Nurseries & Childcare 
in Edinburgh & the Lothians

Image: Casa Montessori Nursery When your first child starts at nursery, whether they are 6 months or 3 years old, it is an important milestone for your family. With over fifteen years’ experience working in nurseries, as well as sending my own daughter to nursery, I’ve gathered tips to support you and your child to have a positive start. Be prepared yourself – Know what’s required of you, both in terms of drop-off/pick-up procedures and equipment required. Your child will a

🌲 Forest Friday Open Day – Friday 17th April Clifton Hall School invites families with children in Nursery to Primary 2 to its Forest Friday Open Day. Set within the school's private woodland, the immersive open morning and afternoon will offer children the chance to explore, play and create in nature. Families will participate in a range of age-appropriate woodland-themed arts, crafts and games, designed to encourage curiosity, confidence and a love of outdoor learning. Act

Edinburgh Easter holiday clubs for under-5s are limited but high quality. Options include Steiner School Easter Camp, Cargilfield, and Willow Den (ages 3–6, with some 5–12 camps). Flexible days and times.

Edinburgh Montessori Arts School extends Nursery and Primary 1 with Term Time Plus—a Montessori-aligned eight-week extension offering continuity, warmth, and gentle French immersion.

A community survey is exploring whether there's demand for Italian-language early years provision in the city Edinburgh has Gaelic-medium nurseries, French playgroups, and German Saturday schools. What it doesn't have is a bilingual English/Italian nursery — anywhere children can be immersed in both languages as part of their everyday routine, not just for an hour a week. We're exploring whether there's enough demand to make one viable, and we'd value five minutes of your ti

Discover the benefits of pre-school playgroups, where children aged 2 to 5 engage in stimulating and educational play sessions. Operated by

Discover Edinburgh’s trusted outdoor nurseries for all-weather learning. Explore forest-kindergarten style care and family-friendly visits at Willow Den, Wester Coates, and more.

Find a nursery you can trust by reviewing staff qualifications, experience, and values, checking the latest Care Inspectorate report (staff and leadership grades), and visiting.

Join Cargilfield Nursery on Friday, March 6th, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM for Play & Explore morning! Discover our nurturing environment, meet our Early Years team, and see how we foster confidence and curiosity in children under 5. Book your spot today!

Two ways to discover Loretto School Musselburgh for Pre-Schoolers: join a Stay and Play session or attend Open Days. Book via the link or admissions@loretto.com.

Discover Clifton Hall School's Nursery! Explore a nurturing environment for children aged 3-5 at our Stay & Play session. Explore our garden, playrooms, and Forest Kindergarten. Arrange a personalised visit today.

Cargilfield School and Nursery Open Days • Open Morning: Friday, January 16th, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. Experience a regular school morning with tours, meetings, and a look at lessons and activities. • Nursery Play & Explore Mornings: Friday, January 30th & Friday, March 6th, 2026, 9:30 am - 11:00 am. Relaxed sessions for prospective nursery parents to meet the team and explore the spaces. Both events require booking through a provided form.

St George's Little Dragons Nursery offers a childcentered, play-based preschool experience in Edinburgh. The nursery provides flexible hours, specialist teaching, and focuses on each child's individual progress, preparing them for school in a supportive environment. The nursery also emphasises strong parent partnerships. Registration is now open for the P1 Play Assessment on January 9, 2026.

Winter in Edinburgh may be cold and wet but we all know how important it is for young children to spend time outdoors. Now all early years setting spend part of the day outside and forest nurseries spend a large part of the day is outside. Research tells us playing outside, even in the cold, offers children huge benefits, boosting their immune systems, improving physical skills (balance, strength, coordination) through varied terrain. It enhances cognitive growth via unique s

Looking for gift ideas for nursery teachers? This guide offers thoughtful and practical gift suggestions, including handmade cards, crafts, writing supplies, personal care items, treats, and mini hampers. Find the perfect gift to show your appreciation!

Compass School Nursery The Compass School Haddington is thrilled to announce that its nursery (Form One) has once again been recognized...

