How Much is Nursery Per Day? A UK Parent's Guide to Working Out Costs

Nursery fees in the UK vary more than most parents expect. Our 2025 guide breaks down the real daily costs in England, Scotland, and Wales, and the funding that can help.

Childcare costs are one of the biggest financial shocks of early parenthood. Before your baby arrives, you might have a rough idea that nursery is expensive, but the reality of working out the answer to “how much is nursery per day”, and then multiplying that by five days a week, fifty weeks a year… can feel genuinely alarming.

The good news is that the picture is not quite as bleak as the headline figures suggest. Government funding has expanded significantly in recent years, particularly in England, and there are more ways to reduce your costs than many parents realise.

The challenge is that nursery fees are not uniform. They vary by the age of your child, by your location, by the type of nursery, and by how many hours you need. A full-time place for a baby in central London looks nothing like a part-time place for a three-year-old in rural Wales. Understanding the range, and knowing where your family sits within it, is the first step to creating a realistic childcare budget.

This guide will break down the average daily nursery costs across England, Scotland, and Wales, explain the government funding available in each nation, and give you a clear framework for working out what you are likely to pay. You can also use the childcare cost calculator on Nuuri to get a more personalised estimate based on your specific circumstances.

What Affects How Much Nursery Costs Per Day?

Before looking at the numbers, it helps to understand the factors that drive nursery fees. The single biggest driver is the age of your child. Babies and toddlers under two require a staff-to-child ratio of 1:3 in all UK nations, meaning the nursery needs three times as many staff per child as it does for older children.

That staffing cost is passed on to parents in the form of higher fees. As children get older and the ratios change, the cost per day typically falls.

Location is the second major factor. Nurseries in London and the South East of England operate in a high-cost environment - higher rents, higher wages, higher overheads - and their fees reflect this. A full-time nursery place in inner London can cost more than twice as much as an equivalent place in the North of England or rural Scotland. The type of nursery also matters: private nurseries often charge more than voluntary sector or community-run settings, but they may also offer longer hours, more flexibility, and a broader range of activities.

For a detailed breakdown of nursery costs based on your specific needs, use our Nursery Cost Calculator.

Average Nursery Costs in England, Scotland, and Wales

The most comprehensive source of data on childcare costs in the UK is the annual Coram Family and Childcare Survey. The 2025 survey provides a clear picture of what parents are paying across the three nations. The figures below represent the average weekly cost of a full-time nursery place (50 hours per week), after government-funded childcare hours have been applied.

To convert these to a rough daily rate, divide by five. That puts the average daily cost for a child under two at around £47.79 in England, £47.96 in Scotland, and £58.01 in Wales. These are averages, so your actual cost could be higher or lower depending on your location and provider.

It is worth noting that Wales is currently the most expensive nation for full-time nursery care. The 2025 Coram survey found that a full-time place for a child under two in Wales costs an average of £15,038 per year, the highest in Great Britain. This is partly because the expansion of government-funded hours has been less extensive in Wales than in England, meaning parents of younger children are still paying closer to the full market rate.

Government Funding: What You Can Claim

Government-funded childcare hours can make a significant difference to your weekly bill. The entitlements vary between nations, so it's important to understand what applies to you.

England

In England, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time (38 weeks per year), regardless of parental income or working status. Working parents who meet the income requirements can access 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged nine months to four years. This expanded entitlement was rolled out in stages from April 2024, with the full 30 hours for children from nine months available from September 2025. You can check your eligibility and apply on the GOV.UK website.

Scotland

In Scotland, all three and four-year-olds, and some eligible two-year-olds, are entitled to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare per year. This works out at approximately 30 hours per week during term time, or 22 hours per week if spread across the full year. The funding is free to all eligible children, regardless of parental working status. More information is available on the mygov.scot website.

Wales

In Wales, most working parents of three and four-year-olds can claim up to 30 hours of combined government-funded early education and childcare per week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. This is made up of at least 10 hours of nursery education and up to 20 hours of childcare. All three and four-year-olds are also entitled to a minimum of 10 hours of funded Foundation Phase nursery education per week, regardless of parental working status. Full details are available on the GOV.WALES website.

What's Included in the Daily Rate for Nurseries?

When you are choosing a nursery and comparing nursery fees, the headline daily rate is only part of the story. Two nurseries might quote the same daily figure, but one might include all meals, snacks, and nappies, while the other charges for these separately.

Before you commit to a nursery, one of the questions you ask staff should be for a full breakdown of what is and isn't included. Common top ups to ask about include:

• Meals and snacks (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea)
• Nappies and wipes
• Sun cream and other consumables
• Extra-curricular activities (music, swimming, languages)
• Early drop-off or late pick-up sessions
• Registration fees and deposits
• Holiday surcharges

A nursery that charges a slightly higher daily rate but includes everything can often work out to be better value than one with a lower headline price and a long list of extras.

Other Ways to Reduce Your Nursery Costs

Beyond the funded hours entitlements, there are other schemes that can help to reduce how much nursery costs per day for your family.

Tax-Free Childcare allows eligible working parents to receive a government top-up of 20% on childcare costs, up to £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for children with disabilities). For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit childcare support, so it's worth checking which is more beneficial for your circumstances.

If you are on Universal Credit, you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs. This can make a significant difference for lower-income families. You can check your eligibility for all of these schemes on the MoneyHelper website.

Making Your Decision on Nursery

Working out how much nursery is per day is a necessary step, but it shouldn't be the only factor in your decision. The quality of care, the environment, the staff, and the values of the nursery all matter enormously. A slightly more expensive nursery that is warm, stimulating, and well-staffed is often a far better investment than a cheaper setting that cuts corners.

Use Nuuri to search for nurseries in your area, compare their details, and find a setting that gives you confidence - not just in the price, but in the care your child will receive.

Start your nursery search with Nuuri to find the right nursery at the right price for your family.

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