Nurseries in Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest is a popular North East London borough known for its creative communities, green spaces and family-friendly neighbourhoods. Postcodes E4, E10, E11, E17 and IG8 cover areas including Walthamstow, Chingford, Leyton, Leytonstone and Highams Park. With many young families and an increasing number of people moving from central London, childcare demand is consistently strong. The borough benefits from the Victoria line, Overground services, rail connections, cycle routes and good road access. Families enjoy parks, wetlands, playgrounds, markets, cultural events and strong community networks. Its combination of affordability, green space and improving amenities makes Waltham Forest a desirable borough for early years childcare.
Parents in Waltham Forest typically pay £104 per day for childcare, which is significantly 38% higher than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £104
- Comparison
- +38% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 5,151 places
Nurseries near you in Waltham Forest
Frequently Asked Questions
In Waltham Forest, children can usually start private nursery from around 3 months old. Funded early education begins the term after your child turns 3, with earlier eligibility available for some 2-year-olds or children of working parents.
In England, all 3 and 4-year-olds can receive 15 hours of funded early education per week during term time, with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. There is also funded support for some 2-year-olds based on household circumstances, and entitlement for working parents of children from 9 months old to receive 30 hours per week for eligible families. The exact offer and start dates depend on your child’s age, your work status and when their birthday falls in the school year. Families can also benefit from Tax-Free Childcare if both working parents earn less than £100k per year. For every £8 a parent pays into their online childcare account, the government adds an extra £2 up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.
Nursery fees in Waltham Forest generally range from **£70–£130 per day**, with Walthamstow Village and Highams Park at the higher end.
All nurseries in Waltham Forest are regulated by **Ofsted**, with early years funding overseen by **Waltham Forest Council**.
Ask about staff ratios, learning approach, outdoor play, funded hours availability and any top-up charges.
Applying for funding
Waltham Forest is covered by Waltham Forest, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Waltham Forest website
