The 5 Best Preschools in Edinburgh for Your Child’s Academic Growth
Finding the right early education environment for your little one can feel like navigating a maze, especially with the unique options scattered around our beautiful city.
Whether you’re a working parent commuting to the city centre, an expat looking for a welcoming community, or simply searching for the best preschool in Edinburgh, you’re certainly not alone in this journey.
I understand the anxiety of wanting a place that balances nurturing care with engaging activities, especially if you’re keen on outdoor learning or trying to make sense of your funded hours.
Let’s walk through some fantastic local nurseries that can give your child a wonderful start.
How much does a preschool cost in Edinburgh?
The average out-of-pocket cost for a private preschool in Edinburgh falls between £75 and £90 per day, depending on the child’s age and available government funding.
| Age Group | Average Daily Cost | Full-Time Monthly Cost (5 Days/Week) |
| Under 3 Years Old | £80 – £90 | £1,600 – £1,800 |
| 3 to 5 Years Old | £75 – £83 | £1,400 – £1,600 |
1. The Montessori Nursery & School
Website: https://www.themontessorinurseryschool.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montessori.edinburgh/
Address: 13a Murrayfield Avenue
Contact: 0131 346 8921 | [email protected]
Hours: Mon to Thu 8:15 am – 3:15 pm, Fri 8:15 am – 12:45 pm
Watching younger children naturally learn from older peers while the older ones build self-esteem as role models is a beautiful dynamic.
The Montessori Nursery & School creates this multi-age “mini-society” perfectly, fostering a truly independent, child-led learning environment. This helps little ones progress entirely at their own pace without the pressure of testing.
Decades of refined expertise are evident in their approach. They have a heavy emphasis on nature through free-flow classrooms and woodland walks.
The Care Inspectorate consistently awards them top marks, highlighting an exceptional standard of care that feels uniquely tailored to each child.
You do need to secure alternative arrangements during holidays, though, since they operate exclusively on a term-time schedule. Still, the developmental strides children make here are remarkable.
2. St Margarets Nursery & Pre-school
Website: https://stmnursery.com/
Address: 10 Craigmillar Park
Contact: 0131 667 0778 | [email protected] | [email protected]
Hours: Mon to Fri 8 am – 6 pm
Juggling morning drop-offs is hard enough without having to pack a bag full of nappies, wipes, and perfectly portioned snacks.
St Margarets Nursery & Pre-school removes that mental burden entirely with a comprehensive, all-inclusive model covering everything from National Health Service (NHS)-nutritionist-developed meals to formula and extracurricular activities.
When I visited the Craigmillar Park location to help a friend assess options for her toddler, the calm, structured yet highly engaging environment was immediately apparent.
Children from birth to five years old enjoy language lessons, sports, and even community projects with a local care home.
However, families seeking occasional or half-day care might find the strict full-day session requirements restrictive. Still, for working parents needing reliable, enriched care from 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., the peace of mind offered here is substantial.
A Warm Nursery Community with Excellent Activities
We love St Margarets and are so delighted that we chose it for our two wee boys. The nursery offers a huge range of activities each week focusing on different learning outcomes each week and the regular photos and updates provided by the staff are a joy to receive. The staff and all so kind and it is clear to see how much the children at the nursery love them. We would recommend this nursery to anyone about and are proud to be connected to such a lovely community.
- Isla Cameron | Google Review
Beautiful Spaces, Healthy Meals, and Thoughtful Staff
Our son has been going to St Margarets for over 2 years now and he absolutely loves it. The rooms are beautiful and they have lots of space to play outside. The many is varied and if my son does not like the food that day, they always provide lots of healthy alternatives. The staff has always been thoughtful and helpful.
- Rist vdw | Google Review
3. Corner House Nursery The Grange
Website: https://www.thrivechildcare.com/nurseries/nursery-in-the-grange/
Address: 13 Minto Street
Contact: 0131 668 3300
Hours: Mon to Fri 8:00 – 18:00
Getting toddlers excited about eating vegetables is often a battle, but letting them grow the food themselves works wonders.
