# Settling Into Nursery UK — Funded Hours & Separation | Clever Mum > How UK funded childcare hours work for 2-4 year olds, what a normal settling-in period looks like, and how to help a toddler adjust to nursery or preschool. * [ Home ](/) * › [ Toddler ](/toddler/) * › Settling Into Nursery or Preschool: A UK Guide Toddler # Settling Into Nursery or Preschool: A UK Guide [ CM ](/authors/editorial-team/) By [ Clever Mum Editorial ](/authors/editorial-team/) · Editorial standards Published 11 July 2026 Quick answer — How many free childcare hours do 2-4 year olds get in the UK? Eligible working parents can get 30 funded hours/week of childcare for 3-4 year olds in England, 15 hours/week for all 3-4s regardless of work status, and 15 hours/week for eligible 2-year-olds. Separation anxiety at this age is normal and usually eases within weeks with a phased settling-in approach — short practice sessions building up to full days, and a brief, consistent goodbye rather than a lingering one. Who should skip this Skip this if you need the funding calculator rather than settling tips. Skip it if they have not been offered a place yet. 3 minute read · Sources linked below On this page — jump to a section ## Choose a section * [ 1 How do funded childcare hours work in England? ](#how-do-funded-childcare-hours-work-in-england) * [ 2 What does separation anxiety look like at this age? ](#what-does-separation-anxiety-look-like-at-this-age) * [ 3 How should a phased settling-in approach work? ](#how-should-a-phased-settling-in-approach-work) * [ 4 What should you do at drop-off? ](#what-should-you-do-at-drop-off) * [ 5 What is normal during the nursery adjustment? ](#what-is-normal-during-the-nursery-adjustment) * [ 6 When should you ask for help with nursery settling? ](#when-should-you-ask-for-help-with-nursery-settling) Nursery or preschool is often a toddler's first regular time away from a parent — distinct from starting Reception at 4-5, which our [Family pillar](/family/school-year/reception/) covers separately. ## How do funded childcare hours work in England? * All 3 and 4 year olds get 15 funded hours a week from the term after their 3rd birthday, regardless of parents' work status * Eligible working parents of 3-4 year olds can get 30 funded hours a week * Eligible working parents of 2 year olds can get 15 funded hours a week (up to 570 hours a year across 38 weeks) * Funding doesn't cover meals, nappies, sun cream or trips — providers can charge separately for these * All registered nurseries and preschools must be Ofsted-registered and inspected against the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework; only providers rated Good or Outstanding can offer the government-funded places Check your eligibility and apply for a code via the government's Childcare Choices service. ## What does separation anxiety look like at this age? Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage, typically appearing somewhere between 6 months and 3 years old, most commonly starting around 8-12 months. Most children move through it within a matter of weeks; for some it continues, in a milder form, into the early school years. ## How should a phased settling-in approach work? Most nurseries build this in as standard practice: * Visit the setting together a few times before your child's first proper session, so it's a familiar place * Start with short sessions where you stay, then gradually increase the time you're away * Build up to full sessions or days only once your child is managing shorter separations reasonably well ## What should you do at drop-off? * Keep goodbyes brief and positive — a long, lingering goodbye tends to prolong distress rather than ease it * Don't sneak away without saying goodbye — it can undermine trust, even if the immediate reaction seems calmer * Stay calm yourself — toddlers pick up on parental anxiety more than the words being said * A comforting, familiar object from home can help bridge the gap in the first weeks ## What is normal during the nursery adjustment? Crying at drop-off, some regression (wanting more comfort, minor sleep changes), and general clinginess are all common in the first weeks and typically ease with time and consistency. ## When should you ask for help with nursery settling? Speak to your health visitor or GP if your child is excessively distressed for their age and stage, remains very upset well after you've left (check with staff, since distress often eases quickly once a parent is out of sight), or shows no improvement at all after several weeks of a consistent settling-in approach. ## What questions come up most? How many free childcare hours do 2-4 year olds get in the UK? In England, all 3-4 year olds get 15 funded hours a week regardless of work status, rising to 30 hours a week for eligible working parents. Eligible working parents of 2 year olds can also get 15 funded hours a week. Apply via the government Childcare Choices service. Is it normal for a toddler to cry at nursery drop-off? Yes — separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage and crying at drop-off is common, especially in the first weeks. A brief, consistent goodbye tends to help more than a long, lingering one, and most children settle within a matter of weeks. How do I help my toddler settle into nursery? A phased approach helps most: visit together beforehand, start with short sessions where you stay, then gradually build up to full days. Keep goodbyes brief and positive, and stay calm yourself, since toddlers pick up on parental anxiety. ## Sources & further reading * [ Childcare Choices ](https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) — GOV.UK * [ Separation anxiety and how to cope ](https://www.nct.org.uk/information/baby-toddler/baby-and-toddler-development/separation-anxiety-and-how-cope) — NCT ## On this page * [ 1 How do funded childcare hours work in England? ](#how-do-funded-childcare-hours-work-in-england) * [ 2 What does separation anxiety look like at this age? ](#what-does-separation-anxiety-look-like-at-this-age) * [ 3 How should a phased settling-in approach work? ](#how-should-a-phased-settling-in-approach-work) * [ 4 What should you do at drop-off? ](#what-should-you-do-at-drop-off) * [ 5 What is normal during the nursery adjustment? ](#what-is-normal-during-the-nursery-adjustment) * [ 6 When should you ask for help with nursery settling? ](#when-should-you-ask-for-help-with-nursery-settling) ## At a glance Funded hours (3-4s) 15hrs universal, 30hrs if eligible Funded hours (2s) 15hrs if eligible Separation anxiety peak Often 8-12 months, can recur to age 3+ Settling time Usually eases within weeks Our promise Health-adjacent points cite NHS or equivalent guidance. This article is general information, not medical advice — see our [editorial policy](/editorial-policy/). ## Keep reading [ Family ### Starting School: A Reception Readiness Checklist for UK Parents Reception readiness in England: self-care beats reading. What schools actually expect, summer-born delayed starts, and who should skip this checklist. ](/family/starting-school-reception-readiness-uk/)[ Baby ### Choosing Childcare: Nursery vs Childminder vs Nanny A practical guide to UK childcare — the real differences between nursery, childminder and nanny, what to check on a visit, and red flags to walk away from. ](/baby/choosing-childcare-nursery-childminder-nanny/)