For over fifty years, Edzell Nursery has been providing children with a small, friendly, and nurturing environment to take their first steps in their learning journey. Our experienced and qualified staff fully understand how to guide, support, and encourage children in these crucial early years.
We believe every child learns and develops at their own pace, and we tailor our approach to each child's needs. We offer a variety of activities and experiences that promote all areas of development, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. We also place a strong emphasis on outdoor play, because as Margaret Mcmillan said “ The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky”
Our staff are passionate about early childhood education and committed to providing our children with the best possible start in life. We believe that a nurturing and supportive environment is essential for children's healthy development, and we are proud to create a space where children can feel safe, happy, and valued.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child to Edzell Nursery!
Key Information
Edzell Nursery is a private nursery that operates in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council. This means that eligible children can receive council funding from the term following their third birthday.
We are a small nursery so enrolment numbers are a maximum of 30 children. Places are usually allocated in February for the following August. However, an eligible child may join the nursery at any time if a vacancy is available.
You can put your child's name on the waiting list at any time by contacting the nursery and filling out an application form. A visit to the nursery will then be arranged.
The nursery follows the City of Edinburgh term dates for local schools. It is open from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, and Fridays, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. There is also an early morning drop-off available from 8:00 am for a small fee.
Our Staff
Our nursery is run by two experienced Montessori teachers, Miss Camille and Mrs Naizary known as Mrs Nai, who are passionate about providing a stimulating and nurturing environment for children. We believe that every child is unique, and we tailor our teaching methods to meet the individual needs of each child.
Our team of early years educators is experienced and diverse, bringing a range of skills to the nursery, including outdoor learning, and additional support needs, amongst others. We believe that a well-rounded education is essential for children, and we offer a wide range of activities and experiences to help children develop their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
Care Inspectorate Report
The Care Inspectorate is responsible for inspecting the quality of nurseries. Our most recent Report was conducted in April 2018. The Report again graded us as “very good” across a range of factors. Comments from the Inspectorate included;
“Staff knew the children in their care well and recognised the importance of positive working relationships with parents. The established staff team provided continuity of care for children. Staff were respectful, caring and nurturing towards children.”
“The nursery had a range of open ended natural resources to promote children’s creativity and imagination. We saw that children were engaged in play, happy, co-operative and learning in a stimulating environment.”
A full copy of the report can be found at the Care Inspectorate website.
Learning and Development
We are excited to announce that we are transitioning to a Montessori pedagogy. Montessori is a child-centred approach to learning that emphasises independence, hands-on learning, and respect for the environment. We believe that this approach will provide our children with the best possible foundation for lifelong learning.
We will continue to place a strong focus on the outdoors as we believe that children learn best when they can explore the natural world. Our outdoor space provides a stimulating environment that encourages exploration, sensory experiences, and a deep connection with nature. We will continue to offer outdoor experiences with activities such as creative outdoor learning, gardening, and nature walks to name a few. These activities promote physical development and a commitment to living in harmony with nature and respect for all living things.
Intergenerational learning is another integral aspect of our curriculum. Interactions between different generations bring immense value and promote a sense of community. Through carefully planned activities, the children will have the opportunity to interact and learn from older adults. These intergenerational exchanges provide a unique platform for the transfer of knowledge, values, and life experiences, fostering empathy, respect, and understanding among the generations.
Community
Edzell is an open and inclusive nursery that encourages all parents and carers to become involved in the nursery community. Parents participate in various ways, from talking about their interesting jobs or hobbies to sharing their cultures and skills with the children or accompanying the nursery on outings. The nursery has a parent rep, who not only acts as a link between the families and setting when needed but also volunteers his/her time in helping to organise certain social occasions.
We believe that this sense of community makes for a special time for all involved and creates a wonderful feeling of an extended nursery family for all the children. Families often develop a social life with each other that extends beyond nursery time, and there are organised gatherings throughout the year.
After all, it takes a village to raise a child.
“Wonderful nursery which cultivates a nurturing atmosphere for the children. They play well together and staff are very experienced and know the children well. My child has developed in confidence.”
We’d love to hear from you
edzellnursery@gmail.com
07909 672377