About Clear Nursery Fees

What this tool does

Clear Nursery Fees tells you exactly what you will pay for nursery each month — not which schemes you qualify for, but your actual out-of-pocket cost after every government scheme is correctly applied.

Most calculators stop at “you qualify for 30 hours”. Ours goes further: it models the funding gap (the difference between what the government pays nurseries and what nurseries charge), the stretching mechanic, Tax-Free Childcare savings, and Universal Credit childcare support. It also projects how your costs will change as your child ages through each funding tier — so you can plan ahead, not just for this month.

Who it's for

Parents and carers in England with a child aged 9 months to 4 years who are planning or currently using nursery care. If you want to understand your actual cost — not a rough guide — this calculator is for you.

Is the data accurate?

Policy constants (funded hours thresholds, Tax-Free Childcare limits, term dates) are updated each April when the government publishes new rates. Local Authority funding rates for 20 of the largest LAs in England are included; the national average is used as a fallback for others.

The calculator is a guide, not a guarantee — your nursery's actual rates and policies determine your real invoice. Use the calculator to see your personalised estimate.

Get in touch

Found an error, have a question, or want to suggest an improvement? Email us at hello@clearnurseryfees.co.uk.