Islands Scotland · Early Years
Nurseries in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
The Western Isles has a small number of council nurseries, with Gaelic-medium provision available at several settings. Many islands have limited or no private nursery provision — the council nursery is often the only option. The council delivers funded hours term-time only at most locations.
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~£220/wk
Avg cost under-3
1,140 hrs
Funded hours/year
Term-time only
Funded delivery
January
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Apply for a nursery place in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, applications for council nursery places typically open in January 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offers term-time only for the 1,140 funded hours.
~30 hours/week during school term time (~38 weeks/year). You will need to arrange and fund alternative care during school holidays.
Finding a funded partner provider
Your child can use any nursery or childminder on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar'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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council for partner listCare Inspectorate ratings for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar nurseries on Care InspectorateEvery registered nursery in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
21 registered nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar — 19 council-run, 1 private and 1 voluntary. Of the 21 with published grades, 17 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. 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlebay Primary NurseryHS9 5XL · CS2005106314 | Isle of Barra | Council | 37 | 3 Adequate | Jul 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich Bhaile a MhanaichHS7 5LS · CS2008184824 | Isle of Benbecula | Council | 56 | 5 Very good | Jun 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich an OibHS5 3TT · CS2007143004 | Isle of Harris | Council | 15 | 3–4 Adequate to Good | Aug 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich an TairbeartHS3 3BG · CS2012306628 | Isle of Harris | Council | 24 | 3–4 Adequate to Good | Oct 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich BhreascleitHS2 9EF · CS2011303368 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 16 | 4–5 Good to Very good | May 2026 |
| Sgoil Araich LacasdailHS2 0DY · CS2011303370 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 40 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Dec 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich LionailHS2 0XB · CS2011299638 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 25 | 4 Good | Apr 2024 |
| Sgoil Araich Loch a TuathHS2 0LB · CS2007164002 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 40 | 4 Good | Apr 2023 |
| Sgoil Araich ShiaboistHS2 9BD · CS2011303369 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 24 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2019 |
| Sgoil Araich ThungaHS2 0HJ · CS2005113838 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 48 | 4 Good | Feb 2023 |
| Sgoil Araich UigHS2 9HX · CS2009236748 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 15 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2026 |
| Sgoil Araich an RubhaHS2 0EX · CS2006124480 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 32 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Aug 2022 |
| Sgoil Araich an Taobh SiarHS2 0QN · CS2008182518 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 24 | 4 Good | Jan 2025 |
| Sgoil Araich nan LochHS2 9PE · CS2005113754 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 40 | 5 Very good | Nov 2025 |
| Stornoway Primary School NurseryHS1 2LF · CS2003017064 | Isle of Lewis | Council | 96 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jan 2025 |
| Saoghal Beag Sgoil �raich Uibhist a' TuathHS6 5DX · CS2022000243 | Isle of North Uist | Council | 58 | 4–5 Good to Very good | May 2024 |
| Sgoil Araich DhalabroigHS8 5SS · CS2009231670 | Isle of South Uist | Council | 30 | 5 Very good | May 2024 |
| Sgoil Araich an IochdairHS8 5RQ · CS2011280740 | Isle of South Uist | Council | 16 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jun 2025 |
| Cothrom OgHS8 5SB · CS2007154093 | South Uist | Private | 40 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jun 2025 |
| Stornoway Childcare CentreHS1 2LE · CS2012309153 | Stornoway | Council | 40 | 5 Very good | Oct 2022 |
| Stornoway PlaygroupHS1 2JG · CS2003009697 | Stornoway | Voluntary | 35 | 3 Adequate | May 2026 |
Childcare costs in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Under-3 full-time
~£220
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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is approximately £220. 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
When can I apply for a council nursery place in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council typically opens applications in January 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offers term-time only delivery. This means around 30 hours per week during term time (approximately 38 weeks per year).
Does my child have to use a council nursery for their funded hours in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?
No — your child can use any nursery or childminder on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar'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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for an under-3?
Full-time private nursery places for children under 3 in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar cost around £220 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?
21 nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are registered with the Care Inspectorate — 19 run by the council, 1 private and 1 voluntary. 17 of the 21 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar at the Care Inspectorate website — look for grades of 4 (Good) or above.
Are two-year-olds eligible for funded hours in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?
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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 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 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council. See our editorial policy.