Council. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| Grants for specific projects were identified throughout the year which included grants to help cover the cost of updating IT equipment (St James Trust) |
| Provision for earliest intervention is provided through Stay and Play sessional support for children aged 0 - 3yrs. Stay and Play sessions enable parent/carers to meet other families and establish new networks of support independent of Stepping Stones. (St James Trust and Trowbridge Town Council) |
| This year we have successfully applied for funding to enable us to enhance/update facilities within the playroom this includes: Adjustable tables and seating (Westbury town council) and new furniture (Warminster Lions & Westbury Lions) |
| Due to the donation of new equipment and resources provided via our wish list through community support we have ensured maximum funding has gone in to the provision of specialist support. (E J Shanley's, Parents and well-wishers) |
| The goodwill and generosity of the many volunteers in giving up their time throughout the year in different capacities has enhanced our capability to fundraise and also supplement staffing. |
| Fundraising has helped to meet the additional costs incurred through the provision of home visits and time allocated as required for individual personalised parent carer support through 1:1 advice, DLA applications. |
| Increased flexibility in adapting to change. |
| As a small reflective organisation, we can actively review our offer to children and families throughout the financial year. The ability to respond quickly to new opportunities and challenges ensures we can continue to meet the DSC service specification whilst having the greatest impact on service users. |
| A high adult:child ratio optimises interaction and learning opportunities to model and support engagement in communication, play and learning. Adult to child ratios in each session are differentiated to reflect the requirements for each child to be enabled to take part and to develop skills. Adult:child ratios are usually 1:2 but can be 2:1 for required medical or behaviour interventions. Session planning re staffing requirements is regularly reviewed as a timely response to extending capacity. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE |
| Stepping Stones successfully completed the first year of our new 5 year contract with Wiltshire Council. September 2024 - September 2029. |
| Our Ofsted inspection in September 2025 validated the professional care and quality of our provision through the achievement of an Outstanding judgement. |
| During this financial year Stepping Stones celebrated their 50th year of providing a valued service to children with special needs and their families in West Wiltshire. Stepping Stones has created opportunities to bring all providers and users of the service together to celebrate, plan and deliver improvements to how the service is developing and the setting environment is adapted and cared for. |
| Celebrations included children's sponsored Sensory Scramble, 50th Birthday Picnic, George's Marvellous bike ride and 50th Celebration Ball. |
| The family consultation room was officially opened on 6th May 2026. This project was completed as part of our 50 year celebration to create a flexible welcoming space for families to attend appointments and meetings. This project was achieved through grants (Imperial Charity/Bradford on Avon Lions/Trowbridge Lions and Catherine Szabo - Red Rose Pilates) and the generosity of local businesses (BPM Contracting Services Ltd and E J Shanley's) and volunteers from the local community and organisations, staff members and our trustees. |
| The aims and objectives of Stepping Stones are still as relevant today as they were 50 years ago - to provide a safe and stimulating environment where young pre-school children can learn and play and reach their full potential and parents can feel supported and less isolated as they start their journey as the parent of a child with additional needs. In the last 50 years as many as 5000 children have benefited from Stepping Stones by attending sessions or through our outreach service to mainstream settings. The demand for support from Stepping Stones remains as strong if not stronger than 50 years ago. |
| It is a real testament to the dedication of the many people who have passed through the doors of Stepping Stones over the years that they still support our service in many different ways. |
| Over the year we have continued to consult with the Wiltshire Council Early Years team and each child's existing early years setting to ensure that we can share information and advice which is consistent and practical. We have used our trusted position to facilitate positive relationships between all agencies to work effectively together as a team around each child. |
| Team members have completed Training and have competence in advising on and using: |
| - Clinical skills covering Tracheostomy, Epilepsy, Enteral Feeding |
| - Attention Autism and The Curiosity Programme |
| - SENCO level 3 |
| - TEACCH strategies |
| - Manual Handling |
| - Down Syndrome Education |
| - Five to Thrive |
