Nursery &School Guide, Edinburgh & the Lothians 2026/27

Welcome to this 2026/27 Nursery and School Guide, Edinburgh and the Lothians

magazine.

Now in its twentieth year, the guide has come full circle and is once again a joint Nursery and School Guide.

In this annual guide, you’ll find information on childcare options, including 100+ private nurseries, fees, facilities, and more.

We’ve chosen our top 10 state secondary schools and the top 20 local primary schools, along with listings and profiles of  16 independent schools in and around

Edinburgh. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the independent school profiles and discover what makes each one stand out.

We’ve also included listings for playgroups that care for children from age 2, as well as parent–child playgroups where your baby or toddler can play while you meet other parents.

We talk about how to find the right school and whether to hold your child back a year by deferring entry.

Finally, our family section offers ideas for days out, classes, activities, and many more ways to enrich your child’s life.

Good luck and happy reading!

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