Central Scotland · Early Years
Nurseries in Clackmannanshire
Scotland's smallest mainland council, Clackmannanshire has a compact network of council and partner nurseries in Alloa, Alva and Tillicoultry. Costs are below the Central Belt average, making it one of the more affordable areas for childcare. The council nurseries are well-regarded and rarely oversubscribed.
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~£235/wk
Avg cost under-3
1,140 hrs
Funded hours/year
Term-time or stretched
Funded delivery
December
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Apply for a nursery place in Clackmannanshire
Every child in Scotland is entitled to 1,140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare per year from the term after their third birthday. In Clackmannanshire, applications for council nursery places typically open in December for an August start. Apply early — council places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis in most areas.
How funded hours work in Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire offers term-time or stretched for the 1,140 funded hours.
Term-time delivery
~30 hours/week for ~38 school weeks per year. Best if your child will also attend school term-time.
Stretched delivery
~22 hours/week spread over 52 weeks. Better for working parents who need year-round provision.
Finding a funded partner provider
Your child can use any nursery or childminder on Clackmannanshire's approved partner provider list — not just council-run nurseries. Ask any private nursery or childminder whether they are a funded partner before enrolling.
Contact Clackmannanshire Council for partner listCare Inspectorate ratings for Clackmannanshire nurseries
All Scottish nurseries and childminders are regulated by the Care Inspectorate, which publishes inspection grades on a 1–6 scale (1 Unsatisfactory → 6 Excellent). Look for grades of 4 (Good) or above across all key questions — particularly Quality of care and support and Quality of management and leadership.
A grade 3 (Adequate) in any category warrants a closer look. A grade 1 or 2 is a serious warning sign — check whether an improvement notice is in place.
Search Clackmannanshire nurseries on Care InspectorateEvery registered nursery in Clackmannanshire
20 registered nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Clackmannanshire — 14 council-run, 5 private and 1 voluntary. Of the 20 with published grades, 20 scored Good or better on every key question at their latest inspection and 0 scored Weak or Unsatisfactory on at least one; 0 have not yet been graded. 14 carry grades published before 2024 — read those as a statement about that inspection, not about today.
Out-of-school clubs and childminders are not listed. “Grades” is the lowest and highest of the six key-question grades at the latest published inspection.
| Nursery | Town | Sector | Places | Grades | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banchory ELCFK10 2TF · CS2003043741 | Alloa | Council | 32 | 5 Very good | Nov 2021 |
| Clackmannan ELCFK10 4JS · CS2003015580 | Alloa | Council | 94 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Feb 2023 |
| Clackmannanshire Women's Aid · CS2018364568 | Alloa | Voluntary | 7 | 5 Very good | Jan 2022 |
| Glenview Cottage NurseryFK10 2PT · CS2010252694 | Alloa | Private | 52 | 5 Very good | Aug 2022 |
| Kidz World Nursery LtdFK10 1NU · CS2008191481 | Alloa | Private | 156 | 4–5 Good to Very good | May 2023 |
| Little Stars AlloaFK10 1TD · CS2011299472 | Alloa | Private | 98 | 4 Good | Nov 2025 |
| Park ELCFK10 1BD · CS2003043738 | Alloa | Council | 114 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2025 |
| Redwell ELCFK10 2BS · CS2003015583 | Alloa | Council | 96 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Oct 2022 |
| Sauchie ELCFK10 3NQ · CS2003015581 | Alloa | Council | 112 | 5 Very good | May 2021 |
| St. Serf's ELCFK10 2RD · CS2003015593 | Alloa | Council | 74 | 5 Very good | Apr 2023 |
| Sunnyside ELCFK10 2AT · CS2003043743 | Alloa | Council | 66 | 4 Good | Feb 2026 |
| The Flying Start NurseryFK10 3JX · CS2008169091 | Alloa | Private | 60 | 5 Very good | Mar 2023 |
| Tulach ELCFK10 2SD · CS2003015591 | Alloa | Council | 150 | 4 Good | Jan 2023 |
| Alva ELCFK12 5AN · CS2003015584 | Alva | Council | 74 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Dec 2024 |
