Nurseries in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester mainly uses M, BL, OL, SK and WN postcodes, with some WA addresses in parts of Trafford. These postcode areas cross council boundaries, so the full nursery location is useful when comparing nearby settings.

No. Greater Manchester has 10 councils: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Each council administers funded early years provision within its own area.

All 3 and 4 year olds can receive 15 funded hours a week. Eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years old can receive up to 30 funded hours a week for 38 weeks a year.

Yes. Some 2 year olds receiving additional forms of support can qualify for 15 funded hours a week. Families who also qualify for the working parent scheme may receive up to 30 hours through the two entitlements combined.

Yes. A child can attend an eligible provider in a different local authority from where they live. In that situation, funding is handled by the council where the childcare setting is located, which is useful for families choosing childcare near work or along a commute.

The entitlement covers the funded childcare hours, but providers may charge separately for meals, nappies, optional activities or additional private hours. These extras cannot be made a compulsory condition of accessing the funded place.

Yes. Eligible parents can use Tax Free Childcare alongside funded childcare to help cover additional approved childcare costs. For every £8 paid into the childcare account, the government adds £2, subject to the scheme limits.

Potentially. The standard entitlement is based on 30 hours for 38 weeks, but some providers allow the annual hours to be stretched across more weeks by using fewer funded hours each week.

SEND support is organised locally across Greater Manchester's 10 borough councils, so the specific early years support and funding available can depend on where the nursery is based. Children with additional needs may also qualify for extra early years funding or specialist support alongside their funded place.