Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare

1 Waverley Park, Spring Gardens, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh EH8 8EW
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9.9 75 Reviews
  • Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare, Edinburgh
AN INVITING AND INSPIRING NURSERY IN ABBEYHILL

The Elsie Inglis nursery in Abbeyhill offers a warm and welcoming environment, designed to support your child’s development from the age of 3 months to 5 years.

The friendly, experienced and highly qualified staff support your child’s transition from home to nursery, and the team pride there selves on providing a safe, exciting and enjoyable nursery where children can thrive.

Baby and toddler rooms are vibrant and enriching, with a sensory room and play resources to spark the imagination. With the well-equipped, age-appropriate gardens, children can extend their play and learning outside.

The unique Growing Enhancement programme aimed at preschoolers encourages children’s natural curiosity to learn. The focus is on reading, writing and mathematics, alongside vocational subjects such as art and cooking, giving every child the opportunity to gain the knowledge and confidence to thrive in school and beyond.

At Elsie Inglis, the team provide excellent nutritionally-balanced menus using fresh ingredients prepared by the nursery's chef. There is a monthly breakfast club for parents to join their child for breakfast and the children enjoy baking classes with the chef, where they learn how to follow instructions and direction, and use counting, measuring, problem-solving, and creativity.

The experienced team would love to meet you and your little one, so book a visit today and they will show you everything the nursery has to offer during your own personal tour.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 25

Total Places for Children

  • 65

Age Range

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

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare Reviews (75)

