East Scotland · Early Years
Nurseries in East Lothian
East Lothian benefits from Edinburgh spillover demand, with families in Musselburgh, Haddington and North Berwick seeking nursery places. Private costs approach Edinburgh levels in the western commuter belt. The council runs nurseries in most primary schools and has a growing partner provider list.
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~£270/wk
Avg cost under-3
1,140 hrs
Funded hours/year
Term-time or stretched
Funded delivery
November
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Apply for a nursery place in East Lothian
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 East Lothian, applications for council nursery places typically open in November 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 East Lothian
East Lothian 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 East Lothian'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 East Lothian Council for partner listCare Inspectorate ratings for East Lothian 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 East Lothian nurseries on Care InspectorateEvery registered nursery in East Lothian
60 registered nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in East Lothian — 35 council-run, 17 private and 8 voluntary. Of the 55 with published grades, 51 scored Good or better on every key question at their latest inspection and 2 scored Weak or Unsatisfactory on at least one; 5 have not yet been graded. 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherrytrees Children's Nursery - DunbarEH42 1JP · CS2004069338 | Dunbar | Private | 83 | 3–4 Adequate to Good | Jul 2026 |
| Dunbar Primary School NurseryEH42 1DG · CS2003015827 | Dunbar | Council | 170 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Nov 2024 |
| Dunbar Private NurseryEH42 1RF · CS2025000239 | Dunbar | Private | 32 | Not yet graded | — |
| Innerwick Primary School NurseryEH42 1SD · CS2003015828 | Dunbar | Council | 20 | 5–6 Very good to Excellent | Jun 2019 |
| Stepping Stones NurseryEH42 1LU · CS2019373340 | Dunbar | Private | 20 | 2–5 Weak to Very good | Jun 2026 |
| West Barns Primary School NurseryEH42 1TZ · CS2003016997 | Dunbar | Council | 40 | 5 Very good | Aug 2022 |
| East Linton Primary School NurseryEH40 3AJ · CS2003016982 | East Linton | Council | 24 | 5 Very good | Jun 2026 |
| Gullane Community Children's HubEH31 2AF · CS2018370882 | Gullane | Voluntary | 58 | 5 Very good | Nov 2022 |
| Gullane Primary School NurseryEH31 2HL · CS2003016984 | Gullane | Council | 30 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Aug 2024 |
| Haddington Primary School NurseryEH41 4DN · CS2003015826 | Haddington | Council | 40 | 5 Very good | May 2018 |
| Knox Early Learning and Childcare EL&CCEH41 4DT · CS2022000385 | Haddington | Council | 12 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Aug 2024 |
| Letham Mains Primary School NurseryEH41 3FH · CS2020379122 | Haddington | Council | 94 | 4 Good | Jun 2023 |
| Pear Tree Nurseries LtdEH41 4DS · CS2006118860 | Haddington | Private | 58 | 4 Good | Jul 2024 |
| Pear Tree Nursery Church StreetEH41 3EX · CS2019378595 | Haddington | Private | 45 | 4 Good | Jun 2024 |
| Pear Tree Nursery West RoadEH41 3RD · CS2018363682 | Haddington | Private | 96 | 4 Good | Jul 2023 |
| St. Mary's Primary School Nursery Class (Haddington)EH41 4DN · CS2004059833 | Haddington | Council | 40 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2020 |
| The Compass SchoolEH41 3RD · CS2003016994 | Haddington | Voluntary | 20 | 6 Excellent | Jan 2019 |
| Yester Primary School NurseryEH41 4QP · CS2003016998 | Haddington | Council | 25 | 5 Very good | Sept 2022 |
| Acorn Infant Family CentreEH21 8BF · CS2003015818 | Musselburgh | Council | 16 | 5 Very good | Aug 2022 |
| Almond Park NurseryEH21 8JE · CS2014323811 | Musselburgh | Private | 120 | 4 Good | Jan 2024 |
| Burgh Primary School Nursery - MusselburghEH21 7EE · CS2003016987 | Musselburgh | Council | 50 | 4 Good | Jan 2024 |
| Campie Primary School NurseryEH21 6QS · CS2003016981 | Musselburgh | Council | 60 | 4 Good | Nov 2022 |
| Craighall Early Learning and Childcare ServiceEH21 8TJ · CS2025000336 | Musselburgh | Council | 92 | Not yet graded | — |
| First Step NurseryEH21 8HU · CS2003042326 | Musselburgh | Voluntary | 26 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Apr 2024 |
| Links NurseryEH21 7SD · CS2009229781 | Musselburgh | Private | 101 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Oct 2023 |
| Loretto Pre SchoolEH21 6JA · CS2019373560 | Musselburgh | Voluntary | 40 | 4 Good | Dec 2021 |
| Loretto RC Primary School NurseryEH21 7AH · CS2003015819 | Musselburgh | Council | 30 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jun 2025 |
| Musselburgh Private NurseryEH21 6AA · CS2008177160 | Musselburgh | Private | 57 | 4 Good | Sept 2025 |
| Pinkie St. Peter's Primary School Nursery ClassEH21 7HA · CS2003015820 | Musselburgh | Council | 76 | 4 Good | Mar 2026 |
| Red Fox NurseryEH21 6LY · CS2025000258 | Musselburgh | Private | 80 | Not yet graded | — |
| Stoneyhill Primary School NurseryEH21 6UL · CS2003016993 | Musselburgh | Council | 30 | 4 Good | May 2025 |
