Islands Scotland · Early Years
Nurseries in Orkney Islands
Orkney's ELC provision centres on Kirkwall and Stromness, with smaller settings on the outlying isles. The council is the primary provider; private nurseries are very limited. Funded hours are delivered term-time only at most settings due to staffing constraints on the islands.
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~£225/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 Orkney Islands
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 Orkney Islands, 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 Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands'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 Orkney Islands Council for partner listCare Inspectorate ratings for Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands nurseries on Care InspectorateEvery registered nursery in Orkney Islands
20 registered nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Orkney Islands — 20 council-run, 0 private. Of the 20 with published grades, 19 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. 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaitness School NurseryKW15 1RP · CS2003016047 | Kirkwall | Council | 90 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Sept 2023 |
| Papdale Primary School NurseryKW15 1PJ · CS2003016046 | Kirkwall | Council | 94 | 5–6 Very good to Excellent | Aug 2022 |
| The Strynd NurseryKW15 1GS · CS2016352895 | Kirkwall | Council | 51 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Sept 2020 |
| Burray Primary School NurseryKW17 2SS · CS2014325610 | Orkney | Council | 12 | 5 Very good | Oct 2018 |
| Dounby Community School NurseryKW17 2JA · CS2003016058 | Orkney | Council | 44 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Oct 2019 |
| Eday Primary School NurseryKW17 2AA · CS2003016051 | Orkney | Council | 5 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2023 |
| Evie Primary School NurseryKW17 2PE · CS2003016059 | Orkney | Council | 20 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Mar 2020 |
| Firth Primary School NurseryKW17 2ES · CS2003016057 | Orkney | Council | 30 | 4 Good | May 2024 |
| Hope Primary School NurseryKW17 2TN · CS2003017325 | Orkney | Council | 20 | 5 Very good | Dec 2024 |
| Orphir Community SchoolKW17 2RB · CS2003016062 | Orkney | Council | 15 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Oct 2018 |
| Papa Westray School NurseryKW17 2BU · CS2004060211 | Orkney | Council | 4 | 5 Very good | Jan 2018 |
| Rousay Primary School NurseryKW17 2PR · CS2003016060 | Orkney | Council | 8 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Nov 2019 |
| Sanday Community SchoolKW17 2AY · CS2003016053 | Orkney | Council | 15 | 5 Very good | Nov 2017 |
| Shapinsay Primary School NurseryKW17 2DY · CS2003016056 | Orkney | Council | 9 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jan 2020 |
| St. Andrews Primary School NurseryKW17 2QU · CS2003016061 | Orkney | Council | 64 | 5 Very good | May 2023 |
| Stronsay Junior High NurseryKW17 2AE · CS2003016052 | Orkney | Council | 20 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Jan 2025 |
| Westray Junior High School NurseryKW17 2DH · CS2003016055 | Orkney | Council | 16 | 3–5 Adequate to Very good | Jun 2025 |
| North Walls Community School NurseryKW16 3NX · CS2003016393 | Stromness | Council | 12 | 4–5 Good to Very good | Sept 2020 |
| Stenness Community School NurseryKW16 3LB · CS2003016049 | Stromness | Council | 15 | 5 Very good | Oct 2018 |
| Stromness Primary School NurseryKW16 3JS · CS2003016048 | Stromness | Council | 40 | 5 Very good | Oct 2024 |
Childcare costs in Orkney Islands
Under-3 full-time
~£225
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 Orkney Islands is approximately £225. 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 Orkney Islands
When can I apply for a council nursery place in Orkney Islands?
Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands?
Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands?
No — your child can use any nursery or childminder on Orkney Islands'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 Orkney Islands for an under-3?
Full-time private nursery places for children under 3 in Orkney Islands cost around £225 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 Orkney Islands?
20 nurseries, playgroups and children-and-family centres in Orkney Islands are registered with the Care Inspectorate — 20 run by the council, 0 private and 0 voluntary. 19 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 Orkney Islands at the Care Inspectorate website — look for grades of 4 (Good) or above.
Are two-year-olds eligible for funded hours in Orkney Islands?
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 Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands Council. See our editorial policy.