What we can't tell you · Fragmented
What does childcare cost where I live, and what support applies?
Fragmented The data exists but is held by many authorities separately, with no national compilation; coverage has to be tracked authority by authority.
Why
Childcare fees are surveyed, not administratively recorded. The Department for Education's "Childcare and early years providers survey" publishes mean hourly fees by provider type and region for England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish separately or not at all. Entitlements differ by nation (funded hours in England, Scotland's 1,140 hours, Wales' Childcare Offer, Northern Ireland's scheme) and are set out in guidance rather than a single table. No official series gives a local authority fee.
What is known
What is not known
- Fees below region, and outside England
- A single official table of entitlements across the four nations
Who holds the data
- Department for Education
- Scottish Government
- Welsh Government
- Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
Would a Freedom of Information request help?
Unlikely. The three surveys are published; the gap is that they are not on a common basis or geography. Nothing is withheld.
Privacy and disclosure restrictions
None. Only published aggregates are involved.
Official sources checked
Last reviewed 2026-09-03. Availability changes; if a publication now answers this question, challenge the classification below.