Childcare costs in St. Helens 2026/27

St. Helens's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.21/hr, £0.79/hr below the North West regional average of £7.00/hr and £0.51/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks St. Helens 14th 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
£6.21/hr
2 year olds
£8.75/hr
Under 2s
£11.93/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in St. Helens is worth approximately £7079/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 St. Helens
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£11.93/hr−£0.54Calculate
2 to 3 years£8.75/hr−£0.41Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.21/hr−£0.51Calculate

Frequently asked questions about St. Helens childcare costs

›What is the 2026/27 funded childcare rate in St. Helens?

For 2026/27, St. Helens pays providers £6.21/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.75/hr for 2 year olds, and £11.93/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does St. Helens's funded rate compare to the rest of North West?

St. Helens's 3-4 year old rate of £6.21/hr is £0.79/hr below the North West regional average of £7.00/hr, ranking 14th highest of the 24 authorities in North West.

›Will the funded rate in St. Helens cover my whole nursery bill?

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.21 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 St. Helens?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at St. Helens's 2026/27 rate of £6.21/hr is worth approximately £7079 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in North West

See all 24 authorities in North West →

Compare St. Helens with other authorities

See the North West league table and compare St. Helens side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.