Childcare costs in Nottingham 2026/27

Nottingham's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.42/hr, £0.58/hr below the East Midlands regional average of £7.00/hr and £0.30/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Nottingham 2nd 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
£6.42/hr
2 year olds
£9.00/hr
Under 2s
£12.25/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Nottingham is worth approximately £7319/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 Nottingham
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£12.25/hr−£0.22Calculate
2 to 3 years£9.00/hr−£0.16Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.42/hr−£0.30Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Nottingham childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Nottingham pays providers £6.42/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £9.00/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.25/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

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

Nottingham's 3-4 year old rate of £6.42/hr is £0.58/hr below the East Midlands regional average of £7.00/hr, ranking 2nd highest of the 10 authorities in East Midlands.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.42 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 Nottingham?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Nottingham's 2026/27 rate of £6.42/hr is worth approximately £7319 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

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