How Far in Advance Should I Book a Nursery Place?

Why waiting lists are longer than most parents expect, and what to do about it

It is one of those things nobody tells you until it is almost too late. You find out you are pregnant, or your child turns one, and you start thinking about childcare. You pick up the phone to a nursery that came highly recommended, and you are told the waiting list is eighteen months long.

For many parents, this comes as a genuine shock. The reality of nursery waiting lists in the UK, particularly in cities and popular areas, is that demand consistently outstrips supply in good settings. And the parents who secure the places they really want are almost always the ones who started looking earlier than felt strictly necessary.

Here is everything you need to know about when to start, how waiting lists actually work, and what to do if you have left it later than you would have liked.

1. The honest answer is earlier than you think

If you are asking this question during pregnancy, you are already in a good position. If your child is under six months old, you still have time to act without significant stress. If your child is approaching their first birthday and you have not yet started looking, you may find that your options are more limited than you hoped, particularly in popular areas or for specific start dates.

Research by the Family and Childcare Trust found that in many parts of England, parents need to register interest in oversubscribed nurseries before their child is even born in order to secure a place for when they want to return to work. This is not an exaggeration. It is the reality in a significant number of settings, particularly those with strong Ofsted ratings and long standing reputations in their communities.

What to do: As a general rule, start looking seriously at nurseries from around sixteen to twenty weeks of pregnancy if you can. If your child is already born, start today. The earlier you register interest, the more options you will have.

2. Understand how nursery waiting lists actually work

Not all nursery waiting lists operate in the same way. Some settings run a straightforward first come first served list, where your position is determined entirely by when you registered interest. Others give priority to siblings of existing children, to children of staff members or to families within a particular catchment area. Some settings do not operate a formal waiting list at all and instead fill places through informal enquiry when spaces become available.

Understanding how the waiting list works at each setting you are interested in is essential. A place on a waiting list is not a guarantee of a place at that nursery, and different lists carry very different levels of certainty.

What to do: When you register interest at any nursery, ask directly how their waiting list is managed, what factors affect position on the list and how they communicate with families when a place becomes available. Get the answers in writing where possible.

3. Know that start dates matter as much as the place itself

Even if you are on a waiting list, securing a place for the exact date you need is a separate challenge.

Nurseries typically have natural intake points, often in September to align with the school year, and in January and April to align with the funded hours terms. A place may become available in November when you need one in August, or a space in the baby room may open up just as your child is about to move into the toddler room.

Being flexible about your start date, even by a few weeks, can significantly increase your chances of securing a place at your preferred setting. Being completely fixed on a specific date, particularly for a return to work, can limit your options considerably.

What to do: When you register interest, be honest with the nursery about your ideal start date but also about how much flexibility you have around it. Ask whether there is a particular time of year when places are more likely to become available and factor that into your planning.

4. Register interest at more than one setting

This is the single most practical piece of advice for any parent navigating the nursery search.

Registering interest at multiple settings simultaneously does not commit you to any of them. It simply keeps your options open while you gather more information, visit in person and make a considered decision. Many parents feel uncomfortable registering at more than one nursery, as though it is somehow unfair or disloyal. It is neither. It is sensible planning.

What to do: Register interest at three to five settings that you think could work for your family. Visit all of them. When a place is offered, you can then make a properly informed decision rather than a panicked one.

5. The waiting list for younger children is almost always longer

Places in the baby room, typically for children under two, are consistently the hardest to secure. There are two reasons for this. First, the legal ratios for babies are significantly higher than for older children, which means nurseries can accommodate fewer babies per member of staff and therefore have fewer places available. Second, babies tend to stay in their room for longer before moving up, which means turnover is slower and fewer places become available throughout the year.

By the time a child reaches the age of three and becomes eligible for the government funded fifteen or thirty hours, places tend to be easier to find, though this varies significantly by area.

What to do: If you are hoping to start your child in nursery as a baby, treat the waiting list process with particular urgency. The earlier you register, the better your chances of securing a place at a setting you genuinely want.

6. Funded hours change the picture from age three

From the term after their third birthday, most children in England are entitled to fifteen hours of government funded childcare per week, and many working parents are entitled to thirty hours. This funding has increased demand for nursery places significantly, particularly for the three to four age group, and popular settings fill their funded places quickly.

From September 2024, the government began extending funded childcare hours to younger children in stages, with nine months to two years eligible for support for qualifying working parents. This expansion has increased demand across all age groups and makes early registration even more important than it was previously.

What to do: Check the current government funding entitlement for your child's age at Childcare Choices (childcarechoices.gov.uk) and factor this into your nursery search. Ask any setting you visit how they allocate funded hours and whether there is a separate process for securing a funded place.

7. A deposit or registration fee does not guarantee a place

Many nurseries charge a registration fee when you join their waiting list. This fee, which typically ranges from around twenty to one hundred pounds, secures your position on the list but does not guarantee you a place. It is also worth checking whether this fee is refundable if a place does not become available or if you choose not to take up the offer.

