Chestnut Nursery School - Exeter Nursery Schools Federation: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £131k in reserve, 17% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Devon · Nursery · Local authority nursery school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2021-22 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2021-22 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021-22 | £362k | £393k | -£31k | -£3k | 26 |
2022-23 | £495k | £484k | +£11k | £8k | 42 |
2023-24 | £585k | £518k | +£67k | £75k | 41 |
2024-25 | £633k | £631k | +£3k | £78k | 38 |
2025-26 | £774k | £720k | +£53k | £131k | 44 |
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 70% of them. It spends £16,374 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £15,485.
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 | £3,434 | £3,851 | £3,310–£4,906 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £6,709 | £4,839 | £3,589–£6,925 |
Supply staff | £187 | £413 | £21–£861 |
Admin and clerical | £569 | £1,020 | £598–£1,254 |
Premises | £883 | £806 | £518–£1,169 |
Energy | £325 | £190 | £158–£233 |
Learning resources & ICT | £195 | £343 | £282–£522 |
Bought-in services | £1,818 | £795 | £356–£1,367 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wigston Menphys Nursery School In deficit
- Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School, Burbage In deficit
- Highters Heath Nursery School Large reserves
- Newtown Nursery School In deficit
- Edith Cadbury Nursery School Large reserves
- Selly Oak Nursery School In deficit
- Broomhall Nursery School Large reserves
- Jakeman Nursery School Large reserves
- Caversham Nursery School In deficit
- Adderley Nursery School Large reserves
- Garretts Green Nursery School Large reserves
- Gracelands Nursery School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £579k | £13,167 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £12k | £265 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £194k | £4,413 |
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 bought-in services is £1,818 a pupil, against a typical £795 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £325 a pupil, against a typical £190 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.
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