UK Childcare Costs 2026: Coram Family + Childcare Survey Findings

The detail

The Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026 was the first to be published since the final stage of the UK government's funded childcare entitlement expansion rolled out in September 2025. For eligible working parents in England, all children aged 9 months to school start now receive 30 funded hours per week during term (38 weeks).

Average full-time (50 hour/week) nursery cost for a child under 2 in England fell to £149/week in 2026 - a 39% drop versus 2025. Part-time (25 hour) costs fell more sharply, with many eligible families now seeing zero term-time fees if the 25 hours fall fully within the 30-hour entitlement window.

Scotland (£133.08/wk part-time, +5% YoY) and Wales (£166.33/wk part-time, +8% YoY) have not implemented equivalent under-2 funded expansion - the divergence between England and the devolved nations is now material.

Families NOT meeting the eligibility test (both parents working 16+ hours, neither earning above £100,000 adjusted net income) face the full unfunded rate of £189/week part-time in England. Crossing £100,000 ANI for either parent crashes Tax-Free Childcare + 30 hours simultaneously - the cliff is the largest single-parent tax penalty in the UK system.

Outside term time, families pay full rates - 14 weeks/year of school holidays at £149/wk or higher. Many providers "stretch" the entitlement across the year for steadier cashflow but at lower hours per week.