Childcare costs in Southampton 2026/27

Southampton's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £7.01/hr, £1.49/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr and £0.29/hr above the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Southampton 8th 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
£7.01/hr
2 year olds
£9.53/hr
Under 2s
£12.97/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Southampton is worth approximately £7991/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 Southampton
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£12.97/hr+£0.50Calculate
2 to 3 years£9.53/hr+£0.37Calculate
3 to 4 years£7.01/hr+£0.29Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Southampton childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, Southampton pays providers £7.01/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £9.53/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.97/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

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

Southampton's 3-4 year old rate of £7.01/hr is £1.49/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr, ranking 8th highest of the 19 authorities in South East.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £7.01 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 Southampton?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Southampton's 2026/27 rate of £7.01/hr is worth approximately £7991 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 Southampton with other authorities

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