Starting nursery
When should your child start nursery?
There's no single right age. How to think about timing, work, funding and your child's readiness.
The short version
- There's no legal age to start, and no single right one.
- Baby rooms can fill up months ahead.
- Allow two weeks or more for settling in.
No single right age
Children start at very different ages, from under one to just before school. The best time depends on your work, your budget, your support network and how your child gets on with new people.
If you're going back to work
- Start looking earlyBaby rooms can fill up months ahead.
- Book settling-in sessionsTwo weeks or more before your first day back means nobody's rushed.
- Stay flexible for the first monthChildren often catch more bugs when they start.
How funding affects timing
- 23 weeks
- when you can first apply
- 9 months
- when funded hours can begin for eligible working parents
Funded places start the term after your child reaches the qualifying age, with deadlines of 31 August, 31 December and 31 March.
Funded hours, explainedSigns your child may enjoy it
None of these are requirements. Good nurseries are used to children who cling, cry or take weeks to settle.
Starting before school
A term or two at a nursery or pre-school can help a child get used to group routines before reception. Every 3 and 4-year-old in England is entitled to 15 funded hours a week.
Keep reading
Starting nursery, 3 min readSettling your child into nurserySmall steps that help your child feel at home, and make drop-offs happier for you both.
Choosing a nursery, 6 min readWhat to look for in a nurseryHow to compare nurseries before you visit, what to watch for when you're there, and the questions worth asking.
Choosing a nursery, 5 min readHow to read a nursery's Ofsted reportWhat Ofsted's grades mean, how report cards changed in November 2025 and what to look for in a nursery's report.