Edinburgh’s best nurseries have been revealed in a new league table by The Times and The Sunday Times, which ranks every nursery in Scotland based on their Care Inspectorate gradings.
The regulator, which carries out inspections of nurseries, awards grades ranging from six points for excellent to one point for unsatisfactory.
Nurseries are graded across four categories - setting, staff, leadership and quality of care, and play and learning.
Using official data published by the care regulator, The Times and Sunday Times have published a full Scottish childcare league table.
You can find the list of Scotland’s best ranked nurseries here, and the country’s worst ranked nurseries here.
Under the gradings system, the maximum combined points achievable is 24 - which would mean the nursery has secured top scores in each of the categories.
Based on the league table, here are the best rated nurseries in Edinburgh:
5. Greengables Nursery School
Score: 23. Greengables, located in the Niddrie area of Craigmillar, offers childcare for children aged 3-5 and aims to work in partnership with parents and the local community. It is run by the City of Edinburgh Council and provides 30 hours of funded early learning and childcare for up to 48 children. Date graded: February 8, 2019 | Google Maps
6. Hailesland Early Years Centre
Score: 23. Located in the residential area of Wester Hailes, Hailesland Early Years Centre is registered to care for a maximum of 50 children, with 18 of those under two years. The centre is made up of three playrooms, all with access to an outdoor play area, and also offers support to families and the wider community. Date graded: July 13, 2018 | Google Maps
7. Erskine Stewart Melville Junior School Nursery
Score: 22. The nursery, which looks after three and four year olds, has a partnership with Edinburgh City Council to provide 1,140 hours of council funded hours for eligible families. It has access to 40 acres of outdoor space and provides specialist PE, music and digital learning lessons each week. Date graded: September 24, 2020 | Google Maps
8. St. Leonard's Nursery School
Score: 22. St. Leonard's Nursery School, in Edinburgh's Southside, cares for up to 60 children between three years and primary school entry. It has two playrooms and an enclosed garden. It has been affiliated with Sciennes Primary since August 2021. Date graded: June 18, 2019 | Google Maps