How much does nursery cost in the UK 2026?

In England, a full-time nursery place (50 hours a week) for a child under two averages £148.82 a week, about £7,400 a year, for eligible working parents paying for 20 hours after the 30 funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Without the working parent entitlement, a full-time place for an under-two averages £372.06 a week. Scotland (£259.10) and Wales (£325.12) have no equivalent entitlement, so their full-time prices for under-twos are not comparable.

How much do childminders charge UK 2026?

In England, a full-time childminder place (50 hours a week) for a child under two averages £122.32 a week for eligible working parents after funded hours, according to Coram's 2026 survey. In Scotland it averages £286.53 a week and in Wales £271.78, without an equivalent entitlement.

How many free childcare hours do I get UK 2026?

In England, all 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours a week. Eligible working parents get 30 hours a week from when a child is 9 months old. Two-year-olds in families getting certain benefits or support get 15 hours.

Is Tax-Free Childcare worth it UK?

Tax-Free Childcare adds £2 from the government for every £8 you pay in, up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) per child, or £4,000 a year if the child is disabled. You cannot get it at the same time as Universal Credit or childcare vouchers, or if you or your partner expect adjusted net income over £100,000. Universal Credit can pay back up to 85% of childcare costs instead.

Average Childcare Cost UK 2026: Nursery, Childminder and After-School Prices

Start here: Family Costs Hub.

Childcare is one of the biggest expenses for working parents in the UK. This page uses Coram’s 2026 Childcare Survey, which reports average prices after the funded hours that eligible working parents get in England.

Nursery and Childminder Prices

England, 50 Hours a Week After Funded Hours

These are average weekly prices for eligible working parents who pay for 20 of the 50 hours after the 30 funded hours.

Child’s age	Nursery (weekly)	Childminder (weekly)
Under 2	£148.82	£122.32
2 years	£140.72	£120.89
3-4 years	£132.72	£116.37

England, Without the Working Parent Entitlement

Where a child does not get the funded hours for working parents, nursery prices are much higher.

Child’s age	Nursery, 25 hours (weekly)	Nursery, 50 hours (weekly)
Under 2	£188.75	£372.06
2 years	£174.85	£351.81

Scotland and Wales

Neither Scotland nor Wales has an entitlement equivalent to England’s 30 hours for working parents of under-threes, so these 50-hour prices are not comparable with the English figures above.

Country	Nursery, under 2 (weekly)	Childminder, under 2 (weekly)
Scotland	£259.10	£286.53
Wales	£325.12	£271.78

Regional Differences

Nursery for Under-Twos, England, 50 Hours After Funded Hours

Region	Weekly price
Inner London	£185.10
Outer London	£171.39
South East	£161.28
East of England	£154.56
England average	£148.82
South West	£145.34
West Midlands	£141.79
North East	£140.30
North West	£135.54
East Midlands	£127.70
Yorkshire and the Humber	£126.38

School-Age Childcare

Average weekly prices for children aged 5 to 11 (Coram, 2026):

Place	After-school club	Childminder to 6pm
England	£69.38	£85.03
Scotland	£71.08	£94.31
Wales	£74.31	£81.81

Free Childcare Hours

Government Free Entitlement (England)

Age	Hours	Who Qualifies
9 months to 4 years	30 hours/week	Eligible working parents
2-year-olds	15 hours/week	Families getting certain benefits or support
3-4 year olds	15 hours/week	All families

Eligibility for 30 Hours

Requirement	Detail
Both parents working	Or a single working parent
Minimum income	Each parent earns at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage
Maximum income	Adjusted net income of £100,000 or less for each parent
Apply via	Childcare Choices website
Reconfirm	Every 3 months

Free hours are term-time only (38 weeks). Many providers “stretch” hours across the year, giving fewer weekly hours over more weeks.

Stretched Hours Calculation

Option	Weekly Hours	Weeks	Total Annual Hours
Standard (term-time)	30	38	1,140
Stretched (all year)	About 22	52	About 1,140

Reducing Childcare Costs

Tax-Free Childcare

How It Works	Detail
Government tops up	£2 for every £8 you pay in
Equivalent to	20% of the childcare bill
Maximum per child	£2,000/year (£500 every 3 months), or £4,000/year (£1,000 every 3 months) if the child is disabled
For children aged	11 or younger (16 or younger if disabled)
Income limit	Adjusted net income of £100,000 or less for each parent

Tax-Free Childcare Example

Annual childcare bill	You pay in	Government adds	Top-up
£5,000	£4,000	£1,000	£1,000
£10,000	£8,000	£2,000	£2,000
£15,000	£13,000	£2,000 (capped)	£2,000
£20,000	£18,000	£2,000 (capped)	£2,000

Childcare Element of Universal Credit

How It Works	Detail
Covers	Up to 85% of childcare costs
Maximum a month (1 child)	£1,071.09
Maximum a month (2 or more children)	£1,836.16
Pay upfront	Then claim back

You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit childcare costs. Compare the two before choosing.

Childcare Vouchers

Childcare vouchers are only available if you already joined a scheme before it closed.