How much does nursery cost in the UK? Discover average fees, government funding, and money-saving tips for your family's childcare budget.
When you're thinking about nursery for your child, one of the biggest questions is: how much is this going to cost?
I know it myself all too well: nursery fees can feel like a lot of money, and it's natural to worry about whether you can afford it. But here's the good news: understanding how nursery costs work and what help is available can make a real difference to your family budget.
How Much Does Nursery Cost in the UK?
Nursery costs have shifted markedly over the past year. The 2024–25 period saw the phased rollout of expanded 30-hour funded childcare for children aged nine months to four years across England, alongside enhanced hourly funding rates to providers. While nursery list prices continue to rise with wage and energy pressures, many families now see noticeably lower out-of-pocket costs once the new funding is applied.
It’s not always easy to estimate exact costs, with variables including services, location, qualifications and more. We’ve built a Childcare Cost Calculator to help you understand how much you’re likely to pay for nursery or pre-school in your area.
Approximate Cost of Part-Time Nursery Care in the UK
| 25 hours nursery care, average cost (working parent entitlements in England taken into account) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | Two-year-olds | |
| England | £70.51 | £66.34 |
| Scotland | £122.38 | £124.75 |
| Wales | £155.04 | £146.15 |
Research from Coram’s 2025 Childcare Survey
Approximate Cost of Full-Time Nursery Care in the UK
| 50 hours nursery care, average cost (working parent entitlements in England taken into account) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | Two-year-olds | |
| England (paying for 35 hours with funding) | £238.95 | £225.70 |
| Scotland | £239.78 | £235.49 |
| Wales | £290.06 | £279.14 |
Research from Coram’s 2025 Childcare Survey
What Affects Nursery Costs?
Prices vary mainly because of several key factors:
Location: Where you live has a huge impact on costs; for example London and the South East of England are more expensive than other parts of the UK. Rural areas tend to be cheaper than cities. Similarly, England’s childcare funding impacts costs.
Child's Age: Under-twos require a 1:3 staff ratio, which is more expensive than older children. So nursery for a baby costs more than nursery for a three-year-old.
Session Length: Whether you need part-time (25 hours) or full-time (50 hours) care makes a big difference. Full-time is roughly double the cost of part-time.
What's Included: Some nurseries include meals, nappies, and activities in their fees. Others charge extra for these. Always ask what's included before you commit.
Quality and Specialism: Nurseries with Outstanding ratings, or those offering specialist approaches like Montessori or Forest School, often charge more.
Extras and Add-ons: Some nurseries charge for things like enrichment activities, special sessions, or extended hours. These can add up quickly.
Government Help with Nursery Costs
The good news is that the government offers several ways to help with childcare costs. These have expanded significantly in recent years, which means many families are paying less than they used to.
England
All 3-4 year-olds in England are eligible for 570 free hours of childcare per year, usually worked out at 15 hours/week over 38 weeks per year. This is funded by the government and goes directly to the nursery, reducing your fees.
As of September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged 3-4 in England can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged from 9 months to school age, subject to eligibility criteria. This is a significant expansion that can make a huge difference to your costs.
Note that these hours are for 38 weeks a year, not 52, so you'll still need to pay for childcare during school holidays if your child isn't in nursery.
Scotland
In Scotland, all 3 to 5-year-olds are entitled to up to 1,140 hours of funded nursery care. This works out to about 22 hours per week if used year-round, or 30 hours per week during school term times only.
Wales
In Wales, parents can apply for up to 30 hours of combined government funded nursery care, per week.
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that pays 20% of your childcare fees, up to £2,000 per child each year (or £4,000 if your child is disabled). You need to open a Tax-Free Childcare account and pay money in, and the government will add 20% on top.
Universal Credit Childcare Element
If you're on Universal Credit, you can get help with childcare costs through the childcare element. This can reimburse up to 85% of your fees, subject to caps.
What's Included in Nursery Fees?
Before you commit to a nursery, it's important to understand what's included in the fees and what you'll need to pay extra for.
Usually Included:
- Your child's place and supervision
- Early years education and activities
- Access to indoor and outdoor spaces
- Staff time and expertise
Often Extra:
- Meals and snacks
- Nappies and wipes
- Enrichment activities (like Forest School or music sessions)
- Extended hours (before or after standard hours)
- Holiday childcare
- Special activities or trips
With Nuuri, you’ll get a guide on what's included and what costs extra. This helps you work out the true cost of a place.
