The Orchards Nursery School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £93k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bolton · 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 | £542k | £584k | -£41k | -£3k | 70 |
2019-20 | £614k | £617k | -£4k | -£7k | 69 |
2020-21 | £561k | £462k | +£99k | £92k | 58 |
2021-22 | £539k | £541k | -£2k | £90k | 60 |
2022-23 | £532k | £615k | -£83k | £7k | 62 |
2023-24 | £697k | £693k | +£3k | £10k | 63 |
2024-25 | £768k | £700k | +£68k | £78k | 57 |
2025-26 | £745k | £731k | +£14k | £93k | 66 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 nursery schools outside London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 57% of them. It spends £10,996 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £12,136.
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 | £2,802 | £2,932 | £2,387–£4,187 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,891 | £4,970 | £3,215–£5,726 |
Supply staff | £189 | £108 | £46–£244 |
Admin and clerical | £343 | £960 | £643–£1,155 |
Premises | £638 | £687 | £526–£921 |
Energy | £186 | £132 | £106–£233 |
Learning resources & ICT | £559 | £216 | £159–£332 |
Bought-in services | £332 | £351 | £198–£803 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Newburn Manor Nursery School Large reserves
- Washwood Heath Nursery School In deficit
- Freshfield Nursery School Healthy
- Chertsey Nursery School Large reserves
- Northfleet Nursery School Large reserves
- Wyndham Park Nursery School Large reserves
- Helen Gibson Nursery School In deficit
- Marsh Hill Nursery School Large reserves
- Cleator Moor Nursery School Large reserves
- Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School Large reserves
- Strong Close Nursery School Large reserves
- West Exe Nursery School - Exeter Nursery Schools Federation Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £730k | £10,978 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £97k | £1,455 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £24k | £354 |
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?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £559 a pupil, against a typical £216 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 The Orchards Nursery School · All Bolton school finances