Childcare costs: How much do you pay in Northern Ireland?

If you are a parent wondering how much is nursery in Northern Ireland, we explain the key childcare costs in Northern Ireland and the financial support available to help pay for childcare.

Nursery fees in Northern Ireland can vary depending on the age of your child, the region, and whether nursery fees are paid monthly or weekly.  

How much does childcare cost in Northern Ireland?      

According to a survey of parents published in the NI Childcare Survey Report 2024 (May 2025):

• The average cost of childcare in Northern Ireland is £225 a month per child (aged 0-11 years old).
• The average full-time childcare cost (31-40 hours per week) is £630 per month per child (aged 0-11 years old).
• The average monthly cost per child, differed per region, ranging from £136 for Causeway Coast & Glens to £288 for Belfast and for Derry City & Strabane.

Average cost of childcare per month per child by age in Northern Ireland

Age	Median childcare cost per month per child
Overall	£225
Less than one years old	£520
One year old	£500
Two-year-old	£477
Three-year-old	£415
Four-year-old	£190

The survey of parents also revealed 44% of children aged 0-11 did not receive any form of childcare provision.  

How much is nursery in Northern Ireland?  

• In Northern Ireland, the average cost of a full-time childcare place with a private day nursery is approximately £59 per day or £1,278 per month.

These figures are sourced from the Northern Ireland Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy (published December 2025).

How much are play groups in Northern Ireland?

A playgroup is a registered pre-school setting that provides early years education and play-based learning opportunities for young children.

Playgroups follow the Northern Ireland Pre-School Curriculum. Attendance is not mandatory, but many parents choose to send their children to playgroup as preparation for primary school.

Staff are usually qualified early years practitioners. You must pay for a playgroup in Northern Ireland.

• The average cost of playgroup in Northern Ireland is on average £40 to £100 per week for part-time attendance (2.5 to 3 hours a day, 5 days a week).

You pay fees for a playgroup place unless your child is in a fully funded Pre‑school Education Expansion Programme (PEEP or PSEP) place. 

Primary-age children in the year before compulsory education (starting Primary One) may be eligible for a funded part-time (2.5 hours per day, five days per week during term time) PEEP place.

Funded places are available in playgroups and nurseries.

Some playgroups may charge extra costs even for funded places, e.g. registration fees and consumable fees.

How much is childcare in the holidays in Northern Ireland?

Holiday childcare refers to care provided during school holidays. This includes holiday schemes, day camps, childminders offering full-day care and nurseries offering care in holidays.

• The average cost of holiday childcare in Northern Ireland is £350 per month per child. This rises to £542 per month per child for full-time childcare (31-40 hours a week).
• The average monthly costs per child during school holidays range from £280 for Antrim & Newtownabbey to £400 for Belfast.

How much are after school clubs in Northern Ireland?

The average cost of an after-school club for children under 5 in Northern Ireland is £8 to £12 per child per session (for a 2–3 hour after-school session).

How much is a childminder in Northern Ireland?

• The cost of a registered full-time childminder is £188 a week, according to the 2023 Northern Ireland Childcare Survey by Employers for Childcare.
• Costs vary by location, with Belfast and major towns usually more expensive than rural areas.

How much does a nanny cost in Northern Ireland? 

• The average gross hourly nanny salary rate is £12.97 (based on Nannytax payroll data in 2025).

How much is an au pair in Northern Ireland?

An au pair is not a professional nanny but lives with your family, helps with childcare and typically works 25-30 hours per week. An au pair receives free board with your family, meals and their own bedroom. 

 Au pairs must be paid at least the U.K. National Minimum Wage, calculated on an hourly basis.

• For the 2026/27 tax year, this is £10.85 an hour for an au pair aged 18-20 years old.
• £12.71 an hour for an au pair aged 21+.

What financial support for childcare is available for parents in Northern Ireland?   

In Northern Ireland, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 12.5 hours per week of funded pre-school education in their immediate pre-school year.

This is at least 12.5 free hours per week during term time. The universal funded childcare for 3-4-year-olds of 12.5 hours per week totals 475 hours a year.

Although two-year-olds are unable to access the 12.5 hours of free pre-school per week, the Sure Start programme may be available. Sure Start supports parents with children under the age of four living in disadvantaged areas of the country.

How much is the NICSS subsidy? 

• In 2026/27 tax year, eligible parents can get up to £203 per child per month off your childcare costs, which is known as the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS).

NICSS was introduced for working parents and if your childcare provider is signed up to NICSS, you can get 15% off your childcare bill.

The subsidy is offered by registered childcare providers participating in the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme, including nurseries, playgroups and childminders.

NICSS was extended in 2025 to include school-age children (4 to 11 years) in addition to those aged 0-4 years.

How much can I save on nursery fees in Northern Ireland with Tax-Free childcare?  

When you pay your childcare costs through your Tax-Free Childcare account, you can get 20% towards your childcare bill. This is because the Government tops up money in the account that you put in by giving £2 for every £8 you put in.

• Working parents with children under the age of 12 (under 17 if they have a disability) can receive up to £2,000 a year per child to pay for childcare (up to £500 every three months).

• For a child with a disability, you can receive up to £4,000 per year or £1,000 every three months.

How much is Universal Credit childcare element?

The Universal Credit childcare element offered in the UK, provides financial support to help working parents cover childcare costs. If you’re eligible, you can claim up to 85% of your childcare costs, up to a maximum of:

Number of children	Maximum you can claim per month
1 child	£1,071.09
2 or more children	£1,836.16

What about family childcare in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, Tax-Free childcare can be provided by a relative if they’re part of the childcare approval scheme and care for at least one other child that’s not a relative.

• Some 32% of children (aged 0-11) receive childcare from their grandparents or relatives.
• Some 44% of children (aged 0-11 years old) do not receive any form of childcare provision.

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