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Money is often on a parent’s mind when considering a nursery, childminder or other childcare option for their child’s early years but how much does childcare cost in Wales?
The average nursery cost in Wales is lower than England and Scotland. For example, for nursery fees in Wales for those aged under two (for 50 hours a week), Wales is £44 cheaper than England and £11 cheaper than Scotland.
Nursery fees in Wales vary depending on the number of hours a child is in nursery, location etc. Parents should take time to consider which childcare option is best for their child by checking out costs below.
How much does part-time nursery cost in Wales?
The part time (25 hours) average cost of a nursery place in Wales for a child under two is £139.94 a week.
This amounts to average nursery fees of £7,276.88 a year (52 weeks).
The part time cost of a nursery place in Wales for a two-year-old child £137.83 a week. This is £7,167.16 a year.
The figures come from the charity Coram’s annual Childcare Survey 2024. It is based on responses from local authorities in Wales between November 2023 and February 2024.
How much does a full-time nursery place cost in Wales?
The average cost of a full-time (50 hours) nursery place for a child under two is around £13,589 a year (52 weeks) in Wales. This is £261.33 a week.
For a two-year-old, the average full-time nursery place is £258.32 a week (around £13,432 a year).
Can I get free childcare in Wales?
Free childcare hours for 2 year-olds
Some two-year-olds living in deprived areas in Wales can get up to 12.5 hours a week of free childcare as part of the Flying Start scheme.
However, not all areas in Wales are able to provide this. For details, contact your local Family Information Service.
30 hours free childcare in Wales for 3 and 4-year-olds
In Wales, children aged three and four can get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week, if they are eligible.
30 hours a week is made up of:
- at least 10 hours of early education
- up to 20 hours of childcare
There is a guaranteed 10 hours per week for all three and four-year-olds, as part of the Foundation Phase.All local authorities provide at least 10 hours per week in a local school, playgroup, day nursery or Cylch Meithrin (Welsh language playgroups).
This is known as the ‘Childcare Offer for Wales’.
To be eligible for the Childcare Offer Wales:
- you must live in Wales
- each parent’s gross income must be £100,000 or less per year
Gross income is the total income before any deductions including pension contributions,
health insurance, salary sacrifice schemes, annual bonuses or dividends.
You must be one of the following:
- employed and earning at least, on average, the equivalent to 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage or Living Wage.
- on Statutory Pay and Leave (Sick, Maternity, Paternity, Parental, Bereavement or Adoption Leave)
- enrolled on a further or higher education course that is at least 10 weeks in length
If you have a partner who lives with you, they must also meet one of these employment or education criteria.
Working parents can get 30 hours a week of funded childcare a week for 48 weeks a year.
If parents pay 20 extra hours for a full-time place (50 hours a week) for a three or four year old, the average weekly price in a nursery in Wales is £102.81 a week.
You will need to apply for Early Education hours. The amount you will get depends on how many hours of early education your local authority offers.
You can Check if you’re eligible for the Childcare Offer for Wales | GOV.WALES
How much does UK childcare cost in 2025?
The average UK cost of a part-time (25 hours a week) childcare place for a child under two in a nursery is £157.68 per week (£8,199.36 per year).
For a two-year-old, the average UK cost of a part-time childcare place is £151.72 per week (£7,899.44 per year).
When compared to 2023 prices, this is up 7.4 per cent (£148.63) for children aged under two. This is also up 6.2% (£144.01) for two-year-olds.
The average UK cost of a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two is £302.10 a week.
This is £15,709.20 a year.
How much does a childminder cost in Wales?
Part-time childminder fees
The part time (25 hours) cost of a childminder in Wales for a child under two is £121.38 a week.
The average annual cost of a part-time childminder in Wales is £6,311.76.
Full-time childminder fees
The cost of a full-time (50 hours) childminder in Wales for a child under two is £234.21 a week. This is £12,178.92 a year.
How much is a nanny in Wales?
The average salary for a nanny is £10.94 per hour in Wales. This is according to jobs website Indeed.
Having read about nursery costs, you can also read about how to find the right nursery for your child in Wales.
