Nurseries in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a diverse South West county combining rural villages, market towns and vibrant urban centres such as Cheltenham and Gloucester. Covering districts including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cotswold and the Forest of Dean, it offers strong primary schools, family-friendly neighbourhoods, green countryside and good travel links to Bristol, Birmingham and Oxford. Nursery and preschool demand is consistently high across commuter areas, market towns and communities near top-rated schools.
Market insights for Gloucestershire
Parents in Gloucestershire typically pay £70 per day for childcare, which is slightly 7% lower than the UK average of £75 per day. This pricing reflects local market conditions, including operational costs, demand levels, and regional economic factors that influence childcare provision. With 7,946 childcare places available across Gloucestershire, families have a range of options to consider. Understanding these market insights helps parents make informed decisions about childcare costs and availability in Gloucestershire.
- Average daily cost
- £70
- Comparison
- -7% vs UK average
- Total capacity
- 7,946 places
Nurseries near you in Gloucestershire
- Eastington Playgroup
- Kings Stanley Playgroup
- Little Angels Day Nursery
- St Josephs Pre School
- Coaley Village Playgroup
- Upper Knapp Farm (Cam) Nursery
- Hopton School House CIO
- PATA @ Funbusters
- North Nibley Preschool
- The Woodfield Nest Pre-school and Out of School Club
- Hugo and Holly Day Nursery
- The Family Haven
- Blue Coat Pre-School & Busy Bees
- Family Tree Nursery
- The Kindergarten
- Buttercups Day Nursery
- Tiddlypeeps Forest School
- Natural Choice Nurseries Ltd - Charfield
- Tytherington Pre-School
- Kingswood Village Playgroup
- Charfield Pre-School
- Stone with Woodford Playgroup (Village Hall)
- Sharpness Playgroup
- Chapel Hill Day Nursery
- My Sunflowers Day Nursery Ltd
- Hugo and Holly Day Nursery
- Treetops Gloucester
- Little Oaks Day Nursery
- St Peter's Under 5s
- St Johns Playgroup
Frequently asked questions
In Gloucestershire, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old depending on staffing and availability. School and council nurseries usually offer places from age 2 or 3. Funded early education begins the term after your child turns 3, with some 2 year olds eligible earlier depending on circumstances or work status.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. Some 2 year olds also qualify based on household circumstances, and eligible working parents of children from 9 months old may access funded childcare. Tax Free Childcare provides a 20 percent government top up to help with nursery costs.
Nursery fees in Gloucestershire generally range from £60–£120 per day, with higher rates in Cheltenham, central Gloucester and affluent Cotswold towns.
All nurseries in Gloucestershire are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Gloucestershire County Council.
Ask about outdoor play spaces, access to local parks, staff retention, how funded hours are delivered and any extra charges for meals, nappies, trips or additional sessions.
Applying for funding
Gloucestershire is covered by Gloucestershire County Council, the local authority for this area. Search their website for early years funding to apply.
Visit the Gloucestershire County Council websiteThe UK's nursery search platform, built for modern parents
Find events near you
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Work out what you'll pay
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