Arnhall Nursery

Gardens Cottages, Keir Estate, Dunblane FK15 9NU
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Top 20 award
10 151 Reviews
  • Arnhall Nursery, Dunblane
Arnhall Nursery is run from a large stone built property with unique features such as a turret. The main building set over 2 floors caters for babies up to 3 years old. They have a separate building in the garden which caters for their 2.5 to 5-year-olds. They also have their own outside class room and log cabin. The nursery has a large and completely enclosed garden and its very own forest schools on its doorstep.

Arnhall Nursery is a private day nursery that delivers high-quality childcare which is created by working with parents to understand the individual needs of each child.

The nursery is set in beautiful surroundings on the Keir Estate, ideally located just off the M9, it has a safe and secure garden where children can play and learn about the outside world.

Children are encouraged to learn through play and nursery staff use fun and engaging activities to boost the children’s confidence.

The children take regular walks on the country estate, forest school sessions and extra-curriculum activities such as Jo Jingles and Enjoy A Ball are on offer.

All meals are included and the nursery offers healthy and nutritional breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, home-cooked by an in-house chef.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Norma McFarlane (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 36

Total Places for Children

  • 107

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • Please contact us for a copy of our current fees or for any information on funding.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • Christmas

Arnhall Nursery Reviews (151)

10

Arnhall Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.972) out of 10, based on 44 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Arnhall Nursery has 151 reviews.

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Review from N N (Mother of Child) published on 1 April 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our children attend Arnhall; having done so from 12 months old. All aspects of the care and education on offer are of an extremely high standard. It is clear that the nursery environment promotes resilience, nurture, care and respect; both children are always keen to attend and speak positively of their
time there. One of the main attractions for us was the outdoor space and forest school. Both children love being outdoors exploring and this is strongly promoted at Arnhall. The documentation through photos, seeing them laughing with their peers exploring the great outdoors says it all! Communication is always open, and any questions are promptly answered. The introduction of an app for uploading the children’s activity throughout the day is an ideal way to share information and provides reassurance that all is well. The staff are all extremely caring and friendly and have continued to deliver at a level of excellence through a very difficult year.
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Review from Bronwen J (Mother of Child) published on 1 April 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started at Arnhall Nursery in August 2020, just after the first set of restrictions lifted. The team were amazing with him and helped him settle in so well. I love how excited he is to tell me about all the activities he has been up to. The outdoor space at Arnhall is great and a huge plus point
for the nursery. All of the staff are so friendly too. I can see how well my son has developed even in the short time he has been with them. I would highly recommend Arnhall to any parent.
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Review from N S (Mother of Child) published on 1 April 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Arnhall is a fantastic nursery in a wonderful rural setting. Our toddler starts chanting “nursery!” as soon as we turn onto the road, and runs eagerly towards the staff which for us says it all! Every day he gets to enjoy a variety of activities and the children are taken outside into the forest every
day which we especially love about its setting. The staff are all caring and attentive, and really seem to enjoy their days with the children. The meals are nicely varied, and the chef must be very talented as somehow our son eats everything at nursery he wouldn’t touch at home! Everyone is always very helpful if you have questions or need assistance. It has been odd starting nursery during a global pandemic and not being allowed inside or to meet everyone properly for obvious reasons but it hasn’t hindered how our son has settled in, he clearly loves his days at Arnhall and has a lot of fun, and we couldn’t recommend Arnhall more highly.
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Review from S K (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children at the nursery and both have a brilliant experience. The staff have been kind, caring and positive from day one. The outdoor experience the kids get is so good, for me, the setting is one that cannot be rivalled. There are always plenty of different activities and learning opportunities
available to the kids. The food is also a big positive here, a real variety of healthy food is served and my kids eat so many more different types of food than they would at home. Overall, a great place and I will continue to recommend.
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Review from Hannah H (Mother of Child) published on 29 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Arnhall Nursery have always been super with my son, taking the extra time required to get a shy and anxious boy settled and participating. The office staff have always been very helpful and friendly, promptly responding to questions and queries. The outdoor space is super and I like that
children are encouraged to play and explore outdoors whenever possible.
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Review from Lauren C (Mother of Child) published on 28 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Such a wonderful atmosphere at this nursery. The educational journals are lovely to keep an eye on what they get up to during the day and to see them happy with their friends. The food menus are great. The children love all the outside time, forest school and exploring the grounds. We are very pleased
with the care and attention our children have received here.
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Review from Jemma B (Mother of Child) published on 28 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter loves coming to Arnhall Nursery and my family feels lucky every time we drop her off. It's such a beautiful setting run by wonderful people. We know our child is in capable hands and that she's off to have a wonderful morning with friends. I could not recommend this nursery more, we are
delighted that our child gets to spend time here.
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Review from R W (Father of Child) published on 3 December 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Arnhall provides plenty of outdoor space for children to explore and play in. Staff respond to the interests of children in each room when designing activities such as art and craft.
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Review from Chris B (Father of Child) published on 13 November 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My eldest child spent four very happy years at Arnhall and my youngest has just started his third year. The children are exposed to a huge range of activities and they spend a lot of time outdoors, in both the garden and forest school on the estate. This gives them a priceless connection to nature.
The staff are extremely dedicated and my children were and are very happy here.
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Review from Hazel A (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl attends this nursery and it is fantastic. The staff really care about the children and are great at communicating with parents. The kids do a range of interesting activities and learn a lot through these activities. I particularly like that all the children are outside almost everyday
at some point. The nursery provides home cooked food which give my little girl lots of new foods to try and it’s good to know she is getting good quality food when she is at nursery.
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Review from Judith S (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son really enjoys his time at Arnhall. We chose this nursery for the location and we’ve seen the outdoor activities grow over time since when our older daughter started/finished here. The Forest School is a brilliant resource and teaches our children far more than we could ourselves at home. Staff
are always attentive, keep us informed and our son is affectionate towards them so that’s a good sign he’s being cared for. Overall we would highly recommend Arnhall and look forward to our son continuing to develop here over the next few years.
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Review from A M (Mother of Child) published on 4 September 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have just started using this nursery and it is already hands down better than our last private provider. The communication is great (e.g. letting you know when staff are on holiday so you can prepare your child if required) and the staff have helped our little ones settle and feel secure. The outdoor
space is second to none and we couldn’t ask for a better setting for our active, inquisitive boys.
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Review from Claire N (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff are great with my daughter, aware of her needs and really encourage her social skills and learning.
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Review from Jenny M (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My kids have been here for over 4 years, it's a fantastic nursery with great staff and very involved management. Any issues, if they arise, are dealt with with great consideration for the parent and child. I would wholly recommend Arnhall to any prospective parents.
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Review from Angela C (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are so happy with the care and education that our son receives at Arnhall Nursery. I am confident that he is in safe hands. His carers really do want the best for him and it is obvious that they love their job. He has been at Arnhall Nursery for 2 and a half years and it will be a sad day when he
moves on. I previously used another nursery but was not happy with it so we changed and it was a great decision. The outdoor facilities are incredible. The staff are so friendly and helpful. The management are efficient and involve the parents. We have a good chat at the end of the day and I also receive weekly online updates and photos.
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Review from Richard A (Father of Child) published on 1 March 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Since we have had our son in Arnhall from January 2017, he has come on leaps and bounds. The volume and variety of activities he has been exposed to has been very enriching for him and the staff have always been very helpful, very engaging and very accommodating to our wishes.
The facilities are first
rate, and he enjoys the food and play areas immensely. Special mention goes to the staff in the Ladybird room who have been very attentive to our son and he has grown extremely fond of them. I'd have no problems recommending Arnhall to others. So much so, we are placing our second child into the nursery to enjoy the same experience.
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Review from Martin J (Father of Child) published on 24 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Great nursery. Wonderful staff, lots of fun stuff. Children love it! Wish they had an adult version!
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Review from Caitlin (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Arnhall is a fantastic place for our 3-year-old daughter - she loves the outdoor classroom and has a great time learning here. She always tells me how wonderful her day has been and all the things she has done. Happy to recommend this nursery to others.
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Review from Nicola D (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The range of activities and outdoor space provided is fantastic. My son loves coming to nursery and the staff really understand his individual needs.
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Review from Anna M (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been very satisfied with Arnhall overall. The staff are very friendly and supportive of our son's needs. They are continually improving the facilities - with a chicken coop, learning house and lots of initiatives to bring in extra opportunities, like language lessons and activities. Over
the past 3 years, my son has developed a high level of confidence, good friendships with other children and lots of specific skills. I'm impressed by the in-house catering and range of nutritional options provided.
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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.972)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.972) out of 10 for Arnhall Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 44 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 44 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.972 for Arnhall Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (512 Excellents x 5) + (15 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 527 Ratings = 4.972
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Arnhall Nursery is based on 44 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 107 number of registered child places is 21.4, which has been reached with 44 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (40)

