Spencer Nursery School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £290k in reserve, 83% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sutton · 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 | £469k | £471k | -£1k | £37k | 76 |
2019-20 | £509k | £428k | +£81k | £119k | 72 |
2020-21 | £539k | £538k | +£1k | £120k | 66 |
2021-22 | £456k | £423k | +£33k | £153k | 54 |
2022-23 | £359k | £342k | +£17k | £169k | 71 |
2023-24 | £346k | £294k | +£52k | £221k | 52 |
2024-25 | £329k | £287k | +£42k | £263k | 51 |
2025-26 | £349k | £322k | +£27k | £290k | 65 |
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 100% of them. It spends £4,951 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £16,519.
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 | £1,886 | £3,909 | £2,993–£5,372 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £902 | £6,588 | £4,856–£7,409 |
Supply staff | £416 | £34 | £0–£264 |
Admin and clerical | £580 | £1,064 | £800–£1,425 |
Premises | £362 | £878 | £639–£1,292 |
Energy | £174 | £183 | £134–£249 |
Learning resources & ICT | £93 | £350 | £233–£463 |
Bought-in services | £151 | £764 | £339–£1,211 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Maples Nursery School and Children's Centre In deficit
- Windham Nursery School In deficit
- Thornton Heath Nursery School Large reserves
- Curzon Nursery School & Family Wellbeing Centre Large reserves
- Tunstall Nursery School Large reserves
- Purley Nursery School Large reserves
- Moss Hall Nursery School In deficit
- Oliver Thomas Nursery School Large reserves
- Crosfield Nursery School In deficit
- Selhurst Nursery School and Children's Centre In deficit
- Edith Kerrison Nursery School Large reserves
- Ronald Openshaw Nursery School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £337k | £5,192 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £11k | £174 |
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 14% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £416 a pupil, against a typical £34 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 Spencer Nursery School · All Sutton school finances