Childcare costs can take up a large chunk of your family’s income. If you’re planning to return to work, it’s essential to budget carefully and claim all the help that’s available.
How much does childcare cost?
In the UK, the average cost of sending a child under the age of two to nursery is:
- £137.69 a week part-time (25 hours)
- £263.81 a week full-time (50 hours).
The average cost for families using an after-school club for five days is £62 a week.
But there is help you can get with childcare costs. For example with tax-free childcare, you can get up to £2,000.
Source: Childminder and nursery costs from Family and Childcase Trust, 2021Opens in a new window
Find out more about the childcare help that's available in this step-by-step guide on the GOV.UK website
The tables below give you an idea of how much different childcare might cost if your children are too young to qualify for free early years education (England only).
Part-time childcare costs
| Type of childcare | How much does it cost? (UK average) | How much does it cost? (inner London average) |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered childminder (25 hours for a child under two) |
£118.3 a week |
£163.77 a week |
|
Day nursery (25 hours for a child under two) |
£137.69 a week |
£179.86 a week |
|
Part-time nanny (25 hours) |
£250 – £400 a week, including tax and National Insurance contributions |
|
|
'Pocket money’ of around £70 – £85 a week, plus room and board |
Source: Childminder and nursery costs from Family and Childcare Trust, 2021 part-time nanny guideline wages from Nannyplus.co.uk and au pair pocket money rates from the GOV.UK website.
Full-time childcare costs
| Type of childcare | How much does it cost? (UK average) | How much does it cost? (inner London average) |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered childminder (50 hours for a child under two) |
£227.79 a week |
£303.23 per week |
|
Day nursery (50 hours for a child under two) |
£263.81 a week |
£321.75 a week |
|
Live-in nanny (50 hours) |
£400 – £650 a week, plus:
|
£433 a week, plus:
|
|
Daily nanny (50 hours) |
£500 – 800 a week, plus:
|
£616 a week, plus:
|
Source: Childminder and nursery costs from and part-time nanny guideline wages from Nannyplus
Informal or free childcare
| Type of childcare | How much does it cost? |
|---|---|
|
£5 – £10 per three-hour session |
|
|
Depends on your household income - some play sessions can be free. |
|
|
Free if it’s part of the state school system. |
|
|
Can be free, but if you intend to pay a family member for childcare, you might not qualify for help with childcare costs. |
|
|
Technically free, but you’ll need to factor in loss of income, and you |
Average price of an after-school club
The average cost is £62.13 a week in the UK, which is nearly £2,423 a year during term time (49 weeks).
The table below shows the weekly price for an after-school club and a childminder for five to 11-year-olds during term time.
| Type of childcare | After-school club | Childminder to 6pm |
|---|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
£62.13 |
£71.06 |
|
England |
£62.56 |
£71.55 |
|
Scotland |
£62.86 |
£69.91 |
|
Wales |
£54.13 |
£63.65 |
Source: Childminder and nursery costs from Family and Childcare Trust, 2021
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Holiday childcare costs
In 2019 the average price of holiday childcare was £138 per week in the UK.
| Nation | Average Holiday Childcare Prices |
|---|---|
|
England |
£139.60 |
|
Scotland |
£123.22 |
|
Wales |
£129.77 |
|
UK |
£138.06 |
Source: Childminder and nursery costs from Family and Childcare Trust holiday survey
Stay-at-home parent
Whether you choose to work full-time or part-time – or be a stay-at-home parent – is a very personal decision.
There are many things to consider. One is the impact on your income and career, and childcare costs both now and in the future.
To find out how childcare costs affect your income, try our free and easy-to-use Budget Planner
There’s help available when you have a baby – including benefits and grants from the government and your employer.
Is your household income getting squeezed?
If you’re facing higher living costs, but have little or no extra money coming in, find out about extra sources of income and support available to help you manage your household bills and save money in our guide Living on a squeezed income
Taking time off from a career can affect your future employment options and earning potential.
Here are some sites that could help you debate the pros and cons:
