Childcare and Schools

The University of Edinburgh offers a Workplace Nursery Scheme enabling employees a tax efficient salary sacrifice scheme to pay for childcare facilities.  The Workplace Salary Exchange Scheme is offered at the Arcadia Nurseries situated on the Kings Building and Easter Bush Campuses.

Further information on the scheme can be accessed through this on the Staff Benefits Childcare website:

Staff Benefit - Childcare

For more information please visit Arcadia's website:

Arcadia Nursery Website

Other Childcare

There are many other childcare options in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh council website provides information about childcare across the City. You will find information on childminders, playgroups, crèches, nursery schools and private day nurseries:

Edinburgh Council: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/nurseries-childcare

Childcare in the Private Sector can be expensive in Edinburgh, and in the UK as a whole. However, the government does offer a scheme of funded childcare. Information regarding funding can be at the following website:

Childcare Funding

School

Education in the UK is compulsory for children between 5 and 16 years of age.

Children in Scotland usually start primary school between 4 and a half and 5 and a half years old.

There are two main types of school in the UK, state and independent schools. State Schools make up the majority of schools and are funded by the government. There is no fee for your children to attend these schools. Independent schools require a fee for your child to study there, although there are bursaries available.

 The school your child can attend is usually dictated by the area in which you live. You cannot apply for a school place until you have an address in the area. The council has ‘catchment areas’ for each school. The council have a duty to provide schooling for your child, but if your first choice school has no places left, they may have to recommend a school further away.

There are many good schools in and around Edinburgh, listed below are some links to the Council of Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Each site gives you more specific information on the schools in a particular area.

Edinburgh City Schools

East Lothian Schools

West Lothian Schools

If your child requires Additional Support for learning, this information can also be found on the Council websites.

Independent (fee-paying) Schools

Independent School, also known as fee paying schools, are responsible for their own management. The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) covers all of the fee paying schools in and around Edinburgh and Scotland. Please note that these schools are very popular, and it is common that they will have a waiting list, so early application is highly recommended.

Most schools have an entrance exam/assessment and will consider posting exams out to children whose families have yet to relocate to Scotland. Annual school fees for can vary considerably from school to school. Fees range from between £6,000 to £28,000 per year.

Scottish Council of Independent Schools