Nurseries in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is one of the UK’s largest metropolitan regions, made up of ten boroughs including Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Tameside. It offers a diverse mix of urban neighbourhoods, family-friendly suburbs and well-connected commuter towns. With strong transport links such as the Metrolink tram network, extensive bus routes, rail links to London and the M60 ring road, the area is popular with families seeking access to employment, education and childcare. The region includes parks, museums, libraries, galleries, leisure centres and a large variety of nursery and preschool options. Demand is consistently high across central Manchester, Salford Quays, Trafford, Didsbury, Chorlton and Altrincham.
Parents in Greater Manchester typically pay £68 per day for childcare, which is slightly 10% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £68
- Comparison
- -10% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 41,775 places
Nurseries near you in Greater Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
In Greater Manchester, 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 Greater Manchester generally range from £50–£90 per day, with higher rates in central Manchester, Salford Quays, Didsbury, Chorlton and Altrincham.
All nurseries in Greater Manchester are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by each local borough council.
Ask about staff qualifications, outdoor space, delivery of funded hours, waiting list times, meal charges and how they support learning and development in line with the EYFS framework.
Applying for funding
Greater Manchester is covered by Manchester City Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Manchester City Council website
