Childcare costs in Leicester 2026/27

Leicester's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.23/hr, £0.77/hr below the East Midlands regional average of £7.00/hr and £0.49/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Leicester 3rd of 10 authorities in East Midlands for funded rate. Use the calculator below to work out exactly what you'll pay each month after the funded hours are applied.

3-4 year olds
£6.23/hr
2 year olds
£8.69/hr
Under 2s
£11.81/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Leicester is worth approximately £7102/year for a 3 to 4 year old, before any private top-ups for additional hours, consumables, or meals.

Funded hourly rates and calculator links for Leicester
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£11.81/hr−£0.66Calculate
2 to 3 years£8.69/hr−£0.47Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.23/hr−£0.49Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Leicester childcare costs

›What is the 2026/27 funded childcare rate in Leicester?

For 2026/27, Leicester pays providers £6.23/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.69/hr for 2 year olds, and £11.81/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Leicester's funded rate compare to the rest of East Midlands?

Leicester's 3-4 year old rate of £6.23/hr is £0.77/hr below the East Midlands regional average of £7.00/hr, ranking 3rd highest of the 10 authorities in East Midlands.

›Will the funded rate in Leicester cover my whole nursery bill?

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.23 pays the provider for funded hours only, so any hours above your entitlement, plus consumables and meals, are charged at the nursery's private rate, which in East Midlands is typically around £7.00/hr.

›How much is the 30 funded hours worth annually in Leicester?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Leicester's 2026/27 rate of £6.23/hr is worth approximately £7102 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

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