9.9

Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.894) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare has 75 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
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Review from I S (Mother of Child) published on 20 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been going to Elsie for just over a year (started at 12 months old). They are wonderfully gentle and supportive. He has just moved rooms again and is finding this transition difficult, but the staff are very kind and are really making lots of effort to reassure him (and us!) that it’s going
to be ok. Ethos of the whole place feels right and the management team have clearly made huge improvements in the last year.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hello, thank you so much for your positive feedback! We look forward to working closely with you and your family as you begin this exciting new chapter in your child's life.
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Review from E H (Father of Child) published on 20 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't be happier with the staff at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis. They're great at communicating what our daughter has been up to, how she's progressing and so on. They were great at the start too when we were nervous about leaving her there for the first time. They're responsive to our preferences
with naps and dietary issues. Overall we feel very lucky to have them as a childcare provider, and wouldn't want to change.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hello, thank you so much for your positive feedback!
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Review from Egle H (Mother of Child) published on 10 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have 2 children in this nursery and they are both doing really well and enjoying their time there. I specifically love open communication from the staff as well as a diverse range of activities offered.
Preschool room has introduced our 4 year old to nature walks, many arts and crafts projects that
I would hesitate to take on at home, yoga, gardening, playing a guitar, baking, etc. I feel that our son is cared for and am never hesitant to send him to nursery.
Babies room staff is absolutely lovely and extremely competent. We had issues with our little one refusing his bottle when he started (because he was used to mama giving it to him). The staff went above and beyond to make sure he's fed - with up to 5 people trying to feed him in the beginning.
This nursery is a fair way away from our home and we were offered a place in a different nursery 5 minutes away from our house. However, having experienced the staff in our current nursery - we chose a longer commute over convenience.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hi. It is always so nice to hear words like kind, warm and friendly used to describe our staff. Thank you for choosing our nursery and leaving us your review.
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Review from Ian S (Father of Child) published on 10 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
One teacher looks after two of our boys and always provides great stimulating experiences to fill their days and great nutritious meals (whilst always being mindful of our youngest’s dietary requirements) to fill their tummies.
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Review from J K (Mother of Child) published on 7 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children who have been attending Elsie for a while now. Since the new management came in about a year ago, things have only been improving. I am blown away daily by how well-run everything is and how much the staff go above and beyond to make sure the children have a good experience. There
have been lots of excellent, experienced new staff hired recently, but even the staff who have been there a while seem more confident and capable than before, which is a real testament to the efforts of the new management and all the staff who have been taking part in extra training. I'm always impressed with the quality of the learning and resources and the food sounds really nice too! I'm especially touched by how patient and sensitive the staff are with my older child, who is neurodivergent. It's amazing to see how happy and comfortable he has become in the nursery setting, all thanks to the lovely staff who have gained his trust.
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Review from A D (Father of Child) published on 7 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child has been with the nursery for over two years now and has been well looked after by the staff in the baby room, the toddler room, the 2's room and now the preschool room.
She enjoys every day with the staff, the chef and all her little friends.
Lots of outside play, lots of different activities
every day to keep everyone constantly entertained. The staff are always welcoming and available for a chat about how the child is getting on, verbal feedback is given every day at pick-up time. Would highly recommend.
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Review from J W (Mother of Child) published on 7 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Our child has been attending this nursery for three years. We’ve overall had a good experience, with a couple of rough patches. Midway through our time at the nursery there’s been a change in management and things have been improving ever since.
Many of the staff members are very caring and support
the children’s learning. Everyone knows all the children and there’s a shared sense of care. There is, however, substantial staff turnover, which can be difficult for the children.
Meals are prepared on-site and our child certainly seems to enjoy them. The equipment in the nursery is varied and in excellent condition. Children are offered changing themes and well-planned activities each week. More outdoor space would be nice, but they are making the most of what they have. A full-time place is expensive, but not more so than at comparable nurseries in Edinburgh. There’s an app to interact with the team and where info about the activities and child’s development is posted.
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Review from N M (Father of Child) published on 7 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really friendly staff and great standard of care. The nursery is an ideal size and has an intimate feel. Our daughter loves going to nursery and has really enjoyed buoyed moving through the rooms. I would highly recommend it.
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Review from Justin W (Father of Child) published on 6 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I'm really happy to be sending my kids to this nursery, and they really enjoy spending time there playing and making friends. We have been using the nursery for over 4 years, and our kids have been through every age group. The staff are very lovely and put a lot of effort into creating fun activities
and the indoor and outdoor spaces are regularly refreshed with new and different activities and themes. They also always come home very well-fed! The relatively new management team have been doing a great job getting back to normality after Covid too.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hello, thank you for your five-star feedback and for sharing your experience with us.
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Review from Maria T (Mother of Child) published on 6 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
A great nursery overall. Especially with the new management. I feel it is definitely more welcoming than before. We have had two open days which are great to see what is happening, speak to the staff employed there and even bond slightly better with your child as this is not just a place to drop off.
I can sometimes come and stay and play with you. The staff are really nice and I feel my children are in good hands. Now my son is in twos and I cannot say how happy I have been for all the rooms he has been in so far, from baby room to toddler and now in 2s. My daughter has left nursery as she now is in primary school. The last room is the preschool room where I felt the engagement dropped compared to the other rooms. She would come home and ask me to learn something which no longer happens now that she is in school. The teachers themselves are amazing, however, due to the child ratio and the chores I found that the activities for 3-5s are less compared to the previous rooms.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hi, thank you again for taking the time to leave us your review. Do let the nursery know if there is anything we can improve.
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Review from N W (Father of Child) published on 6 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A fantastic nursery! Our daughter is very happy at Elsie’s. Staff and managers create a stimulating and caring learning environment for children. We’re really pleased with the range of activities that she is involved in each week.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hello, thank you so much for your positive feedback! We are thrilled to hear your little one is thriving in our nursery.
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Review from Kleopatra A (Mother of Child) published on 6 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am very happy with my son's nursery. The staff are friendly, helpful and professional and the management is really good.
My son has a great time there. He does a lot of activities including painting, music, dancing, outdoor walks etc.
I am grateful that we found such a lovely place for the early
years of my child and I recommend it to all parents.
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Review from A B (Father of Child) published on 5 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
We are happy with the care our child receives in the 3-5s room at Elsie. The staff are engaged and interested in the children and their development.
The nursery has been under new management for about a year and there has been a very positive difference in that time.
Recent initiatives such as the
partnership with the neighbouring care home and more family involvement activities have been very good.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at our nursery.
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Review from James C (Father of Child) published on 30 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love this nursery and our daughter (just over 2 years old) does too. It’s very well organised and we are kept regularly updated (throughout the day) on what she’s had for breakfast/lunch/afternoon snack via the app. We also receive updates (with photos) about how she’s progressing. She has lots of
fun playing inside as well as outside and we love receiving photos of her involved in messy play.
Reply from Amanda, Marketing and Campaigns Executive at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback about our nursery. We are thrilled to hear your daughter is thriving at our nursery.
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Review from Kiryl K (Father of Child) published on 16 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot recommend Elsie Inglis Nursery highly enough. My son has been attending since he was 9 months old and there has not been a single day when he didn’t want to go to the nursery. All due to excellent and caring staff and varied level of activities for each child. Also, my son has allergies and
yet all nutrition has always been individually selected, locally cooked and provided to my son. Thank you for being with us all this time!
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Review from Andrea M (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a fantastic nursery which forms good relationships with the children and families all the staff are friendly and kind. There are lots of things for the children in all the rooms and the garden is a great space that the children can get out to play safely.
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Review from K S (Mother of Child) published on 22 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are extremely pleased with how our son has enjoyed his time so far at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Nursery. The resources available to the children are so creative and fun. The indoor and outdoor spaces are well suited to each age range.
The staff are inviting and willing to help in any way. They
take our suggestions on and carry on any new things we may be starting at home, into the nursery. Every session is different and I see a vast improvement in our son. I cannot speak highly enough about this nursery as a whole and the staff within. Thank you to all the staff for all the extra effort you have all put in during these extremely stressful and trying times.
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Review from Hazel N (Mother of Child) published on 15 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Elsie's are just brilliant. They have advice and feedback on a daily basis, and even in a pandemic, have loads of time for me and my child.
He particularly likes "arting" and the imaginative play. The rapport he has with his teacher is lovely to see. He insisted on giving her a diamond
ring from his treasure box. High praise indeed.
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Review from G B (Mother of Child) published on 15 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Very supportive staff when required, led by parents and not always initiated by nursery staff.
Our child enjoys good relationships with the staff and his peers.
Disappointed and concerned many long-serving regular staff are leaving in a short period of time.
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Review from F E (Mother of Child) published on 1 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff have a great relationship with my child and he is happy to see them when I drop him off. I have no worries about leaving him at the nursery.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.894)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.894) out of 10 for Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 18 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 18 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 4.894 for Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare is calculated as follows: ( (194 Excellents x 5) + (21 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 216 Ratings = 4.894
  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 Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare is based on 18 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 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 18 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

