Childcare Costs
How Much Does Childcare Cost in 2025?
The average cost of childcare in the UK has increased and tends to be highest in London.
The average cost of sending a child under two to a nursery for 25 hours per week (part-time) has risen to £8,194 per year (52 weeks), compared to £7,729 in 2023.
A part-time childminder place is on average £6,874 per year (52 weeks) in 2024, up from £6,547 a year in 2023, which makes childminders cheaper than a nursery.
Families paying for after-school club ve days a week is on average £69.14 per week in 2024, up from £67.42 in 2023.
The price for full-time childcare (50 hours) costs on average around £15,000 a year.
Childcare services for children under two are generally more expensive because of higher staff ratios.
Free Childcare
The cost of putting your child in a nursery or using a different service can be expensive. There are some ways to get nancial support depending on how much you earn.
England
Currently, all parents in England can claim 15 free childcare hours a week if their child is aged three to four years old. Working parents of three and four-year-olds can claim 30 hours of free childcare.
Since September 2024, working parents of children aged nine months and above can claim 15 hours government funded childcare.
From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged under ve in England will be able to claim 30 hours free childcare. These hours are for 38 weeks a year, not 52.
Scotland
In Scotland, all three and four-year-olds and some eligible two-year-olds are entitled to 30 free childcare hours a week.
Wales
In Wales, every child aged three or four is entitled to at least 10 free childcare hours. Working parents of three and four year olds can have an additional 20 hours per week.
Additionally, parents in the UK can receive up to £2,000 per child to pay for the fees through tax-free childcare. You can receive up to £4,000 if your child is disabled.
Follow this link to discover how you can get help with childcare costs.
Part-time (25 hours) Childcare Costs in 2025
How much is part-time nursery?
Children under two
In the UK, a part-time (25 hours) nursery place for a child under two costs on average £8,194 per year (52 weeks).
Per week, the cost of a part-time nursery place is £157.68
Children aged two
Part-time nursery prices for a two-year old child is £7,890 per year (52 weeks).
Per week, a part-time nursery place for a two-year-old is £151.72
Children Entitled To Free Hours In England
The average cost of part-time childcare (including nurseries and childminders) is £63.54 per week for a child entitled to 15 hours free. This is based on them attending 25 hours a week, paying for 10 and getting 15 for free.
How Much is a Childminder?
The cost of 25 hours per week of childcare for a child under two by a childminder is on average £6,874 per year (52 weeks) in the UK. Per week, the price of a childminder is £132.20
How Much is a Part-time Nanny?
The average price for a part-time nanny (25 hours) is between £250 to £400 per week, plus National Insurance contributions.
How Much in an Au Pair?
Au pairs are generally treated as family members and receive ‘pocket money’ each week. According to the UK government, the pocket money amount is usually around £160- £200 weekly
Full-time (50 hours) Childcare Costs in 2025
How much is day nursery (full-time)?
Children under two
A full-time (50 hours) nursery place for a child under two costs on average £15,709 per year (52 weeks) in the UK.
Per week, a full-time nursery place is £302.10, meaning that per day average nursery prices are around £60.
Children aged two
Parents can expect to pay an average of £14,983 per year (52 weeks) for a child aged two.
Per week, a full-time nursery place for a two-year-old is £288.13, meaning that nursery costs around £58 a day.
Children entitled to free childcare hours in England
The average cost of full-time childcare (including nurseries and childminders) is £120.93 per week for a child entitled to 30 hours free. This is based on them attending 50 hours a week, paying for 20 and getting 30 for free
How much is a full-time child minder?
The average price of 50 hours of care per week for a child under two years old by a childminder is £13,157 per year (52 weeks).
Per week, a full-time childminder costs £253.02
How much is a full-time nanny?
A live-in nanny (50 hours) will cost you between £400 to £650 each week in addition to National Insurance contributions.
Other Childcare Options And Services
Many parents who work 9-5 during the holidays or for any other reason are unable to pick their child up from nursery or pre-school may have to pay for additional childcare.
After school clubs
The average weekly cost of after-school clubs in the UK is £69.14, which equates to £2,696 per year during term time (39 weeks).
Holiday childcare costs
Holiday childcare is a solution for working parents outside of term time when many early years settings are closed. Parents in the UK can expect to pay, on average, £138 per week.
What Are Nursery Top-up Fees?
Top-up fees are extra charges nurseries ask parents to pay on top of the government-funded childcare hours.
Nurseries charge these top-up fees because they say government funding only covers the actual childcare not ‘optional extras’ like meals, nappies and activities.
Some nurseries call top-up fees a ‘supplementary fee’ or ‘parental contribution’.
Why Do Nurseries Charge Top-up Fees?
1. Inadequate government funding
Many nurseries say the funding given by local authorities to pay for the ‘free’ quality childcare is not enough. The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) carried out a survey and found the average shortfall was £2.36 per hour per child for a 15 hour place. This means nurseries cannot afford to cover other costs such as nappies, meals and snacks
2. Rising operational costs
Nurseries are under a lot of nancial pressures due to a rise in energy costs and staff costs as a result of a hike in the contributions employers pay for employees’ National Insurance. In April 2025, the minimum wage is also set to increase by nearly 7% putting extra nancial pressure on nurseries.
3. Concerns over staying sustainable
Nurseries say if they are unable to charge top-up fees they would go out of business. “Every year we see that the largest proportion of closures happen in the most deprived areas. That’s because these nurseries are more dependent on government-funded hours and less on parent fees. That’s why we see evidence from several reports saying England is the worst place for childcare deserts,” says Purnima Tanuku, NDNA’s chief executive.