Childcare costs in Kent 2026/27

Kent's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.43/hr, £2.07/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr and £0.29/hr below the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Kent 16th 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
£6.43/hr
2 year olds
£8.67/hr
Under 2s
£11.75/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Kent is worth approximately £7330/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 Kent
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£11.75/hr−£0.72Calculate
2 to 3 years£8.67/hr−£0.49Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.43/hr−£0.29Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Kent childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Kent pays providers £6.43/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £8.67/hr for 2 year olds, and £11.75/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Kent's funded rate compare to the rest of South East?

Kent's 3-4 year old rate of £6.43/hr is £2.07/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr, ranking 16th highest of the 19 authorities in South East.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.43 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 Kent?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Kent's 2026/27 rate of £6.43/hr is worth approximately £7330 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in South East

See all 19 authorities in South East →

Compare Kent with other authorities

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