Hidden Nursery Costs to Watch Out For
When you're budgeting for nursery, watch out for these hidden costs that can add up:
Settling-In Fees: Some nurseries charge a one-off fee to help your child settle in.
Registration Fees: A one-off fee to register your child.
Holiday Fees: Some nurseries charge a fee during school holidays even if your child isn't attending.
Notice Periods: If you need to leave the nursery, you might need to give notice (often 4-8 weeks). You'll still pay fees during this notice period.
Meals and Snacks: If not included in fees, these can cost £2-5 per day.
Nappies and Wipes: If not included, you'll need to supply these.
Enrichment Activities: Special sessions like music, Forest School, or swimming can cost £5-15 per session.
Late Pickup Fees: If you're late picking up your child, you might be charged £1-5 per minute.
We recommend checking about these costs upfront and asking the nursery staff on your first visits, so you're not surprised later.
How to Keep Nursery Costs Down
Nursery is expensive, but there are ways to reduce the cost:
Use Government Funding: Make sure you're claiming all the government funding you're eligible for. This can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Ask About Discounts: Many nurseries offer discounts for:
- Sibling discounts (if you have more than one child at the nursery)
- Full-time attendance (paying for a full week might be cheaper than paying per day)
- Longer commitments (committing to a year might get you a discount)
- Loyalty discounts (if you've been with the nursery for a while)
Check Notice Periods: Understand the notice period you need to give if you want to leave. Some nurseries have long notice periods that you'll need to pay for.
Look at Holiday Charging: Ask how the nursery charges during school holidays. Some charge the same fee, others charge less or allow you to take unpaid weeks.
Compare Nurseries: Don't just go with the first nursery you find. Compare a few to see what offers the best value. Use Nuuri to read parent reviews and compare what different nurseries offer.
Calculate Your True Net Fee: Using our Nuuri Cost Calculator, work out your true net fee after government funding. This gives you a realistic picture of what you'll actually pay.
Planning Your Nursery Budget
When you're planning your nursery budget, here's what to do:
Step 1: Work Out Your Needs
- How many hours per week do you need?
- What age is your child?
- Do you need full-time or part-time care?
- Do you need care during school holidays?
Step 2: Research Local Nurseries
- Find nurseries in your area using Nuuri
- Check their fees and what's included
- Read parent reviews
- Visit the nurseries you're interested in
Step 3: Calculate Your Funding
- Work out what government funding you're eligible for
- Use the Nuuri Childcare Cost Calculator to see your true net cost
- Consider Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit
Step 4: Budget for Extras
- Add on the cost of meals, nappies, and activities if not included
- Budget for any extras like enrichment activities
- Consider holiday childcare costs
Step 5: Ask About Discounts
- Ask about sibling discounts
- Ask about full-time attendance discounts
- Ask about loyalty discounts
Use Nuuri to Find Affordable Nurseries Near You
When you're looking for a nursery, use Nuuri to find options in your area and compare costs, reviews, and services.
Parent reviews on Nuuri help show whether a nursery offers good value for money, and we provide information about the different options available in your area.
Get started with your nursery search with Nuuri.
Frequently asked questions
For a child under two, part-time nursery (25 hours) costs about £70.51 per week in England after funding, or £3,670 per year. Full-time (50 hours) costs about £238.95 per week, or £12,425 per year. Costs are higher in Scotland and Wales.
Parents in England, Scotland and Wales can claim a set amount of free childcare per week according to eligibility. You can also use Tax-Free Childcare (20% of fees up to £2,000 per child per year) or Universal Credit childcare element (up to 85% of fees).
Many nurseries offer sibling discounts. It's worth asking when you're comparing nurseries.
This depends on the nursery. Some charge the same fee, others charge less or allow you to take unpaid weeks. Always ask about their holiday charging policy.
Sometimes, yes. Full-time nursery might work out slightly cheaper per hour than part-time, but you'll pay more overall because you're paying for more hours.
Use government funding, ask about discounts (sibling, full-time, loyalty), understand notice periods, check holiday charging, compare nurseries, and calculate your true net fee using a cost calculator.
