From
£94/day
Fordfield Nursery Ltd Ruxox House
Ruxox House, Maulden Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 5BN
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 75 Limited spaces
County childcare guide
Nurseries & Daycare in Bedfordshire
Toddle lists 34 nurseries and pre-schools across Bedfordshire, with the most in Dunstable, Stotfold, Kempston, Sandy and Biggleswade, and more in Bedford and Luton. 8 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted, among them Poppyfields Nursery, and 22 Good.
23 take babies (the most around Dunstable and Kempston) and 11 are pre-schools for 2 to 5 year olds. 22 are open all year round and many offer extended hours, and several offer forest school. 30 accept the 30 funded hours for working parents.
Childcare in Bedfordshire is run by three councils: Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton, so funding and SEND help depend on where you live. Ask Doddle above about nurseries near Dunstable and Stotfold, or pick a town below.
How much is nursery in Bedfordshire, and where are they?
A full day at a nursery in Bedfordshire typically costs about £47, or around £1,020 a month full-time before funded hours. The most are in Dunstable, Stotfold and Biggleswade, and 23 take babies from 6 months. 22 of the 34 are open all year round rather than term time only.Checked 4 Nov 2026
Source: Ofsted inspection reports and the fees and details each nursery publishes.
Childcare numbers for Bedfordshire
Daily fees range
Per day
£35–£94
Outstanding nurseries
24% of nurseries
8
Funded childcare
97% offer funding
33
Total nurseries
Across Bedfordshire
34
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Top nurseries
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Showing 1–3 of 12 selected nursery listings · 34 total in this area.
From
£35/day
Poppies Nursery
Poppies Nursery, St Mary's Academy Site, Rook Tree Lane, Stotfold, Hertfordshire, SG5 4DL
Reggio Emilia Capacity 64 Spaces available
From
£35/day
Poppyfields Nursery
Poppyfields Nursery & Out of School Hours Provision, The Pavilion, Dickens Boulevard, Fairfield Park, Stotfold, Hertfordshire, SG5 4FD
Reggio Emilia Capacity 108 Spaces available
From
£39/day
Potton Pre-School
Next to Potton Lower School, Everton Road, Potton, Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, SG19 2PB
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 36 Waiting list
Area avg from
£70/day*
Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Bedford
7 Holme Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AU, United Kingdom
Curiosity Approach Capacity 95 Spaces available
Area avg from
£70/day*
Lavenders Day Nursery
19 Bushmead Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3QJ, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 108 Limited spaces
Area avg from
£70/day*
Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services
Nursery Building, St Andrews School, Brunts Lane, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 0LY
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 50 Limited spaces
Area avg from
£70/day*
Seabrook Day Nursery (Luton)
32 Lewsey Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 0EP, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 104 Spaces available
From
£39/day
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)
Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
Forest School Capacity 62 Spaces available
From
£77/day
Banana Moon Day Nursery
The Old Vicarage, 132 Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8BQ
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 70 Waiting list
From
£81/day
Banana Moon Day Nursery Lower Sundon
Manor Farm Court, Manor Road, Lower Sundon, Luton LU3 3NZ, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 52 Spaces available
From
£51/day
Downside Pre-School
Downside Pre-School, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4AS
Play-Based Capacity 44 Limited spaces
1 / 4
More nurseries
More nurseries in Bedfordshire
22 more nurseries in Bedfordshire, Outstanding first. Page 1 of 2.
- Ladybird Forest Pre-School AmpthillAmpthill · MK45Good2 to 5 years£40/day✓ Funded hours
- Manor Farm Day NurserySandy · SG19Good6 months to 5 years£80/day✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- Pippin Pre-SchoolStotfold · SG5Good2 to 5 years£47/day✓ Funded hours
- AJJ's Nurseries T/A Bizzie BeesDunstable · LU6Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- BEST Nursery (Shefford)Shefford · SG17Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours
- BEST Nursery and Extended Services (Langford)Biggleswade · SG18Good2 to 5 years✓ Funded hours
- Brambley Tots Day NurseryBiggleswade · SG18Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- Cedars Day NurseryLeighton Buzzard · LU7Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- CleverkidzDunstable · LU5Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard · LU7Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- Linden House NurseryDunstable · LU6Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
- Merry Poppets Nursery LtdFlitwick · MK45Good6 months to 5 years✓ Funded hours✓ Open all year
By town
Nurseries by town in Bedfordshire
Looking for a nursery near Dunstable, Stotfold, Biggleswade or elsewhere in Bedfordshire? Pick a town and Doddle will show the nurseries there.
