Nurseries in London

In London, children can usually start private nursery or day care from around 3 months old, depending on the provider and availability. Some settings offer baby rooms from birth. Government-funded early education in England generally begins **the term after your child’s 3rd birthday**, but younger children may also qualify for funded hours if you meet certain criteria or are an eligible working parent.

In England, all 3 and 4-year-olds can receive 15 hours of funded early education per week during term time, with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. There is also funded support for some 2-year-olds based on household circumstances, and entitlement for working parents of children from 9 months old, to receive 30 hours per week for eligible families. The exact offer and start dates depend on your child’s age, your work status and when their birthday falls in the school year. Families can also benefit from Tax-free Childcare if both working parents earn less than £100k per year. For every £8 a parent pays into their online childcare account, the government adds an extra £2 up to a maximum of £2,000 per child, per year.

For children under 9 months, families in London usually pay privately for most or all of their childcare hours. Fees vary widely by area and setting, but many private nurseries charge between **£80–£140 per day**, reflecting London’s higher staffing, property and operating costs. Prices may differ for over-2s, extended hours, meals and extras such as activities or late finishes, and funded hours may only cover part of a typical full-day place.

All nurseries and most childcare providers in London are regulated and inspected by **Ofsted** (the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills). Funding and local policies are administered through the relevant **London borough council**, for example Camden, Lambeth, Hackney or Wandsworth, which each manage local early years and funded-entitlement arrangements.

When visiting nurseries in London, ask about staff-child ratios, staff qualifications and turnover, the daily routine, outdoor space, how they support learning in a busy city environment, and how meals, snacks and allergies are managed. Clarify how funded hours are applied, any additional charges, waiting list and deposit policies, opening hours around commuting times, flexibility for shift work, and whether they support schemes like Tax-Free Childcare or workplace salary sacrifice arrangements.