Margaret McMillan Nursery School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £350k in reserve, 24% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Islington · Nursery · Local authority nursery school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£74k | £458k | 94 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£30k | £488k | 96 |
2020-21 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£44k | £444k | 64 |
2021-22 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£110k | £334k | 74 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.2m | -£58k | £276k | 70 |
2023-24 | £1.3m | £1.2m | +£86k | £362k | 70 |
2024-25 | £1.4m | £1.4m | -£22k | £341k | 72 |
2025-26 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£9k | £350k | 66 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 nursery schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 70% of them. It spends £21,616 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £18,340.
This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median
Show the comparison as a table
| Spending per pupil | This school | Similar schools (median) | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
Teachers | £5,388 | £4,374 | £3,506–£5,739 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £8,827 | £6,630 | £4,709–£7,915 |
Supply staff | £250 | £93 | £0–£243 |
Admin and clerical | £1,279 | £1,163 | £777–£1,667 |
Premises | £686 | £1,147 | £841–£1,425 |
Energy | £294 | £205 | £143–£268 |
Learning resources & ICT | £347 | £338 | £246–£400 |
Bought-in services | £2,809 | £788 | £418–£1,641 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Kintore Way Nursery School In deficit
- Wentworth Nursery School and Children's Centre Large reserves
- Maytree Nursery School In deficit
- Somerset Nursery School and Children's Centre Large reserves
- Holmewood Nursery School Large reserves
- Nell Gwynn Nursery School Tight
- Abbey Wood Nursery School In deficit
- Dulwich Wood Nursery School Large reserves
- The Grove Nursery School Large reserves
- Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre Tight
- Pembury House Nursery School Large reserves
- North Islington Nursery School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £17,964 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £148k | £2,219 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £252k | £3,789 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 30% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £2,809 a pupil, against a typical £788 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £8,827 a pupil, against a typical £6,630 for similar schools. What's behind that?
Check these figures
Every figure here comes from the school's published return to the DfE. Check it on the DfE benchmarking page for this school, and see how the status is worked out.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Margaret McMillan Nursery School · All Islington school finances