Edinburgh nurseries - funded places

[alwaysbusy2]

Hi all - I live in Glasgow and DD goes to a private nursery. We can't get her into a council nursery in Glasgow (for the hours we need) and there's not enough partnership funding to go around all the kids so we are missing out! Also, my DD won't be able to go to her local school because it is oversubscribed! I could go on and on...

Anyway, we've had enough of Glasgow City Council and want to move. Edinburgh makes sense as we have some family there. I can probably handle a commute until I find a new job and DH works at home.

My question is, will it be hard to find a nursery space in Edinburgh too? Is Glasgow the only council that can't serve working parents? I need at least 4 days/week childcare from 8.30 - 5.30 and I know we are entitled to a funded place (says the government, ha). Anyone in Edinburgh found it easy or hard to get their childcare entitlement?

Thank you!

[HazelShade]

Hi alwaysbusy,

Most nurseries in Edinburgh, both council and private, should be fairly straight-forward to get your funding for I think. I've never heard of anyone having problems. The council has a list here of all their nurseries, as well as partner nurseries.

I think for council nurseries the funding is taken off automatically, whereas for partner nurseries you get refunded? But I'm not sure.

I have experiences with New Town Nursery Too and the Cowgate Under 5's center - both are great. The Cowgate has a famously long waiting list, so I think you'd be out of luck, but New Town should be easier (they are slightly bigger and have a more flexible schedule). Other nurseries I know are good are Arbour Green and Heriothill - again Arbour Green has a waiting list I think, but Heriothill will probably have places. My friend has a DS there and they love it.

It might be worth looking at primary schools though - most of them have a nursery attached, and if you're planning on staying long, you might as well try to get your DD into the one where she will go to school?

Edinburgh primaries are fairly oversubscribed as well, but I've never heard of an in-catchment child being denied a place. It's mostly just out-of-catchment children that get refused. Let me know if you want my opinion on good schools/areas - it's a frequent topic among Edinburgh mums :)