Childcare cost: How much do you pay in England in 2025?

If you are searching for a nursery place for your child, you will need know the childcare cost in England, including full-time and part-time nursery fees as well as nanny cost and childminder costs.

Key Points

• The average childcare cost in England fell sharply in 2025, with the average part-time nursery place for a child under two dropping by 56% and full-time costs falling by 22% compared with 2024.
• Average weekly costs in England are £70.51 for part-time nursery and £238.95 for full-time nursery for under-twos,
• Childminders remain cheaper at £59.76 (part-time) and £202.09 (full-time).
• The average nanny cost is £400–£650 per week plus National Insurance.

How much is childcare in 2025?   

In 2025, the average cost of childcare significantly reduced in England, when compared to the year before.

For example, Coram Family and Childcare’s 2025 annual childcare survey revealed a part-time nursery place for a child under two, fell by 56% in England, when compared to 2024.

A part-time nursery place now costs £70.51 per week in England.  

What is the cost of nursery in England?

• A full-time nursery place is on average £238.95 per week. This is a price drop of 22%, when compared to 2024. 
• The fall in England’s childcare costs is because the government’s 15 funded childcare hours scheme for working parents has been extended in England.
• Since September 2024, working parents in England have been entitled to 15 hours free childcare when their child reaches the age of 9 months old (previously two-years-old).
• Scotland and Wales have not seen the same reduction in costs, because the 15-hour extension only applies to England.  
• The cost of a nursery place in England depends your child’s age, your region and whether they require a part-time (25 hours a week) or full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place. See below for details of part-time and full-time childcare costs.

How much does part-time nursery cost in England?  

• The average cost of a part-time (25 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two has more than halved in England to £70.51 a week in 2025 (down from £159.61 a week in 2024).
• The average cost of a part-time nursery place for a two-year-old is £66.34 a week in 2025. This is down from £153.69 a week in 2024.
• Parents who are not in work, or who do not earn enough to be eligible for the funded hours, will pay £105 a week more (than eligible families for a part-time nursery place) for a child under two, and £100 more for a two-year-old.
• These figures come from the charity Coram’s annual Childcare Survey 2025, based on responses from local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.

What is the cost of a full-time nursery place in England?

• The average cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two in England is £238.95 a week in 2025. This is down from £305.11 a week in 2024.
• A full-time nursery place (for a child under two) costs on average £12,425 a year with 15 funded hours.
• For a two-year-old child, a full-time nursery place is £225.70 a week in 2025 (£11,736 per year). This is down from £290.77 a week in 2024..  
• Working parents of three-and four-year-olds in England may be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare a week during term time.
• Since September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged from 9 months to four years in England can claim 30 hours free childcare a week for 38 weeks a year. 

How much is a part-time childminder in England?

• The average cost of a part-time (25 hours per week) childminder in England for a child under two is £59.76 per week (£3,108 per year).
•  For a two-year-old child, a part-time childminder in England costs on average £57.75 per week.

What is the cost of a full-time childminder in England?

• Childminder prices are generally cheaper than nurseries for 50 hours a week (full-time childcare).
• The average cost of a full-time (50 hours) childminder in England for a child under two is £202.09 a week (£10,509 a year).
• For a two-year-old child, the average cost of a full-time childminder is £198.59 a week.

How much is the cost of childcare in my area of England?  

• The cost of childcare in England varies depending on your child’s geographical location.
• The price of a full-time nursery place for children under two is higher in inner London, than many other regions of England.

Price of 25 hours a week & 50 hours a week childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds at nursery or a childminder (after entitlements taken into account)

How much does a nanny cost in England?

On the subject of how much does a nanny cost in England:

• A full-time (50 hours) live-in nanny costs from £400 to £650 per week, plus National Insurance contributions.
• The average salary for a nanny is £14.81 per hour in England, according to jobs website Indeed. 

The Coram 2025 survey also found falls in the availability of childcare across all categories since last
year.

Now you know about nursery costs, you may want to know how to find a nursery for your child. Bear in mind, the budget, location, operating hours and ethos of the nursery all need to be right for your child.