Childcare costs in Southwark 2026/27

Southwark's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £8.55/hr, £4.45/hr below the Inner London regional average of £13.00/hr and £1.83/hr above the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Southwark 10th of 13 authorities in Inner London 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
£8.55/hr
2 year olds
£11.92/hr
Under 2s
£16.36/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Southwark is worth approximately £9747/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 Southwark
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£16.36/hr+£3.89Calculate
2 to 3 years£11.92/hr+£2.76Calculate
3 to 4 years£8.55/hr+£1.83Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Southwark childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Southwark pays providers £8.55/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £11.92/hr for 2 year olds, and £16.36/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Southwark's funded rate compare to the rest of Inner London?

Southwark's 3-4 year old rate of £8.55/hr is £4.45/hr below the Inner London regional average of £13.00/hr, ranking 10th highest of the 13 authorities in Inner London.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £8.55 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 Inner London is typically around £13.00/hr.

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

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Southwark's 2026/27 rate of £8.55/hr is worth approximately £9747 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in Inner London

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Compare Southwark with other authorities

See the Inner London league table and compare Southwark side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.