Portman Early Childhood Centre: school finances
Tight
Holds £22k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Westminster · 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 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£157k | -£190k | 40 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.5m | -£4k | -£194k | 39 |
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£105k | -£88k | 36 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.6m | +£8k | -£81k | 35 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£118k | £37k | 39 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£14k | £51k | 44 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£16k | £67k | 45 |
2025-26 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£44k | £22k | 41 |
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 43% of them. It spends £47,375 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £18,434.
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 | £7,627 | £4,849 | £3,257–£6,661 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £27,047 | £6,687 | £4,945–£7,940 |
Supply staff | £0 | £120 | £9–£266 |
Admin and clerical | £3,547 | £1,338 | £941–£1,750 |
Premises | £1,375 | £1,156 | £694–£1,784 |
Energy | £17 | £201 | £133–£304 |
Learning resources & ICT | £643 | £328 | £241–£400 |
Bought-in services | £2,558 | £830 | £481–£1,757 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Columbia Market Nursery School In deficit
- Alice Model Nursery School In deficit
- Clyde Nursery School. In deficit
- Vanessa Nursery School Large reserves
- Mary Paterson Nursery School Healthy
- James Lee Nursery School Heading for deficit
- Nell Gwynn Nursery School Tight
- Somerset Nursery School and Children's Centre Large reserves
- Tachbrook Nursery School Large reserves
- Chelsea Open Air Nursery School Large reserves
- Effra Nursery School and Children's Centre In deficit
- Fawood Nursery School & Family Wellbeing Centre Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £46,168 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £459k | £11,184 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £5k | £123 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £27,047 a pupil, against a typical £6,687 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £2,558 a pupil, against a typical £830 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,547 a pupil, against a typical £1,338 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £643 a pupil, against a typical £328 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £7,627 a pupil, against a typical £4,849 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 Portman Early Childhood Centre · All Westminster school finances