| - Managing eating and drinking difficulties in children with complex needs |
| - Safeguarding. |
| - Paediatric First Aid |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW |
| The Reserves Policy sets aside sufficient funds to cover a lower level of six months operating costs and a higher level of 9 months. Our reserves policy will continue to be reviewed to reflect the future needs of the charity and to ensure our financial resilience. Total funds held at 31 March 2026 were £309,984. Unrestricted reserves at 31 March 2026 were £308,993 (2025 £289,064) and restricted reserves at 31 March 2026 were £991 (2025 £743). |
| The net movement of funds for the year ending 31 March 2026 amounted to a surplus of £20,177 (2025 Surplus £45,146). |
| Operational costs continue to increase. This year notable increases have been caused by costs that are outside of our control yet have a direct impact on our expenditure, changes in government policy affecting utilities, the increase in national minimum wage, phone and internet services continue to have a direct impact on our expenditure. Operation costs continue to be reviewed and adjusted, as required at each Management Committee meeting by the Trustees. Income/Expenditure records are kept monthly and monitored against budget forecasts. |
| We continually seek new ways to increase fundraising and in response to our 50th anniversary plans we have exceeded our fundraising target for this financial year. With the support of Trustees, Supporters and service users Stepping Stones has over the year attended many events to both increase our profile within the community and to raise vital funds to support our service provision. |
| Stepping Stones still relies on a mixture of local government funding, grants and public donations. The Management Committee continues to commit to providing the service free for children to attend so grants and donations are essential to supplement the money received under our Service Level agreement from Wiltshire Council. |
| Government policy changes to Nursery Education funding from September 2024 has increased the number of children now entitled to receive Universal Early Years Entitlement (NEG) funding and had led to a higher level of Nursery Education Funding we are able to claim. Stepping Stones does not offer extended hours and the maximum number of hours a child can attend is 5 per week. It should be remembered that we offer specialist support and therapy for the children who attend and not childcare. The NEG received this financial year for 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds, reflects the high number of children who access sessional support at Stepping Stones each week. |
| This change in policy also meant that eligible 2 year olds are also able to receive Disability Access Funding (DAF) which has significantly increased the amount of DAF funding in recent years (DAF Funding 25/26 £28,140: 24/25 £36,400). These changes have so far had a positive effect on Stepping Stones income. |
| However, some Government policy changes have had less of a positive effect. Large percentage Increases in the National Minimum wage have meant that once again we have had to look at our salaries across the board to ensure that we remain competitive and attractive in order to retain our current staff and fill any vacancies. |
| The Management Committee have kept available funds in interest bearing bonds and deposit accounts and seek to achieve acceptable interest rates on these deposits in what can be a volatile financial market. In particular they are mindful of any deposits which may near or exceed the £120,000 FSCS limit on compensation for banking failures and have spread and/or reduced funds accordingly across various banking institutions. The investment decisions made have generated good return in this financial year (25/26 £7,403: 24/25 £8,045). |
| Providing the generous support from existing funders continues and we can secure new funding opportunities as they arise then Stepping Stones can for the foreseeable future continue to deliver the outstanding service for which it has been renowned for the past 50 years. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS |
| The Senior Management team has been restructured to support a successful transition for senior members of the team to either reduce their hours or to retire with minimum impact on provision of the service. Financial planning has ensured reserves have been ring fenced for this purpose. |
| Stepping Stones is focussed on maintaining stability through a successful transition period with a view to planning for future development and required change in subsequent years. |
| Stepping Stones will focus internally on developing the skills of all team members, refining systems and ensuring best practice across all areas of service provision. |
| A comprehensive Employee handbook has been developed and is due to be circulated following final Management Committee approval to support employee wellbeing. |
