Childcare costs in Bristol City of 2026/27

Bristol City of's 2026/27 funded hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £6.69/hr, £0.81/hr below the South West regional average of £7.50/hr and close to the England national average of £6.72/hr. That ranks Bristol City of 1st of 14 authorities in South West 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
£6.69/hr
2 year olds
£9.23/hr
Under 2s
£12.71/hr

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement in Bristol City of is worth approximately £7627/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 Bristol City of
Age bandFunded ratevs nationalCalculator
Under 2£12.71/hr+£0.24Calculate
2 to 3 years£9.23/hr+£0.07Calculate
3 to 4 years£6.69/hr−£0.03Calculate

Frequently asked questions about Bristol City of childcare costs

›What is the 2026/27 funded childcare rate in Bristol City of?

For 2026/27, Bristol City of pays providers £6.69/hr for 3 to 4 year olds, £9.23/hr for 2 year olds, and £12.71/hr for under 2s. These are the DfE Early Years National Funding Formula allocations effective April 2026.

›How does Bristol City of's funded rate compare to the rest of South West?

Bristol City of's 3-4 year old rate of £6.69/hr is £0.81/hr below the South West regional average of £7.50/hr, ranking 1st highest of the 14 authorities in South West.

›Will the funded rate in Bristol City of cover my whole nursery bill?

Usually not in full. The funded hourly rate of £6.69 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 West is typically around £7.50/hr.

›How much is the 30 funded hours worth annually in Bristol City of?

Across the standard 38 funded weeks, the 30 hours entitlement at Bristol City of's 2026/27 rate of £6.69/hr is worth approximately £7627 per year for a 3 to 4 year old.

Neighbouring authorities (alphabetical)

Other authorities in South West

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Compare Bristol City of with other authorities

See the South West league table and compare Bristol City of side by side with any English local authority on the comparison page.