Nurseries in Cheshire West now charge £7.46 an hour for under-2s, up 9% in a year. Fewer than half of eligible babies and toddlers use the free 30 hours.
Nurseries in Cheshire West and Chester now charge an average of £7.46 an hour for children under two. That is 9% more than a year ago, according to the council.
The figure is in a childcare update for the council’s People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 10 November. It looks at how the expanded free childcare hours for working families are working locally.
Only 48% of eligible children aged nine months to two years are using their free hours. The council does not expect that to reach the level seen for older children.
What childcare costs now
Average hourly prices at group settings such as nurseries, reported by providers in summer 2026:
| Age | Per hour | Change on 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £7.46 | up 9% |
| 2 year olds | £6.83 | up 5% |
| 3 and 4 year olds | £6.33 | up 3% |
Including childminders, the averages are lower: £6.70, £6.46 and £6.17. The council says those are below the national average.
The council says a family entitled to 30 free hours saves up to £8,500 a year, and one on 15 hours up to £4,250, at average nursery prices. About 10,000 children in the borough now use funded hours.
Most families still pay something
In the council’s 2026 survey of parents and carers, 77% said they pay for childcare on top of their free hours. One in five said they pay more than £150 a week per child.
The free hours cannot carry compulsory charges. But nurseries can charge for meals, nappies, extra hours and activities, as long as the charges are voluntary. About 70% of providers make at least one extra charge alongside the free hours for 3 and 4 year olds, and 60% for younger children.
Since January 2026, providers caring for more than 10 children have had to publish their funded offer and private rates online. That lets you compare nurseries before you choose.
Who uses the free hours
The working families figures are measured against the most families who could claim. The council says the long-run 59% to 60% for 3 and 4 year olds reflects real demand, because some families do not qualify.
Where places are tight
The council says there are spare places across the borough for every type of free hours. Ellesmere Port and Winsford have smaller surpluses than elsewhere, and it is watching them as demand grows.
It is taking two steps:
- spending the rest of its early years expansion capital money on more places for nine month to two year olds in what it calls the Stanlaw footprint, to add capacity across Ellesmere Port
- applying to the government’s School Based Nursery programme for places for under-3s at the Over and Wharton family hubs in Winsford
What it means for you
Working parents can get up to 30 free hours a week, for 38 weeks a year, from when their child is nine months old. Each parent must expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the minimum or living wage. That is £128 to £203 a week, depending on age. If either parent earns over £100,000, you do not qualify.
Timing matters. Your eligibility code must be applied for and validated before the start of the term you want the hours from. The council warns that parents returning from maternity leave can lose out financially if they miss the date. Apply through Childcare Choices.
Other help on top of the free hours:
- Tax-Free Childcare adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 for a disabled child. More than 6,000 local families used it in 2025-26.
- Universal Credit childcare pays back up to 85% of eligible costs for working families.
- Early Years Pupil Premium gives nurseries an extra £1.15 an hour for eligible children on lower incomes. Over 1,100 local children got it in 2025-26.
The committee meets at 6pm on Tuesday 10 November. The council webcasts its meetings.
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