Nurseries in Derby
Derby is the largest urban area in Derbyshire and a major East Midlands city, offering a wide range of early years settings across suburban, central and commuter neighbourhoods. Covering DE1–DE24, it includes areas such as Mickleover, Littleover, Allestree, Alvaston and Chaddesden. Families benefit from excellent transport links via the A38, A50 and M1, strong primary schools, local parks, children’s centres and expanding new-build communities. Demand for nursery places is consistently high, particularly around popular school catchments and rapidly growing housing developments.
Parents in Derby typically pay £70 per day for childcare, which is slightly 6% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £70
- Comparison
- -6% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 6,603 places
Nurseries near you in Derby
Frequently Asked Questions
In Derby, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old depending on staffing and availability. School and council nurseries usually begin at 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 work status.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week with many working families eligible for 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 access funded childcare. Tax-Free Childcare offers a 20 percent government top-up to help with nursery costs.
Nursery fees in Derby typically range from £55–£120 per day, with higher rates in Littleover, Mickleover and Allestree.
All nurseries in Derby are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council for bordering areas.
Ask about staff qualifications, access to outdoor areas, how funded hours are delivered, meal arrangements and any additional fees for nappies, outings or extended hours.
Applying for funding
Derby is covered by Derbyshire County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Derbyshire County Council website
