There is no single right age to start nursery. Families start for different reasons: a return to work, the start of funded hours, the wish for a child to mix with other children, or because a place became available. This guide sets out the facts that shape the decision in England. It does not give medical or developmental advice, so for questions about your child’s needs speak to your health visitor, GP or the setting itself.
The ages that matter for money and rules
| Age | What changes |
|---|---|
| From birth | The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children from birth, so registered nurseries and childminders can look after babies. Each setting chooses the age range it takes. |
| Up to about 52 weeks | Statutory Maternity Leave lasts up to 52 weeks (first 26 weeks are Ordinary and the last 26 Additional). Many parents plan a start date around their return to work. |
| 9 months | Working parents can claim 30 funded hours from the term after the child turns 9 months. |
| 2 years | Families who get certain benefits, or whose child has particular needs, can claim 15 hours from the term after the second birthday. Working parents can also claim 30 hours. |
| 3 years | Every child gets 15 free hours a week from the term after the third birthday. |
| 4 years | Most children start reception full time in the September after their fourth birthday. |
| 5 years | Compulsory school age starts the term after the fifth birthday. |
Funded hours start at the beginning of a term (1 January, 1 April or 1 September), not on the birthday. See free childcare from 9 months, 2-year-olds and 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds.
Things to weigh up
- When you need care. Work patterns drive many decisions. Ask how soon a place can be offered, and whether you need to join a waiting list months before your start date.
- Funding dates. A child who turns 9 months old on 2 September cannot use funded hours until 1 January. Starting a few months earlier means paying private fees for those months.
- Cost. Prices fall as children get older, partly because funded hours cover more of the bill. Coram’s 2026 survey found the average England price for 25 hours a week with no funded hours was £188.75 for a child under 2, but £67.20 for a child aged 3 or 4 with the universal 15 hours. In inner London the figures were £238.01 and £86.54. See nursery fees in London.
- Type of care. Babies can be looked after by day nurseries and childminders. Some families prefer the small group at a childminder and others the larger staff team at a nursery. See nursery, pre-school or childminder.
- Staffing. The legal minimum is 1 adult for every 3 children under 2. Settings may offer better than that. See nursery ratios.
- Settling in. Allow time before your first day back at work. See settling in at nursery.
- Your child. Children differ. Some enjoy company early, and some need longer to get used to being away from home. Talk to the key person at your chosen setting about a plan that suits your child.
Part-time and shorter sessions
You do not have to use nursery full time. Many settings offer part-time patterns, for example a few days or half days, and pre-schools run set sessions. The rules for councils say there is no requirement that funded hours be taken on particular days or at particular times, but each provider decides which patterns it offers, and some limit places for families who only want funded hours. Ask what is on offer. See questions to ask a nursery.
Questions
What is the earliest age a baby can start nursery?
The EYFS covers children from birth, and nurseries and childminders registered with Ofsted may care for babies. The age a particular nursery takes is up to the setting. Many parents start after maternity leave, which can last up to 52 weeks. Funded hours for working parents start from the term after 9 months.
What age should a child start Montessori?
Montessori is a teaching approach, not a type of Ofsted registration, so there is no standard starting age. Montessori nurseries and pre-schools set their own age ranges, which vary between settings. Like all registered early years settings, they must follow the EYFS. Ask the setting what ages it takes and how the approach fits with the EYFS. Ofsted says it judges settings with different approaches to the curriculum fairly.
Can my child go to nursery one day a week?
Often yes, but it depends on the setting. Some nurseries have minimum sessions per week, and some pre-schools run sessions on set days. A funded place is not guaranteed at any particular provider, so check what pattern each one offers.
When can my child start using free hours?
It depends on the scheme. Working parents can start from the term after the child turns 9 months, eligible families on the 2-year-old route from the term after the second birthday, and every child from the term after the third birthday. Terms start on 1 January, 1 April and 1 September.