Nurseries in Cumbria
Cumbria is a large and scenic North West county known for its national parks, market towns and strong community-led early years provision. Covering postcode districts CA1–CA28, LA7–LA23 and parts of DL and BD, it includes Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness and numerous rural villages. Families benefit from access to the Lake District, good primary schools, open green spaces, children’s centres, libraries and family amenities. Nursery and preschool demand is consistently strong in population hubs such as Carlisle, Kendal and Barrow, as well as rural areas with fewer providers but high local need.
Parents in Cumbria typically pay £74 per day for childcare, which is slightly 1% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £74
- Comparison
- -1% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 4,609 places
Nurseries near you in Cumbria
Frequently Asked Questions
In Cumbria, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old depending on staffing and availability. School-based nurseries and maintained settings usually offer places from age 2 or 3. Funded early education starts the term after your child turns 3, with some 2 year olds eligible earlier depending on household circumstances or working status.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week, with many working families able to access up to 30 hours. Some 2 year olds also qualify based on household circumstances, and eligible working parents of children from 9 months old may receive funded childcare. Tax-Free Childcare provides a 20 percent government top-up to help with nursery fees.
Nursery fees in Cumbria generally range from £50–£90 per day, with higher rates in Carlisle, Kendal and popular Lake District towns. Rural settings may have slightly lower fees but often have limited availability.
All nurseries in Cumbria are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding administered locally by Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council.
Ask about outdoor play space, access to nature, staff qualifications, availability of places for babies and toddlers, how funded hours are delivered, and any additional charges for meals, trips or extended care.
Applying for funding
Cumbria is covered by Cumberland Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Cumberland Council website
