Day nursery
A nursery open for a full working day, typically from around 7:30am to 6pm, usually all year round
By The Toddly editorial team · Last updated 11 November 2026
Day nurseries care for children from as young as a few months old up to school age, in rooms grouped by age: a baby room, a toddler room and a pre-school room. Most are privately run, from single family-owned sites to national chains, and open around 50 to 51 weeks a year, closing on bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year. They charge by the day or session and usually stretch funded hours across the year. Ofsted registers them on the Early Years Register. Compare them in our school nursery vs day nursery guide.