Childcare in Edinburgh

Nurseries

Many people - particularly working parents - need a centre that combines childcare with pre-school education. There are several ways you can do this in Edinburgh.

Some centres can provide integrated pre-school education and childcare each week day and throughout the year. Many of the partner provider centres do this. Currently, this means you can have up to 12.5 hours of pre-school education funded per week up to a total of 475 hours per year. Any additional childcare costs would require to be paid separately by you. As charges for this vary from centre to centre, ask the Partner Provider for details.

Playgroups

Playgroups provide sessions of play and education for children aged between 2 and 5 years old. They are generally run by a management committee of parents on a voluntary basis.

Some playgroups also work in partnership with the local authority to provide funded, part time pre-school education places for three and four year olds.

Crèches

Crèches provide short-time care and play activities for children aged birth to five years.

Out of School Care

Out of school clubs provide care and activities for school aged children before and after school and during school holidays, in a secure, relaxing, friendly and supportive environment.

Childminders

Childminders are self-employed professional childcarers, who look after at least one child (up to the age of 16 years) for more than a total of two hours per day, usually in the childminders own home. They provide care and education for other people's children in a family setting, providing in a safe and secure environment where they make a positive contribution to the children's learning and development.   

As Childminders are required to register as a service with Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland SCSWIS (formerly Care Commission), they are not required to register with SSSC. SCSWIS Inspectors use the National Care Standards as the basis for their inspections to make sure that childminders are providing the highest standard of care.

Edinburgh Childcare Information Service

The Childcare Information Service helps over 8000 people a year to find the most suitable care for their children. The information will provide you with details of the different options available and is tailored to meet your family needs. You can call the service free on 0800 032 0323.

The service has information about council-run and partner nurseries, as well as playgroups, childminders, out of school clubs, crèches and holiday childcare.