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Registered number:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
CONTENTS
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Principal Activities
The principal activity of the Group is the provision of high-quality pre-school education through a network of 21 nursery schools across London, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. The Group delivers childcare and education to children from birth to five years of age and operates in accordance with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), working in partnership with families, local authorities and regulatory bodies. Business Review The Directors present their Strategic Report for the year ended 31st July 2025. During the year, the Group continued to operate 21 nursery schools, providing early years education and childcare services to local communities. Demand for childcare remained strong across much of the estate, although occupancy levels varied between locations in response to local demographic trends and changes in government-funded childcare provision. The business continued to focus on: • maintaining high standards of care and education • investing in recruitment, training and staff retention • managing inflationary cost pressures • improving operational efficiency across the nursery portfolio • supporting long-term sustainable growth The Directors consider the overall performance during the year to be strong in light of the economic environment. Financial Performance Turnover for the year amounted to £16.710m (2024: £14.548m).Operating profit before taxation was £2.219m (2024: £1.694m). The increase in turnover was largely attributable to Government funded income which was 54% (£2.619m) higher than the previous financial year. The reasons behind this are described in more detail in the Funding Changes section below but effectively it was due to Government funding for early education and childcare to children aged 9 months or older being expanded. The increase in overall turnover of £2.162m resulted in gross profit increasing by £829k and profit before taxation increasing by £526k over the prior year. Cash generated from operations remained strong, enabling continued investment in facilities, equipment and staff development. The principal sources of income continue to comprise: • private nursery fees • government-funded childcare entitlements • food income • other grant funding Throughout the year the Directors continued to closely monitor: • occupancy rates • staffing ratios • payroll costs • agency staff expenditure • gross margins • cash flow
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Operational Review The Group continues to invest in maintaining safe, welcoming and stimulating nursery environments. Key operational priorities during the year included: • recruitment and retention of qualified practitioners • continuous professional development • maintaining and keeping abreast of regulatory compliance • investment in learning environments and equipment • continuous focus on strengthening Chestnut’s robust safeguarding practices • improving operational consistency across all settings The Directors remain committed to delivering high-quality childcare while maintaining financial sustainability. Principal Risks and Uncertainties The Directors regularly review the principal risks affecting the business. Recruitment and Retention The availability of suitably qualified childcare professionals continues to present a challenge across the sector. The Group seeks to mitigate this through competitive remuneration, career development opportunities and investment in employee wellbeing. As a result, the Group has been able to maintain very high staff retention rates resulting in low agency staff costs compared with the wider nursery marketplace. Funding Changes In the March 2024 Spring Budget, it was announced that funding for early education and childcare to children aged 9 months or older would be expanded over three phases. • Phase 1 (April 2024): eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access up to 15 hours of free early education and care per week (38 weeks per year). • Phase 2 (September 2024): extended to eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and older. • Phase 3 (September 2025): final stage of rollout, with eligible working parents able to access up to 30 free hours per week (38 weeks per year) for children aged 9 months until school age. Government funding arrangements for early years education continue to evolve. The Group actively monitors legislative developments and adapts its operating model accordingly. Inflationary Pressures The business remains exposed to increases in: • staff costs • National Insurance contributions • pension costs • utilities • food costs • property-related expenditure The Directors regularly review pricing and operational efficiencies to manage these pressures. Regulatory Compliance The Group operates within a highly regulated sector. Robust safeguarding, health and safety, and quality assurance procedures are rigorously monitored and maintained across all the nursery sites.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Occupancy Financial performance is dependent upon maintaining sustainable occupancy levels across all the nursery sites. Occupancy is monitored regularly with marketing initiatives targeted at underperforming locations. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The Directors monitor a range of financial and operational indicators, including: Occupancy: average occupancy rates across all settings was 60%. Within the portfolio, nursery capacities range from 43 to 160. Profitability: with one exception, for a nursery that only became operational in January 2025, each site is profitable. Each nursery is assessed using the following KPIs: Revenue-Measures operational performance Total revenue increased by £2.162m (£16.710m 2025; £14.548m 2024). Where it was possible to do a like for comparison, revenue across all nursery sites increased in the year. Gross profit margin-Measures cost efficiency Gross profit increased by £830k in the year (£4.234m 2025; £3.405m 2024). In % margin terms, this translates to a 25.3% margin compared to a 23.4% margin in 2024. Staff costs as % of revenue-Controls payroll expenditure Staff costs as % of revenue decreased by 1.2% in the year (46.4% 2025; 47.6% 2024). Staff costs are defined as the cost of employing staff at all the nursery sites (head office staff costs are excluded from this calculation) Agency costs-Measures reliance on temporary staff Agency costs decreased by £21K in the year (£371k 2025; £399k 2024) Operating profit (pre-tax)-Measures underlying profitability Operating profit increased by £510k in the year (£2.274m 2025; £1.764m 2024). In % margin terms, this translates to a 13.6% margin compared to a 12.1% margin in 2024. Ofsted ratings: all nursery settings have been rated as either good or outstanding. Employees The Group's employees remain fundamental to its success. The Directors continue to invest in: • training and professional development • apprenticeship programmes • safeguarding training • wellbeing initiatives • leadership development • equality, diversity and inclusion The Group seeks to provide a safe, supportive and rewarding working environment for all employees.