| The impact of the proposed SEND reforms outlined in the 'White paper' published February 2026 will have a significant impact on how local authorities seek to meet future SEND requirements for children in their early years. This will be the biggest change to SEND reform since 2014. Stepping Stones as both a member of the Early Years SEND Specialist providers forum and as an individual provider has responded to the consultation and identified that there will be an even stronger need for partnership working with the voluntary sector if these reforms are to be achieved. |
| STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
| Governing document |
| The Charity's objects and provisions are regulated by the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 19 June 1992, the date of incorporation. It was registered with the charity commission on 3 July 1992 and is listed in the central register of charities as registered charity number 1012556. The Articles of Association were amended by special resolution on 18 November 2015. |
| Legal and administrative details |
| Stepping Stones West Wiltshire Opportunity Group for Children with Special Needs Limited is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its memorandum and articles. In the event of the company being wound up, each member is required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. |
| Organisation |
| The Charity is managed by a management committee and from this a Chairman, Treasurer and Company Secretary are chosen. Trustees are elected by members of the Company at the Annual General Meeting or by agreement during the year. |
| Trustees |
| Strong governance is encouraged, and the Trustees meet for regular face to face meetings where minutes are taken and shared, Trustees can successfully reflect on and monitor actions, plan for the future, addressing any concerns that may arise. |
| All Trustees have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in delivering the District Specialist Centre Service specification for West Wiltshire to support children with SEND and their parent/Carers. |
| Over the year several of our Trustees have undertaken 'Safeguarding: Trustees legal responsibilities' training and are encouraged to take advantage of any training available to help the fulfil their duties and responsibilities. |
| The Trustees continue to recognise the difficulties in recruiting volunteers especially to sit on the Management Committee as Trustees and are continuing to seek new ways to recruit more members. |
| REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
| Registered Company number |
| Registered Charity number |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| Registered office |
| Trustees |
| Company Secretary |
| Independent Examiner |
| Monahans |
| Chartered Accountants |
| County Gate |
| County Way |
| Trowbridge |
| Wiltshire |
| BA14 7FJ |
| Bankers |
| CAF Bank Limited | Close Brothers Limited |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | 10 Crown Place |
| Kings Hill | London EC2A 4FT |
| West Mailing |
| Kent ME19 4JQ |
| Redwood Bank | Cambridge & Counties Bank Limited |
| The Nexus Building | Charnwood Court |
| Broadway | 5b New Walk |
| Letchworth Garden City | Leicester |
| SG6 3TA | LE1 6TE |
| Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire Opportunity Group for Children with Special Needs ('the Company') |
| I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2026. |
| Responsibilities and basis of report |
| As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). |
| Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. |
| Independent examiner's statement |
| Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, 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: |
| 1. | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or |
| 2. | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
| 3. | the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or |
| 4. | the accounts 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 accounts 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 accounts to be reached. |
| James Gare |
| Monahans |
| Chartered Accountants |
| County Gate |
| County Way |
| Trowbridge |
| Wiltshire |
| BA14 7FJ |
| 22 July 2026 |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Statement of Financial Activities |
| (Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Grants and Donations | 3 |
| Other income | 4 |
| Investment income | 5 |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Raising funds |
| Charitable activities |
| Total |
| NET INCOME |
| Transfers between funds | 13 | 6,054 | (6,054 | ) | - | - |
| Net movement in funds |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 289,807 |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Balance Sheet |
| 31 March 2026 |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Tangible assets | 10 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Debtors | 11 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year | 12 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| NET ASSETS |
| FUNDS | 13 |
| Unrestricted funds | 289,064 |
| Restricted funds | 743 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 289,807 |
| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2026. |
| The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
| The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
| (a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
