Childcare costs in Durham 2026/27

Durham's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.20/hr, £0.30/hr below the North East regional average of £6.50/hr and £0.52/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Durham 5th of 12 authorities in North East 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
£6.20/hr
2 year olds
£8.35/hr
Under 2s
£11.31/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Durham is worth approximately £7068/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 Durham
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£11.31/hr−£1.16Calculate
2 to 3 years£8.35/hr−£0.81Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.20/hr−£0.52Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Durham childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Durham pays providers £6.20/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.35/hr for 2 year olds, and £11.31/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Durham's funded rate compare to the rest of North East?

Durham's 3-4 year old rate of £6.20/hr is £0.30/hr below the North East regional average of £6.50/hr, ranking 5th highest of the 12 authorities in North East.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.20 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 North East is typically around £6.50/hr.

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

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Durham's 2026/27 rate of £6.20/hr is worth approximately £7068 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

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Other authorities in North East

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Compare Durham with other authorities

See the North East league table and compare Durham side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.