When Should You Start Looking for a Nursery Place?

Choosing a nursery is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your child’s first years. For expectant parents and families with young babies, knowing exactly when to start looking can be surprisingly difficult. Some parents register their interest during pregnancy, while others only begin their search as parental leave draws to a close. Understanding how nursery admissions work, how local demand affects availability and when funding applications are due will help you find a place that suits your family’s routine and values, with far less stress along the way.

The Reality of Nursery Availability in the UK

Demand for childcare remains high across the UK. Since funded hours for working parents in England were extended to children from nine months old, nurseries have seen strong interest in every age group. In Scotland, the 1,140 funded hours keep demand for preschool places high too.

Every nursery has a limited number of places, set by its floor space and by legal staff-to-child ratios. In England and Scotland, the legal minimum is one adult to three children for under-twos, one to five for two-year-olds, and one to eight for children aged three and over.

Because babies need the most staff, baby room places are usually the hardest to secure. In popular residential areas and commuter towns, families can wait many months for a baby room place to become available. If you leave your search until a few weeks before you return to work, you may have to compromise on your preferred days, consider a setting further from home, or join a waiting list.

Deciding what age your child should start nursery is a good place to begin. At Thrive, we care for babies from three months old right up to school age, and many children join us at around ten to twelve months as parents return from maternity leave.

Whether you plan to start at six months, twelve months or later, working backwards from your intended start date gives you time to weigh up your options properly. If your child will join before their second birthday, it is worth seeing what a day in our baby rooms looks like and making baby room enquiries early.

The Recommended Nursery Search Timeline

Every family’s circumstances are different, but a simple timeline helps you avoid last-minute compromises.

12 Months or More Before Your Start Date: Research and Early Tours

If you plan to return to work around your baby’s first birthday, the best time to start looking is usually during the second trimester of pregnancy or in the first few months after birth.

Start by drawing up a shortlist of local settings that fit your commute and your approach to childcare. Think about what matters most to your family, such as outdoor space, freshly prepared meals or child-led play.

Then book in-person visits. Seeing a nursery during a normal working day shows you how staff interact with the children and gives you a real feel for the atmosphere in each room. Our nursery tour checklist of questions to ask beyond the obvious covers outdoor play, settling-in, staff development and room transitions, so you can make the most of each visit. Many nurseries also run open days, which are a relaxed way to see a setting and meet the team.

6 to 12 Months Before Your Start Date: Registering and Securing Your Place

Aim to register at least six months before your start date, and earlier if you need a baby room place or particular days. Most nurseries will ask you to complete a registration form so they can hold your place and plan for your child’s arrival.

When you register, set out your preferred days and session pattern. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be the most popular, so if you need mid-week days, registering early makes a real difference.

This is also a good time to think about your child’s weekly routine. Our guide on how many nursery sessions your child should attend recommends at least two sessions a week, ideally spread out. This helps children build a bond with their key person and settle into group care. It is worth discussing your pattern with the nursery manager before you confirm your booking.

3 to 6 Months Before Your Start Date: Applying for Funding

Funding deadlines are easy to miss, so plan for them well ahead of your start date.

In England, working parents of children aged nine months and over can claim up to 30 funded hours a week. Funded hours begin at the start of the term after your child becomes eligible, and you need to apply for your eligibility code in the term before:

• by 31 August for hours starting in September
• by 31 December for hours starting in January
• by 31 March for hours starting in April

Once you have your code, you will need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months.

In Scotland, three and four-year-olds, and some two-year-olds, are entitled to up to 1,140 funded hours a year. Each council sets its own application dates, so check your local council’s deadlines early.

Our parents’ guide to nursery funding explains the 15 and 30 hours schemes and Tax-Free Childcare in England. Our fees and funding page also covers funded hours in Scotland and explains how we stretch funding across the whole year. If your child is under three, our overview of free childcare for one to two year olds explains how the expanded entitlements may apply to your family. Tax-Free Childcare is available to eligible working families across the UK and can be used alongside funded hours.

1 to 3 Months Before Your Start Date: Paperwork and Final Details

Get back in touch with the nursery to confirm your booking pattern and complete the essential paperwork, from emergency contacts to sleep routines, dietary needs and allergies. If you are claiming funded hours, this is also when you give your code to the nursery so they can validate it.

The Final Few Weeks: Settling-In Sessions

In the weeks before your official start date, the focus shifts to helping your child feel ready. Good nurseries offer gradual settling-in sessions so that you and your child can both get used to the change, and at Thrive these sessions are free.

Early visits usually begin with you staying alongside your child while they explore the room and get to know their key person. Over time, the sessions get longer and you gradually step back, until your child is happy to play, eat and nap without you. You can read more about our settling-in process. Our guide to settling into nursery also has practical tips for easing separation worries.

Factors That Affect Your Application Timeline

Starting early always helps, but a few factors can make timing even more important.

1. The Annual September Intake

The nursery year follows the school calendar. In August and September, older preschool children leave for primary school. This frees up places throughout the nursery as toddlers move up to preschool and babies move into toddler rooms. Autumn start dates therefore give you the best chance of getting the days you want. Starts at other times of year often depend on other families leaving or changing their hours, which makes registering early even more important.

2. Funding Terms

In England, funded hours begin in September, January or April, depending on when your child becomes eligible. If you line up your start date with the beginning of a funding term and apply for your code in good time, you will avoid paying full fees for longer than you need to. In Scotland, start dates for funded hours vary between councils.

3. Inspection Reports

Before you commit, read the setting’s latest inspection report. Nurseries in England are inspected by Ofsted. In Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Education share a single inspection framework. Our guides to navigating Ofsted report cards and Care Inspectorate inspection reports explain what the grades mean and what to look for.

4. The Key Person

Every child at nursery should have a key person: a named member of staff who looks after their daily care, routines and emotional wellbeing. At Thrive, each child also has a “buddy” key person who steps in whenever their key person is away. Learning about the role of the key person helps you understand how practitioners work with parents to keep care consistent between home and nursery.

What If You Need a Nursery Place at Short Notice?

Changes at work, a house move or a shift in family circumstances can leave you needing childcare at short notice. Finding a place is still possible, because availability changes throughout the year as families adjust their schedules or move away.

Being flexible about your days helps, as Mondays and Fridays usually have more availability than mid-week. You could also start with fewer days and add more as places open up. Ask to join the nursery’s waiting list so that you are contacted as soon as a suitable place becomes available.

Next Steps for Your Family

Starting your search early turns what could be a stressful task into an exciting step for your family. Taking the time to explore local options, visit in person and ask thoughtful questions will help you choose a nursery you feel confident about.

To see our nurseries for yourself, find your nearest Thrive nursery or book a tour with your local team. If you are expecting, you can enquire now: our tour booking form lets you add your due date and preferred start date.