Childcare costs in Brighton and Hove 2026/27

Brighton and Hove's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £7.22/hr, £1.28/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr and £0.50/hr above the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Brighton and Hove 4th of 19 authorities in South 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
£7.22/hr
2 year olds
£9.85/hr
Under 2s
£13.46/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Brighton and Hove is worth approximately £8231/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 Brighton and Hove
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£13.46/hr+£0.99Calculate
2 to 3 years£9.85/hr+£0.69Calculate
3 to 4 years£7.22/hr+£0.50Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Brighton and Hove childcare costs

›What is the 2026/27 funded childcare rate in Brighton and Hove?

For 2026/27, Brighton and Hove pays providers £7.22/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £9.85/hr for 2 year olds, and £13.46/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Brighton and Hove's funded rate compare to the rest of South East?

Brighton and Hove's 3-4 year old rate of £7.22/hr is £1.28/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr, ranking 4th highest of the 19 authorities in South East.

›Will the funded rate in Brighton and Hove cover my whole nursery bill?

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £7.22 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 South East is typically around £8.50/hr.

›How much is the 30 funded hours worth annually in Brighton and Hove?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Brighton and Hove's 2026/27 rate of £7.22/hr is worth approximately £8231 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in South East

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Compare Brighton and Hove with other authorities

See the South East league table and compare Brighton and Hove side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.