Nurseries in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a diverse South West county combining rural villages, market towns and vibrant urban centres such as Cheltenham and Gloucester. Covering districts including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cotswold and the Forest of Dean, it offers strong primary schools, family-friendly neighbourhoods, green countryside and good travel links to Bristol, Birmingham and Oxford. Nursery and preschool demand is consistently high across commuter areas, market towns and communities near top-rated schools.
Parents in Gloucestershire typically pay £70 per day for childcare, which is slightly 7% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £70
- Comparison
- -7% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 8,544 places
Nurseries near you in Gloucestershire
Frequently Asked Questions
In Gloucestershire, 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 Gloucestershire generally range from £60–£120 per day, with higher rates in Cheltenham, central Gloucester and affluent Cotswold towns.
All nurseries in Gloucestershire are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Gloucestershire County Council.
Ask about outdoor play spaces, access to local parks, staff retention, how funded hours are delivered and any extra charges for meals, nappies, trips or additional sessions.
Applying for funding
Gloucestershire 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
