Nurseries in Merseyside
Merseyside is a vibrant metropolitan county in North West England, home to Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens. Known for its rich culture, waterfront attractions, family-friendly neighbourhoods and strong transport links, it offers a diverse mix of urban, suburban and coastal early years provision. Covering postcode districts L1–L40, CH41–CH63 and WA9–WA12, families benefit from rail links across the Merseyrail network, access to Liverpool city centre, the M62 and M57, parks, beaches, museums, libraries, children's centres and a wide choice of nurseries, preschools and childminders. Demand for childcare is consistently high across central Liverpool, South Liverpool, Wirral and commuter areas close to transport routes.
Parents in Merseyside typically pay £65 per day for childcare, which is slightly 13% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £65
- Comparison
- -13% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 19,077 places
Nurseries near you in Merseyside
Frequently Asked Questions
In Merseyside, 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 Merseyside generally range from £50–£75 per day, with higher rates in Liverpool city centre, South Liverpool and popular Wirral or Sefton coastal areas.
All nurseries in Merseyside are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by each local authority, including Liverpool City Council, Wirral Council, Sefton Council, Knowsley Council and St Helens Borough Council.
Ask about outdoor play access, how funded hours are delivered, staff retention, meal charges, wraparound options, and proximity to parks, transport links or local schools.
Applying for funding
Merseyside is covered by Liverpool City Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Liverpool City Council website