A Vital Cause for Families The Scottish Early Years Association is reaching out to the community. They are asking for your support to...

Is your child starting nursery soon, and are you or your child worried about separation anxiety? We've asked Bright Horizons Nursery...

Starting nursery can be a wobbly time for preschoolers and their parents or carers. But there is so much we can do to smooth the transition.

Uncover hidden gem nurseries! These community-run options provide excellent childcare and education, free or at a lower cost, making them a great choice for families.

Corstorphine Village Playgroup (ages 2-5) has August spaces! Nurturing staff, fun activities, & a great way for kids to build confidence & make friends. £16.50/session.

Find the perfect nursery in Edinburgh's Cramond & Barnton. Discover reputable, established private nurseries offering exceptional ca

Find the perfect nursery in Edinburgh's Cramond & Barnton. Discover reputable, established private nurseries offering exceptional ca

Cargilfield Nursery: A unique learning adventure where academic progress, outdoor exploration, and play-based learning combine. Children t

Erskine Stewart Melville Nursery: Nurturing your child's potential through play-based learning. Our vibrant Edinburgh setting offers creati

Find the perfect nursery in Edinburgh & Lothians. The Nursery Guide offers comprehensive Care Inspectorate grade summaries, helping parents

Discover the crucial role of hands-on learning in child development. Learn how real-world experiences boost creativity, social skills, and

Find the perfect nursery in Edinburgh's Stockbridge & Inverleith! Discover reputable, established private nurseries offering exceptional ca

Here are four well-established, reputable private nurseries in the Murrayfield area that are open during term times. A couple also partner

Find the perfect nursery for your baby or toddler. Here are reputable private nurseries in your community, offering peace of mind

By The Montessori Nursery School Where Curious Children Become Life-Long Learners The Montessori Nursery School is passionate about...

The Edinburgh Academy Nursery: Exceptional childcare for children aged 2+. Stimulating environment, dedicated teachers, and daily parent u

Experience the transformative power of Montessori education at Edinburgh Montessori Arts School. Inspired by Maria Montessori's philosophy,

St Georges School Edinburgh Nursery | Early Years Education | Play-Based Learning | Flexible Hours | 15-acre Campus | Tailored early learnin

George Heriot's School: a leading school providing a strong educational foundation for children from Nursery through to S6. We nurture well

Give your child the best start! Loretto Pre-School nurtures curiosity and develops lifelong learners through play-based activities and dedic

Looking for childcare in Musselburgh? Links Nursery offers full-time and part-time care, council-funded places, and convenient hours (7:30 a

Excellent-rated preschool! Give your child a head start with our nurturing environment, enriching curriculum, and specialist teachers.

Expert childcare advice and vetted caregivers in Edinburgh, Lothians & Fife. TrioCare helps families find the perfect childcare solution.

Celebrating 52 years of nurturing childcare in Bruntsfield! Our child-led playgroup offers a creative and challenging environment where chi

Cargilfield Nursery: A unique play-based learning experience blending academics, outdoor adventure, and enriching clubs. Children thrive in

East Lothian's only independent primary school, The Compass School, provides a nurturing, high-quality education for boys and girls (pre-sch

Award-winning Edinburgh nurseries offering outdoor learning, forest schools, coastal classrooms, and enriching activities like ballet, swimm

Use our comprehensive nursery checklist to guide your questions and considerations when selecting a nursery. Compare your findings, focus on

lifton Hall Nursery School offers a stimulating early learning environment for 3-5 year olds. Enjoy extensive outdoor play, Forest Kinderga

Finding a nursery shouldn't be stressful. Nuuri simplifies the process, connecting parents with Edinburgh nurseries (UK expansion coming soo

St Margaret's Nursery & Preschool provides exceptional childcare and early education in a nurturing, inclusive environment. Our experienced

City and Little City Nurseries offer high-quality childcare for children aged 0-5 in Edinburgh. Spacious facilities, dedicated staff, and a

The School Guide and Nursery Guide Magazines are available all year round in various locations across Edinburgh

Discover the essential steps to apply for a council-funded nursery place in Edinburgh. Our comprehensive guide covers eligibility, applicati