Childcare costs in Slough 2026/27

Slough's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £7.43/hr, £1.07/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr and £0.71/hr above the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Slough 2nd 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
£7.43/hr
2 year olds
£10.29/hr
Under 2s
£14.15/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Slough is worth approximately £8470/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 Slough
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£14.15/hr+£1.68Calculate
2 to 3 years£10.29/hr+£1.13Calculate
3 to 4 years£7.43/hr+£0.71Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Slough childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Slough pays providers £7.43/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £10.29/hr for 2 year olds, and £14.15/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

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

Slough's 3-4 year old rate of £7.43/hr is £1.07/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr, ranking 2nd highest of the 19 authorities in South East.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £7.43 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 Slough?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Slough's 2026/27 rate of £7.43/hr is worth approximately £8470 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

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