When a place is formally offered, most nurseries will ask for a deposit to hold it. This deposit is usually larger and may or may not be deducted from your first invoice. Make sure you understand the terms clearly before you pay anything.

What to do: Read the terms attached to any registration fee or deposit carefully before you pay. Ask specifically whether fees are refundable and under what circumstances. Keep records of everything you pay and when.

8. Staying in touch with nurseries keeps you visible

Waiting lists are often more fluid than they appear. Families move. Circumstances change. Parents who were expecting to take up a place decide not to return to work, or relocate, or choose a different setting. Places become available at relatively short notice, and nurseries do not always have the time or resources to work systematically through a long waiting list. The families who stay in contact, who check in periodically and who make it clear that they are still interested, are often the ones who get the call when something comes up.

What to do: Once you have registered interest at a setting, diarise a reminder to follow up every two to three months. A brief friendly email or phone call is enough. It keeps your name current in the nursery's mind and signals that your interest is genuine.

9. If you have left it late, you still have options

If you are reading this with a sinking feeling because your child is eight months old and you need a nursery place in four months and you have not started looking yet, take a breath. It is not ideal, but it is not hopeless either. Settings do have cancellations. New nurseries open. Childminders often have more immediate availability than nurseries and can provide equally excellent care. And some areas have more availability than others.

The key is to act immediately rather than waiting any longer, to be flexible about setting type, location and start date where you can, and to be honest with prospective settings about your timeline.

What to do: Contact every setting in your area today, including childminders. Be upfront about your timeframe. Ask each one whether they have a cancellation list separate from the main waiting list. Expand your search radius if you are able to. And keep an open mind about childminders, who are regulated by Ofsted, follow the same curriculum and often have more flexibility than nurseries.

10. Once you have a place, check what comes next

Securing a place on a waiting list is just the beginning. Once a place is formally offered and you accept it, there is usually a settling in process to arrange, paperwork to complete and a start date to confirm. Most good nurseries will ask to meet you and your child before the first day, share information about their approach and give you the opportunity to ask any remaining questions.

What to do: Once a place is confirmed, ask the nursery for a clear timeline of what happens next:

• When will settling in sessions take place?

• What information do they need from you before your child starts?

• Who will your child's key person be and when can you meet them?

Getting clarity on these questions early makes the whole process feel much more manageable.

Questions worth asking any nursery about places and waiting lists

• How long is your current waiting list for my child's age group?

• How is your waiting list managed and what affects position on it?

• Do you prioritise siblings or staff children?

• Is there a registration fee and is it refundable?

• When do places typically become available throughout the year?

• How will you contact me when a place becomes available and how long will I have to respond?

• What deposit is required when a place is offered and what are the terms?

• Do you accept government funded hours and is there a separate process for funded places?

FAQ

How far in advance should I book a nursery place? 

For popular settings, particularly for a place in the baby room, registering interest from around sixteen to twenty weeks of pregnancy is advisable. For children who are already born, start as soon as possible. The earlier you register, the more options you are likely to have.

Can I go on a nursery waiting list before my baby is born? 

Yes, and in many areas you should. A significant number of oversubscribed settings in England have waiting lists that extend well beyond a year. Registering interest during pregnancy is entirely normal and in some areas essential if you want to secure your preferred setting.

What happens if I am on a waiting list and a place comes up at a nursery that was not my first choice? 

You are under no obligation to accept any place that is offered to you from a waiting list. You can decline and remain on the lists at other settings. However, if you are in a time sensitive situation and your preferred setting has not yet been able to offer you a place, it may be worth accepting and continuing to look, particularly if the nursery is good.

Do nurseries contact you when a place becomes available or do you have to chase? 

Practice varies. Some nurseries are diligent about working through their waiting list and will contact you promptly when a place becomes available. Others are less systematic. Staying in regular contact with the settings you are most interested in is the most reliable way to make sure you are not missed when something comes up.

What if I cannot afford a nursery place and my child is not yet three? 

If you are a working parent, you may be entitled to government funded childcare hours for children under three depending on your eligibility. Check the current entitlement at Childcare Choices (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Tax free childcare and childcare vouchers may also help to reduce the cost. Some local authorities also have early years support for families in particular circumstances.

What is the difference between a registration fee and a deposit? 

A registration fee is usually paid when you join a waiting list and secures your position on it. It does not guarantee a place. A deposit is paid when a place is formally offered and accepted. It holds the place for your child. Make sure you understand the terms and refund policy for both before you pay.

The earlier you start, the more choice you will have

Nursery waiting lists are one of those things that catch families off guard because nobody warns you until you are in the middle of it. The parents who end up with the most choice, the clearest head and the least stress are almost always the ones who started the process earlier than felt strictly necessary.

At Lucky Beans, we know how much this decision matters. We welcome families to visit us at any stage of the process, whether you are just beginning to look or trying to understand your options at shorter notice.

Get in touch to find out about availability at your nearest Lucky Beans setting and to arrange a visit.

References

Family and Childcare Trust on childcare availability: https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org Childcare Choices, government funding: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Ofsted early years registration and inspection: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted