Nurseries in Helensburgh

[EG88]

Can anyone offer advice on nurseries in Helensburgh? We are moving soon with our 3 year old and know nothing of the area and are to far away to visit the nurseries. Ideally we are looking for a small setting with lots of outdoor time. We don't want a place that will be doing really structured "learning" if that makes sense. Can anyone give any tips? Thanks.

I'm not familiar with the area but it could be helpful to say if you're looking for private nursery daycare or a local authority council nursery?

What about joining a local Facebook group and asking there?

Lomond school has a nursery although that's linked to the private school so good if you wanted to put them through private education at primary and secondary too. it has a good reputation. I don't know about other private nurseries in the area, think there's one called mulberry bush? I also think there is one in Cardross that is meant to be good but I don't know its name. A bit further away is Carousel nurseries - they have nurseries in Dumbarton and Alexandria.

Carousel (not in H/Burch but in nearby Dumbarton/Vale) is v popular but prob not what you’re after as it’s quite structured.

Lomond has a ‘Forrest school’ which I imagine is closest to your idea of outside play. Worth giving them a ring as I believe there’s a waiting list.

unfortunately the nursery that matches that description best closed about nine years ago...

TBH - I think you'd be better getting in touch with the council in the first instance and checking what your options are, both in terms of nurseries that exist and places. You've missed registration for starting in August and I think there will be several of the smaller nurseries will be full. Based on your description I think the nursery attached to St Joes Primary would be closest; although Lomond has the forest school it's a much bigger nursery I think.

Are you armed forces? there is a liaison person to help with stuff like this.

My son went to St Joseph's nursery and is now in the school. Although it is a catholic school there is a total mix of children and a lot of forces children go there.

Also as far as I know in Argyll and Bute it is all free play in nursery time, it is all children led. No structured learning as such.

In addition to that, you may change your mind about the amount of outdoor play you want your child to have once you experience our weather They get out as much as they can.

We just moved to helensburgh. My daughter just started at Mulberry bush and has settled quickly - we are happy with it, also she does swimming lessons with nursery.

Just to add she’s moving to Lomond nursery to do the year before school which is funded with 1140 hour funding (school hours / term time).