If you’re wondering how much does childcare cost in Wales in 2026, this article highlights nursery costs, childminder prices, after school club and nanny fees.
Table of contents
- How much does nursery cost in Wales 2026?
- How much does part-time nursery cost in Wales?
- How much does a full-time nursery place cost in Wales?
- Can I get free childcare in Wales?
- Free childcare hours for 2 year-olds
- 30 hours free childcare offer for Wales for 3 and 4-year-olds
- How much does childcare cost in the UK in 2026?
- How much does a childminder cost in Wales in 2026?
- How much is a part-time childminder in Wales?
- How much is a full-time childminder in Wales?
- How much is a nanny in Wales?
- FAQs
Table of contents
- How much does nursery cost in Wales 2026?
- How much does part-time nursery cost in Wales?
- How much does a full-time nursery place cost in Wales?
- Can I get free childcare in Wales?
- Free childcare hours for 2 year-olds
- 30 hours free childcare offer for Wales for 3 and 4-year-olds
- How much does childcare cost in the UK in 2026?
- How much does a childminder cost in Wales in 2026?
- How much is a part-time childminder in Wales?
- How much is a full-time childminder in Wales?
- How much is a nanny in Wales?
- FAQs
At a glance
- Funding dramatically reduces costs: Working parent entitlements in England significantly lower nursery and childminder bills for children under five, providing up to 30 funded hours per week during term time.
- Nursery average costs (without funding): Unfunded full-time (50 hours/week) nursery care averages £372.06/week for children under two and £351.81/week for two-year-olds. With full 30-hour funding applied (paying for 20 hours), these costs drop to £148.82/week and £140.72/week respectively.
- Childminder average costs: Part-time (25 hours/week) childminder care without funding averages £155.28/week for children under two. With 30-hour working parent funding applied, part-time hours are fully covered (£0/week).
- Nannies and additional options: Nannies in England average £14.81/hour, while live-in nannies cost between £400 and £650/week plus National Insurance contributions.
How much does nursery cost in Wales 2026?
Nursery fees in Wales vary depending on the number of hours a child is in nursery, location etc. Parents should take time to consider which childcare option is best for their child by checking out costs.
Wales does not have entitlements that are equivalent to the 30 hours working parent entitlement in England.
The figures highlighted below come from Coram’s annual Childcare Survey 2026. It is based on responses from local authorities in Wales.
Coram have not taken Flying Start in Wales into account in these calculations.
| Child’s age | Part time (25 hours a week) average weekly nursery cost with no parent entitlement 2026 | Full time (50 hours a week) average weekly nursery cost with no parent entitlement 2026. |
| A child aged under 2 | £163.33 a week | £325.12 a week |
| A two-year-old child | £166.01 a week | £329.84 a week |
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How much does part-time nursery cost in Wales?
- The average cost of a part-time (25 hours a week) nursery place in Wales for a child under two is £163.33 a week.
- A part-time nursery place in Wales for a two-year-old is £166.01 a week.
How much does a full-time nursery place cost in Wales?
- The average cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two is £325.12 a week.
- For a two-year-old, the average cost of a full-time nursery place is £329.84 a week.
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Can I get free childcare in Wales?
Free childcare hours for 2 year-olds
Some two-year-olds living in deprived areas in Wales can get up to 12.5 hours a week of free childcare as part of the Flying Start scheme. However, not all areas in Wales are able to provide this. For details, contact your local Family Information Service.
30 hours free childcare offer for Wales for 3 and 4-year-olds
In Wales, working parents of children aged three and four can get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week (term-time), if they are eligible.
30 hours a week is made up of:
- at least 10 hours of early education
- up to 20 hours of childcare
Parents don’t get this funding until the term after their child reaches three years old.
There is a guaranteed 10 hours per week for all three and four-year-olds, as part of the Foundation Phase.
All local authorities provide at least 10 hours per week in a local school, playgroup, day nursery or Cylch Meithrin (Welsh language playgroups).
You will need to apply for Early Education hours. The amount you will get depends on how many hours of early education your local authority offers. This is known as the ‘Childcare Offer for Wales’.
To be eligible for the Childcare Offer Wales you must live in Wales and each parent’s gross income must be £100,000 or less per year.
You can check if you’re eligible by visiting the Childcare Offer for Wales | GOV.WALES
More nursery advice for parents
From settling-in tips to understanding funded hours, find guidance to help you choose with confidence.
How much does childcare cost in the UK in 2026?
The average cost of childcare varies depending on whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, how much childcare you need and the type of childcare you would like.
How much does a childminder cost in Wales in 2026?
A childminder is a registered child carer who works with children for more than two hours a day in their own home.
How much is a part-time childminder in Wales?
- The part-time (25 hours a week) cost of a childminder in Wales for a child under two is £136.96 a week.
- A part-time childminder for a two-year-old in Wales is £138.02 a week.
How much is a full-time childminder in Wales?
The average cost of a full-time (50 hours) childminder in Wales for a child under two is £271.78 a week.
The cost of a full-time childminder for a two-year-old is £270.35 a week.
How much is a nanny in Wales?
The average salary for a nanny/babysitter is £15.47 per hour in Wales, according to jobs website Indeed (updated 18 March 2026).
Having read about nursery costs, you can also read about how to find the right nursery for your child in Wales.
Next steps
- Check working parent funding eligibility: Visit GOV.UK to confirm eligibility for working parent childcare entitlements (available from nine months old up to age four).
- Apply for your government eligibility code: Apply online via your childcare account before term deadlines (31 August, 31 December, or 31 March) to secure funded hours for the upcoming term.
- Confirm funded places and extra charges with providers: Speak directly with local nurseries or childminders to confirm place availability, verify how they apply funded hours, and ask about optional top-up fees for meals or consumables.
FAQs
How much does nursery cost in Wales?
The average cost of a part-time (25 hours a week) nursery place (with no parent entitlement to funding) is £163.33 a week for a child under two and £166.01 a week for a two-year-old. The average cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place (with no parent entitlement) is £325.12 a week for a child under two and £329.84 a week for a two year old.
How much does childcare cost Wales?
The average cost of a part-time (25 hours a week) nursery place (with no parent entitlement to funding) is £163.33 a week for a child under two and £166.01 a week for a two-year-old. The average cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place (no parent entitlement) is £325.12 a week for a child under two and £329.84 a week for a two-year-old. The average nanny salary is £15.47 per hour. A full-time childminder for a child under two is £271.78 a week and £270.35 a week for a two-year-old.
Can I get free childcare in Wales?
In Wales, children aged three and four can get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week if they are eligible, with a guaranteed 10 hours per week for all three and four-year-olds, as part of the Foundation Phase. Working parents get 30 hours a week of funded childcare a week for 48 weeks a year. Some two-year-olds in Wales can get up to 12.5 hours a week of free early education as part of the Flying Start scheme.