Two Edinburgh nurseries have been named among the top 10 childcare facilities in Scotland.
George Heriot’s School and Tynecastle Nursery School placed eighth and ninth respectively in the Sunday Times Scottish Childcare League Table for 2026.
Fairview School Nursery in Perth took the overall top spot, achieving a maximum 24 points in Care Inspectorate investigations, beating more than 1,000 other childcare providers.
Last year’s winner, Wellside Kindergarten in Falkirk, placed second in this year’s rankings.
The facility, which caters to children with complex needs and is part of a school for young people aged up to 18, climbed to the top spot from ninth place last year. It stands as one of just 13 facilities to achieve full marks since 2018.
The Sunday Times analysed rolling official reports for children under five to compile the list.
Inspectors highlighted Fairview for its care, stating: “Play was deep, joyful and highly meaningful.”
They added: “We saw genuine laughter, fun and sustained enjoyment as children engaged in experiences that had been thoughtfully planned and adapted to reflect their individual interests and developmental needs.”
The Perth facility was also praised for respecting the dignity of children with special needs.
Inspectors noted: “Staff knew children exceptionally well and used this deep understanding to provide care that was consistently compassionate, respectful and highly individualised.”
The Sunday Times league table features a variety of childcare providers, ranging from local authority nurseries to the kindergarten of fee-paying schools and private daycare.
The 10 best nursery schools in Scotland for 2026 are:
- Fairview School Nursery, Perth
- Wellside Kindergarten, Falkirk
- Poppies Pre-School, Laurencekirk
- Lomond School Nursery, Helensburgh
- Woodlea Children’s Centre, Dundee
- Green Acres Nursery, Glasgow
- St Mirins Out of School Club, Glasgow
- George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh
- Tynecastle Nursery School, Edinburgh
- The Compass School, Haddington
The Care Inspectorate conducts checks on all care settings but does not inspect every institution annually, meaning some scores in the table are more dated than others. However, all scores used are the most recent available as of September 2026.
The rankings exclude inactive institutions and those yet to be inspected by the Care Inspectorate.
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