| Thrive Childcare and Education Musselburgh Nature KindergartenEH21 6HY · CS2015338420 | Musselburgh | Private | 100 | 3–4 Adequate to Good | Aug 2026 |
| Wallyford Primary School NurseryEH21 8FF · CS2003016996 | Musselburgh | Council | 128 | 4–5 Good to Very good | May 2019 |
| Whitecraig Primary School NurseryEH21 8XA · CS2003015821 | Musselburgh | Council | 50 | 5 Very good | Dec 2021 |
| Athelstaneford Primary School NurseryEH39 5BE · CS2003015825 | North Berwick | Council | 20 | 5–6 Very good to Excellent | Feb 2020 |
| Caz's Kiddies In The CountryEH39 5BE · CS2023000367 | North Berwick | Private | 32 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Apr 2025 |
| Dirleton PlaygroupEH39 5EL · CS2016346785 | North Berwick | Voluntary | 20 | 5 Very good | May 2019 |
| Fenton Barns NurseryEH39 5BW · CS2011301486 | North Berwick | Private | 56 | 5 Very good | May 2026 |
| Law Primary School NurseryEH39 4QZ · CS2003016988 | North Berwick | Council | 120 | 4 Good | Jun 2026 |
| The Pumpkin Patch Nursery (Scotland) LtdEH39 4NX · CS2012309667 | North Berwick | Private | 60 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2023 |
| Aberlady Primary School NurseryEH32 0RQ · CS2003015829 | Prestonpans | Council | 40 | 4 Good | Oct 2024 |
| Blindwells Early Learning and Childcare ServiceEH32 9GS · CS2025000335 | Prestonpans | Council | 92 | Not yet graded | — |
| Camperdown NurseryEH32 9AY · CS2023000036 | Prestonpans | Private | 24 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Nov 2025 |
| Cockenzie Nursery ClassEH32 0BX · CS2003015822 | Prestonpans | Council | 80 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Oct 2025 |
| Longniddry PlaygroupEH32 0LB · CS2003013363 | Prestonpans | Voluntary | 20 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jul 2024 |
| Longniddry Primary School NurseryEH32 0LR · CS2003016986 | Prestonpans | Council | 64 | 5–6 Very good to Excellent | Oct 2019 |
| Preston Tower Primary School NurseryEH32 9NX · CS2003016990 | Prestonpans | Council | 104 | 2–4 Weak to Good | Jun 2026 |
| Seahorse NurseryEH32 0JA · CS2003012099 | Prestonpans | Voluntary | 35 | 4 Good | Sept 2024 |
| St. Gabriel's Primary School NurseryEH32 9LH · CS2005113748 | Prestonpans | Council | 72 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Apr 2026 |
| Argyle Bridge Children's Nursery - Bridge StreetEH33 1AH · CS2026000259 | Tranent | Private | 50 | Not yet graded | — |
| Argyle Bridge Children's Nursery - Haddington RoadEH33 1HW · CS2018367875 | Tranent | Private | 43 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2026 |
| Elphinstone Primary School NurseryEH33 2LX · CS2003016983 | Tranent | Council | 20 | 4 Good | Feb 2019 |
| Macmerry Primary School NurseryEH33 1QA · CS2003015823 | Tranent | Council | 30 | 5 Very good | Oct 2017 |
| Ormiston Primary School NurseryEH35 5LQ · CS2003015824 | Tranent | Council | 30 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Feb 2026 |
| Pencaitland Primary School NurseryEH34 5EZ · CS2003016989 | Tranent | Council | 50 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jun 2023 |
| Sanderson's Wynd Primary School (Early Years Centre)EH33 1DA · CS2008181367 | Tranent | Council | 80 | 4 Good | Sept 2024 |
| St. Martin's Primary School NurseryEH33 1HJ · CS2003016992 | Tranent | Council | 25 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2019 |
| Windygoul Primary School Nursery ClassEH33 2QF · CS2007151532 | Tranent | Council | 70 | 4–5 Good to Very good | May 2026 |
| Rosehill Early Learning & Childcare (EL&CC)EH21 8BF · CS2025000130 | Wallyford | Council | 20 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jul 2026 |
| Wallyford PlaygroupEH21 8BF · CS2003011971 | Wallyford Musselburgh | Voluntary | 29 | 4 Good | Dec 2025 |
Childcare costs in East Lothian
Under-3 full-time
~£270
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 East Lothian is approximately £270. 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 East Lothian
When can I apply for a council nursery place in East Lothian?
East Lothian Council typically opens applications in November 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 East Lothian?
East Lothian 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 East Lothian?
No — your child can use any nursery or childminder on East Lothian'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 East Lothian for an under-3?
Full-time private nursery places for children under 3 in East Lothian cost around £270 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 East Lothian?
60 nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in East Lothian are registered with the Care Inspectorate — 35 run by the council, 17 private and 8 voluntary. 51 of the 55 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 East Lothian at the Care Inspectorate website — look for grades of 4 (Good) or above.
Are two-year-olds eligible for funded hours in East Lothian?
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 East Lothian 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 East Lothian Council. See our editorial policy.