PRICE GUIDE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · 2026–2027
Before-School Care cost in the UK
£3–£6 per session. Typically £4.
Breakfast clubs before school usually cost £3–£6 a session, with £4 typical. Early starts from half past seven and ad hoc bookings cost more than a short session just before the bell. In Wales primary pupils can get a free school breakfast, and England is rolling out free breakfast clubs in state primaries.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does before-school care cost in the UK?
| Low end | £3 | a short session run by the school |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £4 | what most people pay |
| High end | £6 | an early start, booked ad hoc |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the babysitters, childminders, nannies, crèches and agencies near you.
What moves the price
- Start time — a before-school session from half seven costs more than one starting at a quarter past eight
- Breakfast included — clubs serving cereal, toast and fruit charge a little more than drop-in supervision
- Ad hoc or regular — a before-school place booked on the day costs more than a termly booking
- Siblings — many breakfast clubs reduce the before-school rate for a second child
- Where you live — free school breakfasts in Wales, and the free clubs arriving in English state primaries, change the cost
- School or private provider — an outside company running the before-school club often charges more
WHAT YOU GET
What a before-school care visit includes
Takes: From about 7.30am or 8am until the start of the school day. Not included: After-school clubs, holiday clubs and a childminder's wraparound place are priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common before-school care jobs
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Before-School Care near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Check whether your child's school offers a free breakfast club before booking paid before-school care
- Book before-school sessions for the whole term rather than paying the ad hoc rate each morning
- Ask the breakfast club about a sibling rate if two children need before-school care
Before you book
- Ask whether the before-school club is run by the school or a separate registered provider
- Check what breakfast the club serves and how it manages allergies and special diets
- Find out how far ahead the before-school club needs sessions booked, and how much notice it asks for to cancel
- Confirm the earliest drop-off time and who walks your child to class from breakfast club
Before-School Care cost: questions people ask
Usually £3–£6 a session, typically about £4. A short club just before school is cheapest; an early start from half seven, booked ad hoc, is dearest.
Most breakfast clubs open between 7.30am and 8am and run until registration. Some offer a cheaper later session starting closer to the school day.
In Wales, primary pupils can get a free breakfast at school under the Welsh Government's scheme. In England, free breakfast clubs are being introduced in state-funded primary schools, so ask your school whether it has one.
If the club is a registered childcare provider signed up to the scheme, yes. Clubs run informally by the school may not be registered, so ask.
After-school clubs, holiday clubs and wraparound care from a childminder are separate services priced on their own.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, taken from session prices published by primary schools and councils. They form a national range rather than a quote.