DfE's national average funding rates for 2026/27 are £12.04 an hour for under-2s, £8.90 for 2-year-olds and £6.61 for 3 and 4-year-olds. Councils pass at least 97% to providers.
DfE's national average funding rates for 2026/27 are £12.04 an hour for under-2s, £8.90 for 2-year-olds and £6.61 for 3 and 4-year-olds. DfE calls them illustrative: each council is funded at its own rate and sets the rate it pays providers.
The averages rose from £11.56 to £12.04 for under-2s, from £8.54 to £8.90 for 2-year-olds, and from £6.12 to £6.61 for 3 and 4-year-olds. The minimum share councils pass to providers rose from 96% to 97%.
Early Years Pupil Premium is at least £1.15 an hour for eligible children, on the first 15 hours, and the Disability Access Fund at least £975 a child a year.
DfE's 2026/27 rate for under-2s is £12.66 an hour in Manchester and £11.18 in Stockport. Every borough's rates are on our Greater Manchester page.
We compare your cost per hour with your council's rates and plan the mix of funded and additional hours for each room. Try the nursery funding gap calculator.
No. The national averages are illustrative. DfE funds each council at its own rate, and each council sets the rate it pays providers.
At least 97% in 2026/27, up from 96%.
Free funded hours, voluntary extras and an itemised invoice.
The £2 top-up, the provider account and vouchers.
Ofsted registration for the buyer, and the seller's responsibility until it resigns.
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