| Dollar Nursery SchoolFK14 7DJ · CS2012310334 | Dollar | Private | 56 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jun 2024 |
| Strathdevon ELCFK14 7AA · CS2003015586 | Dollar | Council | 44 | 4 Good | Jun 2025 |
| Menstrie ELCFK11 7AP · CS2003015587 | Menstrie | Council | 107 | 5 Very good | Feb 2023 |
| Craigbank ELCFK10 3EJ · CS2019377710 | Sauchie | Council | 48 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jan 2022 |
| Coalsnaughton ELCFK13 6JU · CS2003015585 | Tillicoultry | Council | 30 | 5 Very good | Sept 2023 |
| Tillicoultry ELCFK13 6PL · CS2003015589 | Tillicoultry | Council | 80 | 4 Good | Oct 2022 |
Childcare costs in Clackmannanshire
Under-3 full-time
~£235
per week (private)
Funded hours saving
~£5,500
per year (age 3+)
Tax-Free Childcare
20%
top-up (max £2,000/yr)
The average weekly cost for an under-3 in a full-time private nursery place in Clackmannanshire is approximately £235. Once your child turns 3 (from the term after their birthday), the 1,140 funded hours kick in — worth around £5,500 per year and significantly reducing your net cost. You may also be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare (20% government top-up on costs above the funded hours) and Universal Credit childcare element.
Nearby council nursery guides
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about nurseries in Clackmannanshire
When can I apply for a council nursery place in Clackmannanshire?
Clackmannanshire Council typically opens applications in December for children starting the following August. Contact the council or your preferred nursery directly to confirm the exact window for the current cycle.
How are the 1,140 funded hours delivered in Clackmannanshire?
Clackmannanshire offers term-time or stretched delivery. You can choose term-time (around 30 hours/week for 38 weeks) or stretched delivery (around 22 hours/week for 52 weeks) depending on what works for your family.
Does my child have to use a council nursery for their funded hours in Clackmannanshire?
No — your child can use any nursery or childminder on Clackmannanshire's funded partner provider list. All council nurseries qualify automatically. Check with individual private nurseries and childminders to confirm they are registered as partner providers before committing.
How much does a full-time nursery place cost in Clackmannanshire for an under-3?
Full-time private nursery places for children under 3 in Clackmannanshire cost around £235 per week on average (2025/26 data). This is before any funded hours or Tax-Free Childcare discount. Funded hours (from age 3) can reduce this significantly — in practice most families pay only top-up fees above the funded amount.
How many registered nurseries are there in Clackmannanshire?
20 nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Clackmannanshire are registered with the Care Inspectorate — 14 run by the council, 5 private and 1 voluntary. 20 of the 20 with published grades scored Good or better on every key question at their latest inspection. The full list, with each service's latest grades and a link to its inspection reports, is on this page.
What is the Care Inspectorate and how do I check a nursery's rating?
The Care Inspectorate is Scotland's independent regulator for care services, including all nurseries and childminders. It inspects services and gives grades from 1 (Unsatisfactory) to 6 (Excellent) across key areas including the quality of care and support, the environment, leadership, and staffing. You can search all registered services in Clackmannanshire at the Care Inspectorate website — look for grades of 4 (Good) or above.
Are two-year-olds eligible for funded hours in Clackmannanshire?
Some two-year-olds qualify for funded hours in Scotland through the 'eligible two-year-old' route. Eligibility is based on family circumstances — children in care, those with a child protection plan, or those whose parents receive certain benefits may qualify for up to 600 hours from age 2. Contact Clackmannanshire Council's early years team to check your child's eligibility.
Last updated May 2026.
Average nursery costs from Coram Childcare Survey 2026 and Care Inspectorate service data. Funded hours information from Scottish Government ELC Statistics 2025. Always confirm application dates and partner provider status directly with Clackmannanshire Council. See our editorial policy.