Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £519k in reserve, 44% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Warrington · 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 | £948k | £896k | +£52k | £180k | 76 |
2019-20 | £908k | £885k | +£23k | £203k | 62 |
2020-21 | £883k | £868k | +£14k | £217k | 64 |
2021-22 | £898k | £817k | +£81k | £298k | 65 |
2022-23 | £937k | £861k | +£76k | £374k | 64 |
2023-24 | £1.0m | £935k | +£106k | £481k | 61 |
2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.1m | +£122k | £603k | 60 |
2025-26 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£84k | £519k | 63 |
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 93% of them. It spends £20,033 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £14,225.
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 | £5,516 | £3,210 | £2,664–£4,197 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £6,647 | £5,368 | £4,716–£7,184 |
Supply staff | £50 | £165 | £51–£486 |
Admin and clerical | £1,549 | £1,083 | £679–£1,415 |
Premises | £1,018 | £732 | £513–£1,224 |
Energy | £287 | £205 | £131–£275 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,024 | £388 | £223–£538 |
Bought-in services | £2,782 | £355 | £303–£525 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ashfield Nursery School Large reserves
- Dorking Nursery School Large reserves
- Bushbury Nursery School Large reserves
- Highfield Nursery School Large reserves
- Hirst Wood Nursery School Large reserves
- Midland Road Nursery School In deficit
- Hollywood Park Nursery School Tight
- St Thomas Centre Nursery School In deficit
- Rothesay Nursery School Large reserves
- Newburn Manor Nursery School Large reserves
- Chertsey Nursery School Large reserves
- Huntingdon Federation Nursery School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.2m | £19,660 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £10k | £155 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £33k | £523 |
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 17% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £2,782 a pupil, against a typical £355 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,024 a pupil, against a typical £388 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,516 a pupil, against a typical £3,210 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 Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School · All Warrington school finances