Childcare costs in Southend-on-Sea 2026/27
Southend-on-Sea's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.38/hr, £1.62/hr below the East of England regional average of £8.00/hr and £0.34/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Southend-on-Sea 7th of 11 authorities in East of England for funded rate. Use the calculator below to work out exactly what you'll pay each month after the funded hours are applied.
Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Southend-on-Sea is worth approximately £7273/year for a 3 to 4 year old, before any private top-ups for additional hours, consumables, or meals.
| Age band | Funded rate | vs national | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £12.05/hr | −£0.42 | Calculate |
| 2 to 3 years | £8.86/hr | −£0.30 | Calculate |
| 3 to 4 years | £6.38/hr | −£0.34 | Calculate |
Frequently asked questions about Southend-on-Sea childcare costs
›What is the 2026/27 funded childcare rate in Southend-on-Sea?
For 2026/27, Southend-on-Sea pays providers £6.38/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.86/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.05/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.
›How does Southend-on-Sea's funded rate compare to the rest of East of England?
Southend-on-Sea's 3-4 year old rate of £6.38/hr is £1.62/hr below the East of England regional average of £8.00/hr, ranking 7th highest of the 11 authorities in East of England.
›Will the funded rate in Southend-on-Sea cover my whole nursery bill?
Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.38 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 of England is typically around £8.00/hr.
›How much is the 30 funded hours worth annually in Southend-on-Sea?
Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Southend-on-Sea's 2026/27 rate of £6.38/hr is worth approximately £7273 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.
Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)
- Peterborough£6.75/hr (3-4)
- Suffolk£6.20/hr (3-4)
Other authorities in East of England
- Bedford£6.55/hr
- Cambridgeshire£6.50/hr
- Central Bedfordshire£6.27/hr
- Essex£6.33/hr
- Hertfordshire£6.72/hr
- Luton£6.56/hr
Compare Southend-on-Sea with other authorities
See the East of England league table and compare Southend-on-Sea side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.