Types of childcare
Types of nursery in Bedfordshire
Looking for a baby nursery, a private day nursery or a pre-school near you in Bedfordshire? Here is how many of each we list, from the 34 nurseries on this page. Ask Doddle above for the ones that suit your child.
- 23Baby nurseriesTake babies, usually from 6 months
- 22Day nurseries open all yearFull days, all year round, for working parents
- 11Pre-schools and nursery schoolsFor 2 to 5 year olds, often term time
- 12Term-time onlyClose in the school holidays
- 4Forest school nurseriesMuch of the day spent outdoors
- 8Rated OutstandingOfsted's top grade
- 33Offer funded hours15 or 30 funded hours
Map view
Map every nursery in Bedfordshire Nurseries near Bedfordshire
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Nursery cost calculator
What will nursery cost in Bedfordshire?
Answer four quick questions. You'll see your monthly cost straight away.
1When was your child born?
Age: 2 yearsFree hours are available.
2Are you working?
Each working parent needs to earn at least £2,643.68 over 3 months, and under £100,000 a year.
3How much time at nursery?
Days a week
5
Hours a day
10
4What does the nursery charge?
About £56 a day for 10 hours. All-ages average from 8 nurseries with prices on Toddle in Bedfordshire
You'd pay about
£681a month
£8,176 a year after your free hours
- Nursery fees
- £1,213
- Free hours (30 a week)
- −£532
- You pay
- £681
Doesn't include meals, nappies or trips. Most nurseries charge for these separately.
You could get 30 free hours a week.
They end when your child starts reception, around September 2029.
Why isn't it lower in the holidays?
38 weeks free hours: £112/wk 14 weeks full fee: £280/wk
Free hours cover 38 term-time weeks. Many nurseries can spread them across the year instead. Ask yours.
Only going term time? Your cost will be lower. Ask your nursery for their term dates.
Estimate only. England. Based on GOV.UK figures, checked 20 October 2026.
Explore Bedfordshire
Browse nearby childcare
Funded childcare guide
How to Apply for Funded Childcare in Bedfordshire?
The nursery postcode districts represented on this page map to these official local authorities. Choose your council below; your home postcode determines which one handles your application.
Visit Bedford Borough CouncilPostcodes: MK40–MK44
Visit Central Bedfordshire CouncilPostcodes: LU3–LU5 · MK45 · SG5–SG19
Visit Luton Borough CouncilPostcodes: LU4
Helpful answers
Nursery questions in Bedfordshire
How much are nursery fees in Bedfordshire?
Among the 11 Bedfordshire nurseries on Toddle that publish a day rate, the middle price is £47 a day and most charge £39 to £80; the lowest published rates we list are around Stotfold and the highest around Flitwick.
At £47 a day, a full-time place works out at about £1,020 a month before funded hours, and 14 include meals, for example around Dunstable and Bedford.
What are the best nurseries in Bedfordshire?
Going by Ofsted, 8 nurseries we list in Bedfordshire are rated Outstanding: Poppyfields Nursery (Stotfold), Poppies Nursery (Stotfold), Fordfield Nursery Ltd Ruxox House (Flitwick), Potton Pre-School (Sandy), Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services (Biggleswade), Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Bedford (Bedford), Lavenders Day Nursery (Bedford) and Seabrook Day Nursery (Luton) (Luton). Stotfold has the most, with 2.
How many nurseries are there in Bedfordshire?
Which Bedfordshire nurseries take babies?
Are Bedfordshire nurseries open all year round?
Can I split funded hours between childcare providers?
Yes. In Central Bedfordshire, funded hours can be shared across up to 3 providers, with no more than 2 sites used in 1 day.
Which council handles my nursery funding?
Bedford Borough Council covers Bedford, Central Bedfordshire Council covers areas such as Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Biggleswade, while Luton Council handles childcare within Luton.
What SEND help is available for children under 5 in Bedford?
Bedford Borough has an Early Years Support Team with specialist teachers and nursery nurses who can provide home teaching and nursery advice.
Are Family Hubs available in Bedfordshire?
Yes. Bedford Borough has Family Hubs including Central, Bluebells and Eastcotts. Central Bedfordshire is also developing 6 Family Hubs across the area.
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