Area avg from
£70/day*
Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Bedford
7 Holme Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AU, United Kingdom
Curiosity Approach Capacity 95 Limited spaces
Town childcare guide
Nurseries in Bedford
Compare nurseries in Bedford by funded childcare, fees, opening hours and SEND support. Bedford Borough has registered nurseries, preschools, playgroups and childminders, plus local Family Hubs for early years and parenting support.
Childcare numbers for Bedford
Daily fees range
—
Per day
Outstanding nurseries
2
100% of nurseries
Funded childcare
2
100% offer funding
Total nurseries
2
Across Bedfordshire
Top nurseries
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Showing 1–2 of 2 selected nursery listings · 2 total in this area.
Area avg from
£70/day*
Lavenders Day Nursery
19 Bushmead Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3QJ, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 108 Spaces available
Map view
Map every nursery in Bedford Nurseries near Bedford
Explore 2 mapped nursery listings in this area.
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Nursery cost calculator
How to Calculate Nursery Fee in Bedford?
Work out the funded hours your child could get and what nursery could cost each week, month and year in Bedford.
1
The nursery's price
Daily price used: £62 (for a 10-hour day)
None of the nurseries in Bedford list a price yet, so this is Toddle's typical day rate
2
Your childcare week
Many nurseries close for a week or two at Christmas and bank holidays.
3
Your child and funded hours
Do you (and your partner, if you have one) both work, and each expect to earn at least £2,643.68 in the next 3 months?
What counts?
16 hours a week at the minimum wage for your age: £2,643.68 if you're 21 or over, £2,256.80 if you're 18 to 20, and £1,664.00 if you're under 18 or an apprentice. If you've been self-employed for under 12 months, or you're on parental, sick or annual leave, you can still qualify, and some benefits (such as Carer's Allowance) count for a partner who doesn't work. Check on GOV.UK
No funded hours yet.
If you both work, you could get 30 hours a week (1,140 a year).
From 1 January 2029: 15 hours a week (570 a year).
Funded hours start the term after your child reaches the age (9 months for working-parent hours, 2 for the extra-support offer, 3 for the universal 15 hours): on 1 January, 1 April or 1 September. You'll need to reconfirm your details every 3 months.
4
How will you pay?
Before support
£806
per month
Likely support
£0
per month
You pay
£806
per month
Average per month (over 12 months) · Bedford
£806/month
· £9,672/year
- Full weekly fee (before funding)
- £186.00
- Per year, after funding
- £9,672
Daily price used: £62 (for a 10-hour day)
This is an estimate, not a quote. Nurseries set their own prices, opening weeks and funded-hours patterns, and not all offer funded or stretched places. Check with the nursery. England only.
How we work this out
570 hours a year is 15 hours × 38 weeks; 1,140 is 30 × 38. Term-time funding covers 38 weeks; in every other week your child attends you pay the full fee. Stretched funding spreads the same hours over more weeks (up to 52), so the yearly total is about the same. Funded hours are capped at the hours you use, 30 a week and 10-hour sessions. The monthly figure is the yearly cost ÷ 12.
Funded hours are for education and care and must be free. Nurseries can't charge top-up fees for funded hours, or make you pay for extra hours, registration fees or deposits as a condition of your place. They can offer meals, snacks, nappies and trips as optional extras, and you can choose to bring your own or opt out.
Hours may be pro-rated if your child starts part-way through the year, and funding stops when your child starts reception. Tax-Free Childcare is 20% of what you pay after funding, up to £2,000 a year (£4,000 if your child is disabled). Prices are Toddle averages or the price you enter; meals are a Toddle estimate.
Figures from GOV.UK, checked 20 October 2026. Rates change each April. England only: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different schemes. Sources: working parents, 3 and 4 year olds, 2 year olds, Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit, DfE guidance.
Your year at a glance
Each block is a week, from September to August.
SepNovJanMarMayJul
- 52 full-fee weeks
- £186.00 a week
Your funding timeline
- Since 1 September 202630 hours for working parents
If you both work and meet the earnings test.
- From 1 January 2029Universal 15 hours
Every 3 and 4 year old, no work or income test.
- From 1 September 2030Starts reception
Funded nursery hours end.
Explore Bedfordshire
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Funded childcare guide
How to Apply for Funded Childcare in Bedford?
The nursery postcode districts currently represented on this page map to Bedford Borough Council. Your home postcode determines which council handles your application.
Visit Bedford Borough CouncilPostcodes: MK40–MK42
Helpful answers
Nursery questions in Bedford
Can working parents get 30 funded hours in Bedford?
Yes. Eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age can get up to 30 funded hours a week.
Do all 3 and 4 year olds in Bedford get funded childcare?
Yes. All 3 and 4 year olds get 15 funded hours. Eligible working families can get up to 30 hours.
Can eligible 2 year olds get funded childcare in Bedford?
Yes. Some 2 year olds can get 15 funded hours based on benefits, an EHC plan, Disability Living Allowance or care status.
When does funded childcare start for my child?
Funding normally starts in April, September or January after your child reaches the eligible age.
Who should I speak to if I am worried about my child's development?
Speak to your nursery or health professional first. They can refer your child to Bedford's Early Years Support Team if specialist help is needed.
What SEND support is available for children under 5?
Bedford has specialist advisory teachers and nursery nurses who provide home teaching, nursery advice and support for children under 5 with SEND.
Are there SEND sessions for young children in Bedford?
Yes. Bedford Family Hubs provide quiet sessions and support groups for children with SEND.
Are there Family Hubs in Bedford?
Yes. Local hubs include Pine Cones, Queens Park and Cherry Trees, with activities and support for families with young children.
What help can Bedford Family Hubs provide?
They offer baby activities, parenting workshops, baby massage, breastfeeding support and help with child development.
What postcode areas cover nurseries in Bedford?
Bedford mainly uses MK40, MK41 and MK42. Use your full postcode when comparing the closest nursery places.