Nurseries in Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean district covers woodland communities and small towns such as Coleford, Cinderford and Lydney. Nurseries here often make strong use of outdoor learning, with families choosing settings close to local schools, woodland walks and commuting routes towards Gloucester, Monmouth and South Wales.
Parents in Forest of Dean typically pay £75 per day for childcare, which is higher than the UK average of £75 per day.
- Average Daily Cost
- £75
- Comparison
- Same as UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 938 places
Nurseries near you in Forest of Dean
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Forest of Dean, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old depending on staffing and availability. School and council nurseries usually offer places from age 2 or 3. Funded early education begins the term after your child turns 3, with some 2 year olds eligible earlier depending on 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 provides a 20 percent government top up to help with nursery costs.
Nursery fees in the Forest of Dean generally range from £55–£100 per day, with variations between town-centre settings and smaller rural nurseries.
All nurseries in the Forest of Dean are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Gloucestershire County Council.
Ask about forest school activities, use of woodland and outdoor space, transport links, how funded hours are delivered and any extra costs for meals, nappies or holiday provision.
Applying for funding
Forest of Dean is covered by Gloucestershire County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Gloucestershire County Council website