| (b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs (Registered number: 02724493) |
| Balance Sheet - continued |
| 31 March 2026 |
| These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire Opportunity Group for Children with Special Needs is a charitable company limited by guarantee, without share capital, incorporated in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address and principal activities can be found in the Trustees' Report. |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| Basis of preparing the financial statements |
| The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
| The charity has applied Update Bulletin 1 as published on 2 February 2016 and does not include a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is applying FRS 102 Section 1A. |
| The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest pound. |
| Income |
| Local authority funding (grant income) is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which the funding relates. The majority of all other income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receipts basis except where restricted donations have been promised and are outstanding at years end. |
| Expenditure |
| All expenditure, other than that which is capitalised, is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. The VAT element of expenditure cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. |
| Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost is clearly identifiable as relating to that activity. General overheads and support costs are apportioned to activities in proportion to the number of staff in each area of activity. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Impairment tests are only performed when there has been some indication that an impairment has occurred. |
| Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The assets have been depreciated at 25% on the straight line basis. |
| Taxation |
| No corporation tax is charged in these accounts due to the charitable status of the company. |
| Fund accounting |
| The company has various types of funds for which it is responsible, and which require separate disclosure. These are as follows: |
| - Unrestricted funds are available to use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. |
| - Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor. |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
| The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. |
| 3. | GRANTS AND DONATIONS |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Other Donations/Grants | 36,889 | 15,728 |
| Nursery Grant (NEG) | 91,681 | - |
| Core Funding | 137,738 | - |
| EYPP Grant | 3,460 | - |
| DAF Funding | 28,140 | - | 28,140 | 36,400 |
| 297,908 | 15,728 |
| 4. | OTHER INCOME |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Fundraising events | 6,206 | - |
| Other income | 4,066 | - | 4,066 | 4,290 |
| 10,272 | - |
| 5. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Deposit account interest | 7,403 | - |
| 6. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| £ | £ |
| Examiners fees | 3,422 | 3,042 |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| Deficit on disposal of fixed assets |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 7. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
| No trustee, nor anyone connected with them, has received any remuneration for their service as a trustee during the year (2025: £nil).The trustees did not have any expenses reimbursed during the year (2025: £nil). |
| No trustees had a child enrolled at Stepping Stones during the year (2025: none). |
| Trustees' expenses |
| There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2026 nor for the year ended 31 March 2025. |
| 8. | STAFF COSTS |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries |
| Social security costs |
| Other pension costs |
| 264,964 | 233,792 |
| The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| Administration | 4 | 5 |
| Education | 14 | 15 |
| 9. | COMPARATIVES FOR 31 MARCH 2023 FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
| funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Grants and Donations |
| Other income |
| Investment income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Raising funds |
| Charitable activities |
| Total |
| NET INCOME |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 9. | COMPARATIVES FOR 31 MARCH 2023 FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
| funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Transfers between funds | 8,673 | (8,673 | ) | - |
| Net movement in funds |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward | 244,661 | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 289,064 | 743 | 289,807 |
| 10. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Equipment |
| £ |
| COST |
| At 1 April 2025 |
| Additions |
| Disposals | ( |
) |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 April 2025 |
| Charge for year |
| Eliminated on disposal | ( |
) |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| At 31 March 2025 |
| 11. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| £ | £ |
