Find Nurseries Near You

Choosing a nursery gives children a safe, nurturing place to learn, play and build confidence during their earliest years. Nurseries support key areas of development, including communication, social skills and early problem-solving, while offering flexible hours that suit modern working families. With trained staff, structured routines and stimulating environments, nurseries help children become more independent, curious and ready for school.

Key benefits of choosing a nursery include:

Most private nurseries accept children from around 3 months old. School or council nurseries usually start from age 2 or 3 depending on the setting and availability.

Consider location, opening hours, staff experience, inspection reports, outdoor space and how the environment feels to you. Individual family preferences matter too, such as routines, communication style and learning approach. It is also helpful to read parent reviews, ask for local recommendations and speak to friends or neighbours who already use nurseries in the area.

Look for warm interactions between staff and children, clean and safe rooms, engaging activities, and good outdoor space. Ask to see where your child would play, eat and sleep, and check how the nursery supports settling-in and daily routines.

Most nurseries operate waiting lists, and places are often filled well in advance. It is best to enquire as early as possible, ideally during pregnancy, especially in busy areas or if you need a specific start date or set days of attendance.

In England, parents can choose from several types of nurseries, each offering different care and educational experiences.

Day nurseries typically offer full-day care for children from birth to 5 years, while preschools focus on early education for 3-4 year olds. All nurseries in England must be registered with Ofsted and meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework requirements.

In England, eligible 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time.

Working parents may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare. These hours can be used at registered nurseries, preschools, and childminders.

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) is the regulatory body that inspects and regulates nurseries in England.

All nurseries must be registered with Ofsted and undergo regular inspections. Parents can view Ofsted reports to understand a nursery's quality rating, which ranges from Outstanding to Inadequate.

In Scotland, parents can access day nurseries, playgroups, and nursery schools.

All nurseries must be registered with the Care Inspectorate and follow the Curriculum for Excellence. Scottish nurseries often offer flexible hours and may provide additional support for children with additional needs.

In Scotland, children aged three and four, and some eligible two year olds, can receive up to 1,140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare each year. This is commonly delivered as 30 hours a week during school term time. Scotland’s approach is designed around its Curriculum for Excellence and aims to provide high-quality, flexible childcare that helps parents access work or further study.

Private nurseries can become partner providers with the local authority. When they are approved, families can use their 1,140 hours in a private nursery in the same way they would in a council nursery. Although the entitlement is calculated using school term weeks, some areas allow a stretched model, where nurseries divide the 1,140 hours across more weeks of the year. Council and school nurseries typically follow the school calendar and only offer term-time hours.

The Care Inspectorate is the independent scrutiny and improvement body for care services in Scotland.

It inspects and regulates all nurseries, ensuring they meet quality standards. Parents can access inspection reports to see how nurseries are performing.

In Wales, parents can choose from day nurseries, playgroups, and nursery schools.

All nurseries must be registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and follow the Foundation Phase curriculum. Welsh nurseries may offer bilingual provision in English and Welsh.

Wales offers a combined early education and childcare package for three and four year olds of eligible working parents. This can give families up to 30 hours a week of funded early education and childcare for most of the year, with some areas offering support for up to 48 weeks annually. The offer is made up of a guaranteed number of early education hours plus additional funded childcare hours, depending on the local authority.

Private nurseries can apply to participate in the Welsh Childcare Offer, and once approved, they can deliver the funded hours directly to eligible families. Because the Welsh system is designed to support working parents, many areas allow the hours to be used across holiday weeks, which can make it more flexible than a term-time only model. School-based nurseries generally deliver the education element during term time only, while private nurseries can offer a blend of education and childcare across the wider year if they are part of the scheme.

Flying Start is a Welsh Government programme that provides free part-time childcare for 2-3 year-olds in eligible areas, along with enhanced health visiting and family support.

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) is the independent regulator of social care and childcare services in Wales.

It inspects and regulates all nurseries to ensure they meet quality and safety standards. Parents can view inspection reports on the CIW website.