Oliver Thomas Nursery School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £494k in reserve, 25% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Newham · 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 | £1.4m | £1.2m | +£229k | £467k | 86 |
2019-20 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£39k | £427k | 78 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.3m | -£22k | £406k | 88 |
2021-22 | £1.7m | £1.5m | +£157k | £563k | 80 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.7m | +£75k | £638k | 82 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£19k | £657k | 82 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.9m | -£138k | £520k | 86 |
2025-26 | £2.0m | £2.0m | -£25k | £494k | 80 |
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 73% of them. It spends £25,016 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £15,587.
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 | £5,967 | £3,539 | £2,709–£4,958 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £5,668 | £6,429 | £4,660–£7,540 |
Supply staff | £1,024 | £53 | £0–£300 |
Admin and clerical | £643 | £1,033 | £705–£1,407 |
Premises | £1,917 | £791 | £639–£1,050 |
Energy | £46 | £190 | £132–£249 |
Learning resources & ICT | £601 | £331 | £198–£459 |
Bought-in services | £846 | £573 | £287–£1,270 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Moss Hall Nursery School In deficit
- Edith Kerrison Nursery School Large reserves
- Purley Nursery School Large reserves
- Ronald Openshaw Nursery School Large reserves
- Church Hill Nursery School Large reserves
- South Acton Childrens Centre Heading for deficit
- Greenfields Nursery School and Children's Centre Large reserves
- College Green School and Services Large reserves
- Thornton Heath Nursery School Large reserves
- Grove House Nursery School & Children's Centre Tight
- Thomas Wall Nursery School Large reserves
- Maples Nursery School and Children's Centre In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £24,015 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £231k | £2,873 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £55k | £687 |
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 supply staff is £1,024 a pupil, against a typical £53 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,917 a pupil, against a typical £791 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £601 a pupil, against a typical £331 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,967 a pupil, against a typical £3,539 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 Oliver Thomas Nursery School · All Newham school finances