Children's Support Service: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.4m in reserve, 18% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · Not applicable · Pupil referral unit.
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 | £5.9m | £6.1m | -£113k | £878k | 222 |
2019-20 | £6.1m | £6.1m | -£67k | £811k | 209 |
2020-21 | £6.2m | £5.9m | +£272k | £1.1m | 172 |
2021-22 | £5.9m | £5.6m | +£313k | £1.4m | 189 |
2022-23 | £5.9m | £6.1m | -£178k | £1.2m | 184 |
2023-24 | £6.5m | £6.6m | -£61k | £1.2m | 183 |
2024-25 | £7.0m | £7.1m | -£145k | £1.0m | 189 |
2025-26 | £7.5m | £7.2m | +£347k | £1.4m | 164 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 73% of them. It spends £43,603 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £29,059.
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 | £27,462 | £13,955 | £10,484–£17,448 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £6,011 | £4,911 | £3,092–£7,103 |
Supply staff | £390 | £669 | £235–£1,304 |
Admin and clerical | £2,499 | £1,735 | £1,139–£2,084 |
Premises | £1,465 | £1,337 | £834–£1,529 |
Energy | £503 | £394 | £240–£477 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,122 | £1,189 | £726–£2,292 |
Bought-in services | £831 | £870 | £174–£2,013 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Estuary Academy Large reserves
- Albright Education Centre Healthy
- Nottingham HOPE Academy Large reserves
- Pathways Learning Centre In deficit
- The Altus School Large reserves
- EOTAS Swindon Tight
- St Wilfrid's Academy, Doncaster Large reserves
- Stevenage Education Support Centre Large reserves
- The Key Education Centre Large reserves
- Oakfield School Large reserves
- The Heights Blackburn Large reserves
- Meadowbrook College In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.5m | £39,558 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.9m | £23,770 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £126k | £768 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £1.0m | £6,267 |
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 26% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on teachers is £27,462 a pupil, against a typical £13,955 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,499 a pupil, against a typical £1,735 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 Children's Support Service · All Essex school finances