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Environmental Matters Although the Group's environmental impact is relatively modest, the Directors remain committed to reducing waste and improving sustainability. Initiatives include: • reducing energy consumption • recycling programmes • minimising food waste • investment in energy-efficient equipment where appropriate _ Future Developments The Directors remain optimistic regarding the long-term demand for high-quality childcare. The Group's strategic priorities for the coming year include: • improving occupancy across the nursery estate • continuing investment in people • enhancing operational efficiency • maintaining high regulatory standards • strengthening financial performance • evaluating selective acquisition and expansion opportunities where appropriate The Directors believe the Group is well positioned to continue delivering sustainable growth while maintaining the high quality of care expected by children, parents and regulators.
This report was approved by the board on 31 July 2026 and signed on its behalf.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025.
The directors are responsible for preparing the Group Strategic Report, the Directors' Report and the consolidated financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
∙select suitable accounting policies for the Group's financial statements and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
∙prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The profit for the year, after taxation and minority interests, amounted to £1,527,088 (2024 - £992,219).
The directors who served during the year were:
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The auditors, Price Bailey LLP, will be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the board on
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
We have audited the financial statements of Chestnut Nursery Schools Limited (the 'Parent Company') and its subsidiaries (the 'Group') for the year ended 31 July 2025, which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Analysis of Net Debt, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Company Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Company Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's or the Parent Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED (CONTINUED)
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Group Strategic Report and the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Group Strategic Report and the Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Group Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED (CONTINUED)
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Group financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- Enquiry of management around actual and potential litigation and claims, and any known instances of non-compliance; - Performing audit work covering the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias; and - Reviewing our work throughout the audit file for evidence of non-compliance. Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED (CONTINUED)
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
for and on behalf of
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
Causeway House
1 Dane Street
Hertfordshire
CM23 3BT
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 04424281
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 JULY 2025
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on 31 July 2026.
The notes on pages 21 to 42 form part of these financial statements.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 04424281
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (CONTINUED)
AS AT 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 04424281
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 JULY 2025
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on
The notes on pages 21 to 42 form part of these financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Some freehold land and buildings are included at valuation. The properties were revalued by the directors as at 31 July 2025 on the basis of their estimated fair value, taking into account available market evidence for comparable properties. The directors consider that the carrying value of the properties is not materially different from their fair value at the balance sheet date.
Had the properties been carried under the historical cost convention, their carrying amount would have been £440,522 (2024: £443,555).
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
15.Tangible fixed assets (continued)
Freehold land and buildings are included at valuation. The properties were revalued by the directors as at 31 July 2025 on the basis of their estimated fair value, taking into account available market evidence for comparable properties. The directors consider that the carrying value of the properties is not materially different from their fair value at the balance sheet date.
Had the properties been carried under the historical cost convention, their carrying amount would have been £440,522 (2024: £443,555).
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The directors have deemed that there is no material alteration in the valuation of St Nicholas
House and therefore no alteration has been made to the fair value of the property.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Revaluation reserve
Profit and loss account
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
During the year, the directors identified that the Group's subsidiary undertakings, Chestnut Nursery School
(Norfolk) Limited and St Nicholas Education Limited, were not consolidated in the Group financial statements in prior years, despite the Company having control of these entities and being required to prepare consolidated financial statements under the Companies Act 2006 and FRS 102. The omission arose from an error in the application of the requirements relating to group accounts. Accordingly, the comparative information has been restated to include the results, assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries as if they had always been consolidated. The effect of the correction on the comparative financial statements is summarised below: The restatement has no impact on the Company's own profit or loss or net assets as presented in the parent company financial statements.
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CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The directors consider that
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