Childcare costs in West Sussex 2026/27

West Sussex's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.74/hr, £1.76/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr and close to the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks West Sussex 13th 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
£6.74/hr
2 year olds
£9.11/hr
Under 2s
£12.33/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in West Sussex is worth approximately £7684/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 West Sussex
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£12.33/hr−£0.14Calculate
2 to 3 years£9.11/hr−£0.05Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.74/hr+£0.02Calculate

Frequently asked questions about West Sussex childcare costs

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

For 2026/27, West Sussex pays providers £6.74/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £9.11/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.33/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

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

West Sussex's 3-4 year old rate of £6.74/hr is £1.76/hr below the South East regional average of £8.50/hr, ranking 13th highest of the 19 authorities in South East.

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

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.74 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 West Sussex?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at West Sussex's 2026/27 rate of £6.74/hr is worth approximately £7684 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in South East

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Compare West Sussex with other authorities

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