Nursery

Yes I would secure a place as soon as you can, but it may depend on the area you're in, and depend how many days a week you need it

Yep you need to find a place either while pregnant or when just given birth. Look at childminders too wait lists are shorter.

Yep. Definitely get on lists while pregnant!

We got a space for my daughter to start at 12mo in March this year and we had to secure the space in June last year. When we were looking there were 3 nurseries we were enquiring: one was full until September this year (so 15mo wait list), one had one space left on one of the days we needed and only a couple on the other days, and one (thankfully my dream nursery, we only enquired at others as they didn't have extended hours then announced they'd be starting as I was looking) had space but told me to confirm asap. Definitely look at securing a spot if you have your heart set on any particular nurseries.

Hi. Yes. The nursery my daughter is at, and that I've registered baby at, is full till April 2026. I registered baby in November.

I got the last 2024 spot for my daughter and she was only 3 weeks old when we were looking. Defo start looking now if you can c

I put my name down at 4 weeks pregnant and can’t get a space for him until June 2026 for 3 days but I suppose I could’ve looked elsewhere…

All depends on where you live but if you want your first choice you might want to look now!

Yes can be true! I booked mine in whilst 20 weeks pregnant to join when they are 8 months old. The demand on nurseries is huge atm, mainly because of the roll out of free childcare

Yeah i’ve already got a space for April 2026! I’d book a place now xx

Thanks everyone! Will get on the search

30 weeks and just secured our nursery place. They only had availability from April 2026 so we’ve had to register for their sister branch which only had availability from Nov 2025 and then he will swap over in April

I was told by my sons nursery that we need to apply now as there might not be space by April 26 if we wait

We secured a nursery in December and left a deposit to guarantee the place for April 2026. I was concerned that places would become full once the 30 free hours come into play xx

Definitely, I dont know if it’s the 30hrs coming in from Sept but places are filling up fast. We registered back in November and the earliest we could get was from April 2026 for 3 days then 4 days from May