| Prepayments and accrued income |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 12. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2026 | 2025 |
| £ | £ |
| Social security and other taxes |
| Pension creditor |
| Accruals and deferred income |
| 13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
| Net | Transfers |
| movement | between | At |
| At 1.4.25 | in funds | funds | 31.3.26 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 249,064 | 30,859 | 6,054 | 285,977 |
| Transition planning | 30,000 | (14,650 | ) | - | 15,350 |
| Maintenance | 10,000 | (2,334 | ) | - | 7,666 |
| 13,875 |
| Restricted funds |
| St James Trust | - | 3,826 | (3,826 | ) | - |
| Westbury Town Council | - | 1,228 | (1,228 | ) | - |
| Morrisons Foundation | 743 | - | - | 743 |
| Catherine Szabo - red roses pilates | - | 248 | - | 248 |
| Warminster Lions | - | 500 | (500 | ) | - |
| Westbury lions | - | 500 | (500 | ) | - |
| 6,302 | ( |
) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 20,177 | 309,984 |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 315,583 | (284,724 | ) | 30,859 |
| Transition planning | - | (14,650 | ) | (14,650 | ) |
| Maintenance | - | (2,334 | ) | (2,334 | ) |
| ( |
) | 13,875 |
| Restricted funds |
| St James Trust | 8,000 | (4,174 | ) | 3,826 |
| Westbury Town Council | 1,228 | - | 1,228 |
| Catherine Szabo - red roses pilates | 500 | (252 | ) | 248 |
| Trowbridge town council | 5,000 | (5,000 | ) | - |
| Warminster Lions | 500 | - | 500 |
| Westbury lions | 500 | - | 500 |
| ( |
) | 6,302 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 20,177 |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Comparatives for movement in funds |
| Net | Transfers |
| movement | between | At |
| At 1.4.24 | in funds | funds | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 244,661 | 35,730 | (31,327 | ) | 249,064 |
| Transition planning | - | - | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| Maintenance | - | - | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 244,661 | 35,730 | 8,673 | 289,064 |
| Restricted funds |
| Imperial Charity | - | 2,000 | (2,000 | ) | - |
| Westbury Town Council | - | 796 | (796 | ) | - |
| Morrisons Foundation | - | 5,870 | (5,127 | ) | 743 |
| Trowbridge Lions | - | 500 | (500 | ) | - |
| Bradford Lions | - | 250 | (250 | ) | - |
| - | 9,416 | (8,673 | ) | 743 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 244,661 | 45,146 | - | 289,807 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 296,591 | (260,861 | ) | 35,730 |
| Restricted funds |
| Imperial Charity | 2,000 | - | 2,000 |
| St James Trust | 3,500 | (3,500 | ) | - |
| Westbury Town Council | 1,092 | (296 | ) | 796 |
| Morrisons Foundation | 6,000 | (130 | ) | 5,870 |
| Trowbridge Lions | 500 | - | 500 |
| Bradford Lions | 250 | - | 250 |
| 13,342 | (3,926 | ) | 9,416 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 309,933 | (264,787 | ) | 45,146 |
| Designated funds |
| Explanation of designated funds: |
| Transition planning - for the new role of Strategic Director from September 2025 |
| Maintenance - for building and garden maintenance to include a deep clean/carpet cleaning/repainting of the playrooms/new blinds and garden cleaning |
| Restricted funds: |
| Explanation of restricted funds: |
| St James Trust provided £8,000 for new IT equipment for Playroom and Office staff and running costs of baby stay and play sessions. (2025: £3,500 towards stay and play sessions). |
| Stepping Stones - West Wiltshire |
| Opportunity Group for Children with |
| Special Needs |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2026 |
| 13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Imperial Charity donated £nil (2025: £2,000) towards transforming the family consultation room |
| Westbury Town Council donated £1,228 for a specialist Lecky chair and Multi table (2025: £1,092 towards nursery furniture and equipment). |
| Morrisons Foundation donated £nil (2025: £6,000 towards upgrading IT equipment used in the playrooms). |
| Bradford Lions donated £nil (2025: £250 towards transforming the family consultation room) |
| Trowbridge Lions donated £nil (2025: £500 towards transforming the family consultation room) |
| Bradford on Avon Lions donated £250 (2025: £nil) towards transforming the family consultation room. |
| Catherine Szabo - Red Rose Pilates donated £500 (2025: £nil) towards transforming the family consultation room. |
| Trowbridge Town Council donated £5,000 (2025: £nil) towards core funding for unfunded provisions (stay and play and outreach) |
| Warminster Lions donated £500 (2025: nil) for new playroom furniture. |
| Westbury Lions donated £500 (2025: nil) for new playroom furniture. |
| Sufficient resources are held in an appropriate form to enable each fund to be applied in accordance with any restrictions. |
| The funds which were fully spent on fixed asset additions have been transferred to unrestricted funds accordingly. |
| 14. | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES |
| The committee were not aware of the existence of any contingent liabilities at the balance sheet date. |
| 15. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
| One trustee received payment for supply work within the playroom totalling £783 (2025: £1,857). |