Nursery & School Guide Latest News
in Edinburgh & the Lothians’ 

Essential guide for Edinburgh parents: find 100+ nurseries, compare state & private schools, understand the education system, and discover local children's activities.

Clifton Hall School, Edinburgh, describes itself as a warm school with a supportive education, no entrance exams, a bespoke Nursery, and excellent sport, arts, and pastoral care.

Two welcoming nurseries by Link Nurseries—Links Musselburgh and City & Little City Nursery Edinburgh—holistic, play‑based learning for children 0–5.

Nursery & School Guide marks 21 years by merging into a single Edinburgh & Lothians edition, available in print or online. Founded in 2005 by Nikki Miller, it lists and ranks schools (independent/state) and daycare nurseries.

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...