# Nursery guides for parents Plain, practical guides to choosing a nursery, paying for it and what to expect at each age, written for parents in England and kept in line with the 2026–27 funding rules. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/guides ## Choosing a nursery How to compare nurseries, what to ask on a visit and how to read Ofsted's report cards. - [How to choose a nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-nursery.md): A practical, step-by-step way to choose a nursery in England: what matters most, how to shortlist, what to check and how to decide. - [Questions to ask on a nursery visit](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/questions-to-ask-on-a-nursery-visit.md): The questions worth asking when you visit a nursery, grouped by topic, with what a good answer sounds like. - [Ofsted report cards explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/ofsted-report-cards-explained.md): How Ofsted's new nursery report cards work since November 2025, what each grade means, and how they differ from the old Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate grades. - [Nursery staff ratios explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-staff-ratios.md): The legal minimum staff-to-child ratios for nurseries in England by age, what they mean in practice, and what to ask on a visit. - [Nursery vs childminder vs nanny](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-vs-childminder-vs-nanny.md): How nurseries, childminders and nannies compare on cost, flexibility, funded hours, ratios and regulation, to help you choose the right kind of childcare. - [Settling in at nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/settling-in-at-nursery.md): How nursery settling-in sessions work, how long settling usually takes, and practical ways to help your child and yourself through the first weeks. - [Nursery red flags to look out for](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-red-flags.md): Warning signs to look out for when choosing a nursery, from the visit itself to the contract and the Ofsted report, and what to do if you spot one. - [All choosing a nursery guides](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/choosing.md) ## Paying for nursery Funded hours, Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit and the extras nurseries charge. - [30 funded hours from 9 months](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/30-hours-from-9-months.md): How Free Childcare for Working Parents works in England in 2026–27: who qualifies, the income rules, when the hours start and how to apply. - [15 funded hours for 2-year-olds](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/15-hours-for-2-year-olds.md): Which 2-year-olds can get 15 funded hours a week in England through Early Learning for 2 year olds, how it differs from the working-parent hours, and how to apply. - [Tax-Free Childcare explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/tax-free-childcare.md): How Tax-Free Childcare works for nursery fees in 2026–27, how much the government adds, who qualifies and how it fits with funded hours and Universal Credit. - [Universal Credit childcare costs](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/universal-credit-childcare.md): How Universal Credit helps with nursery costs in England: up to 85% back, the monthly limits, who can claim, and how it compares with Tax-Free Childcare. - [Nursery extras and consumables charges](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/extras-and-consumables-charges.md): What nurseries in England can and cannot charge on funded hours, the common extras, how to compare them and what to do if a charge seems unfair. - [Nursery deposits and registration fees](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-deposits-and-registration-fees.md): What nursery registration fees and deposits are, what is normal, when you get your money back and what to check in the contract before paying. - [What "funded" hours really cover](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/what-funded-hours-really-cover.md): What the 15 and 30 funded hours cover in practice, why your nursery bill may not be zero, and how to work out what you will actually pay. - [All paying for nursery guides](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/paying.md) ## Types of nursery Montessori, forest school, Reggio, Steiner, bilingual, term-time and more, explained plainly. - [Montessori nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/montessori-nurseries.md): What a Montessori nursery is like, how the approach works day to day, how it fits with the EYFS and Ofsted, and what to ask when you visit. - [Forest school nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/forest-school-nurseries.md): What forest school means at nursery, how outdoor nurseries work, what children do, how safety is handled and what to ask on a visit. - [Reggio Emilia nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/reggio-emilia-nurseries.md): What a Reggio Emilia inspired nursery is, how projects and documentation work, how it fits with the EYFS and what to ask on a visit. - [Steiner Waldorf nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/steiner-waldorf-nurseries.md): What a Steiner Waldorf kindergarten is like, the daily rhythm and play-based approach, how it relates to the EYFS, and what to ask on a visit. - [Bilingual nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/bilingual-nurseries.md): How bilingual nurseries work, which models they use, what research-backed expectations are reasonable, and what to ask when you visit. - [Term-time only nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/term-time-only-nurseries.md): How term-time only nurseries and pre-schools work, how they fit with funded hours, what they cost and how to cover the school holidays. - [School nursery vs day nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/school-nursery-vs-day-nursery.md): How a nursery class at a primary school compares with a private day nursery on hours, cost, staff, funded hours and the move to reception. - [Workplace nurseries explained](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/workplace-nurseries.md): How workplace nurseries and employer-supported childcare work, how salary sacrifice can reduce costs, and what to check before signing up. - [All types of nursery guides](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/types.md) ## Nursery by age What to expect from 9 months to the move into reception. - [Starting nursery at 9 months](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/starting-nursery-at-9-months.md): What to expect when your baby starts nursery around 9 months, from funded hours and baby rooms to settling in, sleep, feeding and illness. - [Nursery for 1-year-olds](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-for-1-year-olds.md): What nursery is like for 1-year-olds, how toddlers spend the day, settling in at this age, funding and what to look for on a visit. - [Nursery for 2-year-olds](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/nursery-for-2-year-olds.md): Nursery at age 2: funded hours for 2-year-olds, the progress check, toddler rooms, ratios, behaviour, toilet training and what to ask on a visit. - [The pre-school year](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/pre-school-year.md): What the year before reception looks like at nursery or pre-school, the universal 15 hours, getting ready for school and applying for a reception place. - [Moving on to reception](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/moving-on-to-reception.md): When children start reception in England, how to apply for a school place, what happens to funded hours, and how to help your child move from nursery to school. - [All nursery by age guides](https://toddly.co.uk/guides/ages.md)