ACORN PRE-SCHOOL & THE MIGHTY OAKS

Registered charity 1200985 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

We offer Early Years Education for children aged from 2 to 5. We also offer wrap around care for children attending our pre-school as well as the local lower and middle schools. We are Ofsted registered and operate within the town of Shefford.

Objects

THE CHARITY WORKS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT HAVING AS ITS OBJECTS THE DEVELOPMENTAND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR BY:(1) PROMOTING THEIR CARE AND SAFETY;(2) PROMOTING THEIR EDUCATION AND PROMOTING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT;(3) PROMOTING THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING;(4) PROVIDING SERVICES TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS;(5) PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS HOLDING MEMBERSHIP OF THE CIO; AND(6) FURTHERING THE AIMS OF THE PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Get email alerts

Latest income

£309k

Latest spending

£386k

Registered

2022

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a small deficit of £323.80 for the year, resulting in a closing unrestricted reserve balance of £52,152.89. The trustees consider the overall financial health to be good, citing a strong balance sheet and stable cash flow from pupil numbers. However, they note concerns regarding ongoing political debates about underfunding in the Early Years sector.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Payments to trustees: The document states that Committee members (trustees) give their time voluntarily, apart from the Business Manager and Education Manager who are employed by the organisation. It does not explicitly state that the employed trustees received remuneration *as trustees* or for trustee services, but rather as employees. However, standard interpretation of 'employed by the organisation' implies remuneration. But rule 6b says 'present=true ONLY where one or more trustees received REMUNERATION or payment for services'. The text says 'Business Manager and Education who are employed'. It does not explicitly say they are paid *as trustees*. Usually, if a trustee is an employee, their salary is disclosed in emoluments. Here, no emoluments table is present. The text says 'give their time voluntarily... apart from the Business Manager and Education'. This implies the Business Manager and Education Manager are paid. If they are trustees, they are receiving remuneration. Let's look closer. 'Committee members are our charity trustees... Committee members give their time voluntarily... apart from the Business Manager and Education who are employed... and approved to be Trustees'. This implies the Business Manager and Education Manager are Trustees AND Employees. Therefore, they receive remuneration. However, the amount is not broken out. Rule 6b requires present=true if remuneration is received. The document explicitly states they are employed (implying pay) while others are voluntary. Thus, present=true.

“Committee members give their time voluntarily for the roles they hold, apart from the Business Manager and Education who are employed by the organisation and approved to be Trustees by the Charities Commission.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

In its annual return the charity told the Commission it is also regulated by: Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education). This is the charity’s own declaration; it is not a rating and has not been verified by the Commission or by this site.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Register events

Received assets from another charity (24/10/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Jacqueline Lewischair
Caroline Tudge
LOUISE CLAIRE BARNETT
Lyndsey Black
PHILIP BOLLAND

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Central Bedfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£309k	£386k
31/08/2024	£0	£35
31/08/2023	£5k	£0

Common questions

Is ACORN PRE-SCHOOL & THE MIGHTY OAKS financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a small deficit of £323.80 for the year, resulting in a closing unrestricted reserve balance of £52,152.89. The trustees consider the overall financial health to be good, citing a strong balance sheet and stable cash flow from pupil numbers. However, they note concerns regarding ongoing political debates about underfunding in the Early Years sector. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH-ON-SEA).

LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH-ON-SEA) income £233k
ACORN2OAK PRESCHOOL income £225k
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL CIO income £127k
ACORNS CHILDCARE (MASHAM) income £106k
ACORN PLAYGROUP AND PRE-SCHOOL income £177k
ACORNS NURSERY SCHOOL income £219k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL & THE MIGHTY OAKS	£309k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL (LEIGH-ON-SEA) FY2025	£233k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
ACORN2OAK PRESCHOOL FY2026	£225k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
ACORN PRE-SCHOOL CIO FY2025	£127k	—	above	—	no doubt
ACORNS CHILDCARE (MASHAM) FY2025	£106k	—	below	—	no doubt
ACORN PLAYGROUP AND PRE-SCHOOL FY2025	£177k	—	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.