Meet the Team (6)

Norma

Norma McFarlane

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2003

Norma started at Arnhall Nursery in 2003 as a Room Supervisor. In July 2011 Norma was promoted to Nursery Manager and since this time has successfully developed into the role. Norma holds her HNC, SVQ4 and a BA in Childhood Practice. Norma is currently working towards her Froebel Practice. In her spare time Norma enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog and cycling.

Amanda

Amanda MacDonald

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2011

Amanda has worked at Arnhall for over 10 years. She holds her SVQ Level 3 in Early Years Education and Childcare, her PDA8 and is currently working towards her Froebel Practice. Amanda enjoys meeting up with family and friends and also walks with her dog.

Caroline

Caroline O'Neil

Job Title: Bumblebee Room Manager Joined: 2021

Caroline is a Level 9 SCQF Qualified and is the Room Manager of the Bumblebee Room. Caroline joined Arnhall Nursery in 2021. Caroline is also trained in Paediatric first aid enjoys spending time with her two boys and her dog Theo.

Julie

Julie Dick

Job Title: Ladybird Room Manager Joined: 1995

Julie is the Room Manager for the Ladybird Room and has worked at Arnhall for 25 years. She holds her SVQ Level 3 in Early Education and Childcare. In her spare time, Julie enjoys running and going away in her campervan with her partner.

Dawn

Dawn Dickson

Job Title: Grasshopper Room Manager Joined: 2017

Dawn is the Room Manager for the Grasshopper room. She holds her HNC in Early Education and Childcare and has worked at Arnhall since 2017. In her spare time, Dawn enjoys reading, going for walks and spending time with her little girl.

Jayde

Jayde Hallam

Job Title: Dragonfly Room Manager Joined: 2018

Jayde is the Room Manager for the Dragonfly Room and has worked at Arnhall since 2018. She holds her SVQ Level 3 in Early Years Education and Childcare. In her spare time, Jayde enjoys being outdoors, going to the gym and socialising.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Arnhall Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Arnhall Nursery has an Enhanced Service - more info.