CCEW Charity Commission profile

ACORN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1145108 · organisation 5019949

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status
Registered
Reporting status
Submission Received
Charity type
Charitable company
Registered
16 December 2011
Removed
Not supplied
Company number supplied
07703801
Financial period
1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025
Latest income
£16,275,695
Latest expenditure
£15,505,547
Gift Aid
No
Owns or uses land
Yes
In administration
No
Insolvent
No
CIO
No

Public contact address: Acorn Early Years Foundation, Unit 47 Waterside Barns, Lodge Farm Business Centre, Castlethorpe, MILTON KEYNES, MK19 7ES

Website recorded by the regulator: www.acornearlyyears.org.uk (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

Early years care and education in day nurseries and out-of-school clubsForest Schools Training and development activities for early years practitioners

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2025
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2025
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Reporting Due Date
31 October 2026
Date Annual Return Received
15 June 2026
Date Accounts Received
15 June 2026
Total Gross Income
£16,275,695
Total Gross Expenditure
£15,505,547
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2024
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Reporting Due Date
31 October 2025
Date Annual Return Received
12 May 2025
Date Accounts Received
12 May 2025
Total Gross Income
£13,168,610
Total Gross Expenditure
£13,028,023
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2023
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Reporting Due Date
31 October 2024
Date Annual Return Received
15 July 2024
Date Accounts Received
15 July 2024
Total Gross Income
£11,419,095
Total Gross Expenditure
£11,480,339
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2022
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Reporting Due Date
31 October 2023
Date Annual Return Received
17 July 2023
Date Accounts Received
17 July 2023
Total Gross Income
£9,575,853
Total Gross Expenditure
£9,568,685
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2021
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Reporting Due Date
31 October 2022
Date Annual Return Received
14 July 2022
Date Accounts Received
14 July 2022
Total Gross Income
£8,165,719
Total Gross Expenditure
£8,005,703

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
Yes
Fin Period Order Number
1
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2025
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2025
Ar Due Date
31 October 2026
Ar Received Date
15 June 2026
Total Gross Income
£16,275,695
Total Gross Expenditure
£15,505,547
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£3
Income From Government Grants
£113,787
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 120001 130000
1
Count Volunteers
17
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
2
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2024
Ar Due Date
31 October 2025
Ar Received Date
12 May 2025
Total Gross Income
£13,168,610
Total Gross Expenditure
£13,028,023
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£1
Income From Government Grants
£1,158
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
1
Count Volunteers
16
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
3
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2023
Ar Due Date
31 October 2024
Ar Received Date
15 July 2024
Total Gross Income
£11,419,095
Total Gross Expenditure
£11,480,339
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
1
Count Volunteers
9
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
4
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2022
Ar Due Date
31 October 2023
Ar Received Date
17 July 2023
Total Gross Income
£9,575,853
Total Gross Expenditure
£9,568,685
Charity Raises Funds From Public
Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser
No
Charity Commercial Participator
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
Yes
Count Govt Contracts
1
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
Yes
Count Govt Grants
£3
Income From Government Contracts
104360
Income From Government Grants
£93,370
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 110001 120000
1
Count Volunteers
18
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
5
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2021
Ar Due Date
31 October 2022
Ar Received Date
14 July 2022
Total Gross Income
£8,165,719
Total Gross Expenditure
£8,005,703
Charity Raises Funds From Public
Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser
No
Charity Commercial Participator
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
Yes
Count Govt Contracts
1
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
Yes
Count Govt Grants
£3
Income From Government Contracts
417438
Income From Government Grants
£64,893
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
1
Count Volunteers
5

