The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 July 2025 , in compliance with s414C of the Companies Act 2006.
Financial review
Policy on reserves
In line with recommended practice from the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, the playgroup
has established a reserves policy to ensure the stability of the mission, programme, employment and
ongoing operations of the organisation. The target minimum reserve fund has been identified as
£60,000 which ensures that the core activity of Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd could continue during
a period of unforeseen difficulty in relation to the salaries, day to day running and in the event of
redundancies.
A proportion of these reserves have to be maintained in a readily realisable form. Fundraising will continue on
a year-to-year basis.
Objectives and activities
As per the Articles of Association, the company's objectives and activities are specifically
restricted to the following: to promote play based learning environments for all children under
statutory school age (hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries) of Forkhill and its surrounding
greater ward area (hereinafter called the "area of benefit") without distinction of age,
gender, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or
religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary
organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and in particular;
to advance the education of the beneficiaries by the provision of safe and satisfying group
play, with the right of parents/carers to take responsibility for and to become involved in the
activities of the group and to promote the preservation of health of the beneficiaries;
to support the vision and values of the Early Years sector.
to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the directors may, from time to time,
decide in accordance with the law of charity.
The playgroup is open Monday to Friday - 9.00 to 12.00 and employs 6 qualified staff, it provides
a facility where the children can learn in a safe and stimulating environment at their own pace. The
playgroup works to provide the pre-school curriculum and is proud to have been recognised by
Investors in People in the past and currently have been awarded a Gold Category Award from
Curriculum and Planning Specialist (C.A.P.S). In setting our objectives and planning our activities for
the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's
guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes
and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Objectives, strategies and activities
2024/25 was a straightforward year for the school financially with grant and other income, resulting in net surplus for the year of £20,676 (2024 deficit £7,011). With sufficient reserves in place and continued drive towards maximising income and minimising expenditure the school remains in a solid financial position.
Going concern
Management have considered a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these
financial statements as part of their assessment of the appropriateness of the going concern
assumption, and have concluded that the going concern basis is appropriate
Structure, governance and management
Organisational structure
Forkhill Preschool Playgroup is a company limited by guarantee and accepted as charitable by
HMRC. The. company is also a registered charity with The Charity Commission for Northern
Ireland under charity number 107697. The company was incorporated on 10th July 2019. The
company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects
and powers of the company, and is governed by its Articles of Association. The liability of
the members is limited in that every member of the company undertakes to contribute and
amount not exceeding £1 in the event of the company being would up.
Recruitment and Appointment of Directors
The charity trustees are also directors of the company.
Organisation Structure
The Board consists of two Trustees who administer the playgroup and meet monthly. The
Board has appointed a Playgroup Leader to manage the day-to-day operations of the Playgroup.
The Playgroup leader has delegated authority, within terms of delegated approval, for
operational matters including staff supervision, delivery of Playgroup activities and budgetary
management. The Playgroup is affiliated to the C.A.P.S organisation and works very closely with
their independent Early Years Specialist to ensure that staff are up-to-date with policy and
practice within the sector. Staff also undertake regular training.
On behalf of the board
We have reviewed the financial statements of Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd for the year ended 31 July 2025 which comprise the income and expenditure account, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, 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 FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.
As the charity's trustees of FORKHILL PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP LIMITED (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 FORKHILL PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP LIMITED are
not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, it is
my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
I have examined your charity's accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination
was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act. The examination included a review of the accounting records kept
by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of
any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees
concerning any such matters.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. 1 confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the
examination giving me cause to believe:
accounting records were not kept in respect of FORKHILL PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP LIMITED as
required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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
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.
Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the financial statements have not been prepared:
so as to give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs as at 31 July 2025, and of its profit for the year then ended;
in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
This report is made solely to the company’s directors, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 2 April 2025. Our review work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s directors those matters we have agreed to state to them in a reviewer’s 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 directors as a body, for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.
Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 93 Main Street, Shean, Forkhill, Newry, Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT35 9SQ.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Income and expenses are included in the financial statements as they become receivable or due.
Expenses include VAT where applicable as the company cannot reclaim it.
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 credited or charged to surplus or deficit.
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.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, 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 business 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.
The company is exempt from corporation tax, it being a company not carrying on a business for the purposes of making a profit.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:
The company is limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and consequently the liability of members is limited, subject to an undertaking by each member to contribute to the net assets or liabilities of the company on winding up such amounts as may be required not exceeding £1.