Corner House Nursery The Grange integrates this brilliantly by having children cultivate produce in the on-site greenhouse and vegetable patch, which the chef then uses for meals.
Operating out of a detached Victorian house, this registered eco-nursery provides a cosy, home-like atmosphere alongside extensive outdoor learning areas, including a nature garden and pond.
They partner with the city council to offer funded places, making the environment a highly practical choice for many families.
Adjusting your child’s schedule does require a full month of written notice, though, which can be frustrating if your work situation changes unexpectedly.
However, the flexible year-round, full-time, or part-time sessions generally accommodate commuting parents well.
Caring Staff and Strong Development Support
Both of my boys have been attending this nursery for a while now. The eldest, from the baby room right up to pre school. The educational aspects are fantastic, regular updates and an action plan for development. More importantly the team there really care about the boys, maria and Olivia in particular have very strong relationships with my boys. All the team are very engaged and really care. Great place
- Robert Brooks | Google Review
A Nurturing Environment Where Children Thrive
The Grange Corner House Nursery has been fantastic for our child. The staff are dedicated, warm, and professional, creating a nurturing and stimulating environment. Our child has thrived in confidence, social skills, and academic readiness. Communication with parents is excellent, always keeping us informed. Highly recommend this nursery to any parent. Thank you, Grange Corner House team!
- AnMari Mac | Google Review
4. Busy Bees Nursery at Edinburgh Park
Website: https://www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/nursery/edinburgh-park
Address: 1 Lochside Place Edinburgh Park
Contact: 0330 333 8133 | 0131 3391245
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:30 to 18:00
Preparing a child for primary school without overwhelming them requires a delicate balance of play and focused foundational learning.
Busy Bees Nursery at Edinburgh Park tackles this through their specific “Bee Curious” curriculum. This is guided by a dedicated on-site teacher who helps build early maths and literacy skills naturally.
I recently chatted with a parent whose child attends this location, and they were incredibly relieved by how easily their little one transitioned into structured activities while still having fun.
The facility provides excellent extended hours from 7:30 a.m., and the fees conveniently cover all daily essentials, including fresh chef-prepared meals and nappies.
Just note that you have to commit to a minimum of two full days or four half-days weekly. This can make it unsuitable for sporadic attendance, but the educational consistency is highly beneficial.
5. St George’s Little Dragons Nursery
Website: https://www.stge.org.uk/nursery
Address: St George’s School, Garscube Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland EH12 6BG
Contact: +44 (0)131 311 8000 | [email protected]
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:45 am–6 pm
Securing a smooth transition into primary school is a major concern for families planning their long-term educational goals.
Because this nursery is fully integrated into a wider school campus for children up to eighteen, early learners get incredibly familiar with junior school teachers and routines long before their first official day.
They get to use amazing facilities that most standard nurseries simply don’t have, like a purpose-built gymnasium and an impressive campus library.
The kids stay active with daily outdoor learning in woodland areas and even participate in specialist lessons like ballet.
It is a highly engaging setup, much like signing older kids up for pottery classes in Edinburgh to keep their creative skills sharp.
Availability is notoriously tight though, much like finding reliable baby sitters in Edinburgh, and fees are reviewed every single year, so you have to budget for potential annual increases.
A Homely Nursery with Outstanding Outdoor Learning
Highly recommend! Great nursery with amazing staff. My son is currently at Little Flyers and he loves it especially the outdoor classroom. Previously my daughter has attended and has great memories from her time there. The recent scores for the care inspector report doesn’t come as a surprise! The nursery had great outdoor space and a homely feel – we’ve said its like sending our kids to a family member!
- Keith Pettigrew | Google Review
Friendly, Nurturing, and Highly Supportive Staff
We have had an amazing experience with Little Flyers Ingliston. The staff are friendly, nurturing and supportive, and our son has loved his time with them – so much so that he asks for them when he gets home. Cannot recommend them enough!
- Christopher Mackie | Google Review