Most nurseries in the UK accept children from around 3-6 months old, with some specialist settings taking babies from 6 weeks. There is no legal minimum age for starting nursery. The key dates to understand are when government-funded hours become available, as these significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.
In England, working parents can access 30 funded hours from age 9 months (since September 2025). All children receive 15 universal hours from age 3. Funding begins at the start of the next academic term after the child reaches the qualifying age — term dates are January, April, and September. In Scotland, all 3-4 year olds receive 1,140 funded hours with no work requirement, starting from August, January, or March depending on date of birth. Our guide on when to start nursery covers this in more detail.
This tool provides guidance estimates only. Eligibility, funding, and costs can vary by location and individual circumstances.
Cost assumptions reference Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2025 data.
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