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
Yes
Fin Period Order Number
1
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2025
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2025
Ar Due Date
31 October 2026
Ar Received Date
15 June 2026
Income Donations And Legacies
3194
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
16261356
Income Investments
11145
Income Other
0
Income Total Income And Endowments
16275695
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£15,505,547
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
15505547
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
39691
Expenditure Support Costs
1676407
Expenditure Depreciation
337923
Gain Loss Investment
0
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£1,372,624
Assets Total Fixed
1177831
Assets Own Use
1177831
Assets Long Term Investment
0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£1,846,974
Assets Total Liabilities
£1,620,840
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£1,403,965
Creditors One Year Total Current
1620840
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
0
Assets Cash
£1,247,253
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
1372624
Funds Restricted
31341
Funds Total
1403965
Count Employees
483
Charity Only Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
2
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2024
Ar Due Date
31 October 2025
Ar Received Date
12 May 2025
Income Donations And Legacies
4558
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
13157457
Income Investments
6595
Income Other
0
Income Total Income And Endowments
13168610
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£13,028,023
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
13028023
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
23047
Expenditure Support Costs
1458439
Expenditure Depreciation
325210
Gain Loss Investment
0
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£612,377
Assets Total Fixed
946057
Assets Own Use
946057
Assets Long Term Investment
0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£745,780
Assets Total Liabilities
£1,056,381
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£635,456
Creditors One Year Total Current
1056381
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
0
Assets Cash
£439,223
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
612377
Funds Restricted
23079
Funds Total
635456
Count Employees
476
Charity Only Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
3
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2023
Ar Due Date
31 October 2024
Ar Received Date
15 July 2024
Income Donations And Legacies
4319
Income Other Trading Activities
9393
Income Charitable Activities
11403943
Income Investments
1440
Income Other
0
Income Total Income And Endowments
11419095
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£11,480,339
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
11480339
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
26159
Expenditure Support Costs
1278902
Expenditure Depreciation
299675
Gain Loss Investment
0
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£24,680
Assets Total Fixed
1175111
Assets Own Use
1175111
Assets Long Term Investment
0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£347,656
Assets Total Liabilities
£1,027,898
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£494,869
Creditors One Year Total Current
1027898
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
0
Assets Cash
£24,680
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
483952
Funds Restricted
10917
Funds Total
494869
Count Employees
467
Charity Only Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
4
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2022
Ar Due Date
31 October 2023
Ar Received Date
17 July 2023
Income Donations And Legacies
4295
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
9571541
Income Investments
17
Income Other
0
Income Total Income And Endowments
9575853
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£9,568,685
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
9568685
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
14230
Expenditure Support Costs
1058867
Expenditure Depreciation
216092
Gain Loss Investment
0
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£146,036
Assets Total Fixed
1153480
Assets Own Use
1153480
Assets Long Term Investment
0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£329,622
Assets Total Liabilities
£925,920
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£557,182
Creditors One Year Total Current
828526
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
97394
Assets Cash
£146,036
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
536636
Funds Restricted
20546
Funds Total
557182
Count Employees
408
Charity Only Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
5
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Fin Period Start Date
1 January 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 December 2021
Ar Due Date
31 October 2022
Ar Received Date
14 July 2022
Income Donations And Legacies
5488
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
8160227
Income Investments
4
Income Other
0
Income Total Income And Endowments
8165719
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£8,005,703
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
8005703
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
6250
Expenditure Support Costs
882318
Expenditure Depreciation
167814
Gain Loss Investment
0
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£232,976
Assets Total Fixed
1054807
Assets Own Use
1054807
Assets Long Term Investment
0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£389,785
Assets Total Liabilities
£894,578
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£550,014
Creditors One Year Total Current
705903
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
188675
Assets Cash
£232,976
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
544081
Funds Restricted
5933
Funds Total
550014
Count Employees
341
Charity Only Accounts
Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type
Local Authority
Geographic Area Description
Bedford
Welsh Ind
No
Geographic Area Type
Local Authority
Geographic Area Description
Northamptonshire
Welsh Ind
No
Geographic Area Type
Local Authority
Geographic Area Description
Milton Keynes
Welsh Ind
No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code
201
Classification Type
Who
Classification Description
Children/young People
Classification Code
102
Classification Type
What
Classification Description
Education/training
Classification Code
306
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Provides Services

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name
ACORN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION
Charity Event Order
1
Event Type
Standard registration
Date Of Event
2011-12-16T00:00:00
Charity Name
ACORN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION
Charity Event Order
2
Event Type
Asset transfer in
Date Of Event
2023-05-10T00:00:00
Reason
Amalgamated
Assoc Organisation Number
278304
Assoc Registered Charity Number
278304
Assoc Charity Name
MULBERRY BEAR DAY NURSERY AND PRE-SCHOOL

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 13 JUL 2011AS AMENDED BY CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION ON CHANGE OF NAME DATED 05 APR 2017 as amended on 01 Feb 2020
Charitable Objects
4. THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS ARE TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN PRIMARILY UNDER THE AGE OF ELEVEN BY:4.1 THE PROVISION OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IN NURSERIES, OUT-OF-SCHOOL CLUBS AND FOREST SCHOOLS;4.2 WORKING TO ENSURE THAT HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REGARDLESS OF MEANS, RACE, DISABILITY, GENDER, RELIGION, BELIEF OR ANY OTHER FACTOR;4.3 IDENTIFYING OTHER SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORT NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND SEEKING TO ENSURE THESE ARE MET;4.4 ENCOURAGING, ENABLING AND SUPPORTING THE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS AND CARERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT; AND4.5 CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE WORKING IN CHILDCARE.

10 Official extract

Charity Other Names

Charity Name Id
512661
Charity Name Type
Working name
Charity Name
ACORN CHILDCARE
Charity Name Id
512660
Charity Name Type
Previous name
Charity Name
ACORN CHILDCARE 2

11 Official extract

Charity Other Regulators

Regulator Order
1
Regulator Name
Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)

12 Official extract

Charity Policy

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