Childcare costs in Halton 2026/27

Halton's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.48/hr, £0.52/hr below the North West regional average of £7.00/hr and £0.24/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Halton 2nd of 24 authorities in North West 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
£6.48/hr
2 year olds
£8.96/hr
Under 2s
£12.18/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Halton is worth approximately £7387/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 Halton
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£12.18/hr−£0.29Calculate
2 to 3 years£8.96/hr−£0.20Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.48/hr−£0.24Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Halton childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Halton pays providers £6.48/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.96/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.18/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Halton's funded rate compare to the rest of North West?

Halton's 3-4 year old rate of £6.48/hr is £0.52/hr below the North West regional average of £7.00/hr, ranking 2nd highest of the 24 authorities in North West.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.48 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 West is typically around £7.00/hr.

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

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Halton's 2026/27 rate of £6.48/hr is worth approximately £7387 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

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