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Awards / Recognitions (5)

Meet the Team (3)

Karen

Karen

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Since 2022, Karen has been the Nursery Manager at Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis, bringing with her a strong background in early years leadership, having previously worked as both Nursery Manager and Area Manager across a small group of Edinburgh nurseries.


She is deeply passionate about delivering high-quality childcare and takes great pride in supporting the talented team at Elsie Inglis to create meaningful and joyful experiences for children every day.


Her journey into early years education began after a career in banking and the birth of her son, which inspired her to follow her true passion. Since then, she has embraced lifelong learning, completing an HNC in Childcare, a BA in Childhood Practice, and a postgraduate qualification.


She is certified in paediatric first aid, child protection, DSL, and Additional Support for Learning (ASL), and has undertaken a range of management development programmes. In addition, she is proud to serve as a connector for one of Bright Horizons’ Bright Spaces in Scotland, extending vital support to families in need.

Emma

Emma

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Emma joined Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis in 2024 and brings over a decade of experience in early years education. She holds both an HNC and a BA in Childhood Practice.


She is paediatric first aid trained, serves as the designated safeguarding lead for the nursery, and is also a connector for one of Bright Horizons’ Bright Spaces.


Throughout her career, she has worked with children of all ages, progressing from nursery practitioner to room leader and deputy manager. She particularly enjoys helping the youngest children settle into nursery life—building strong bonds and watching their unique personalities shine.


Outside of work, she enjoys walking her dog and spending quality time with family and friends.

Elisa

Elisa

Job Title: Third in Charge

Elisa is the nursery's Third in Charge. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education with a focus on Physical Education and has enjoyed working with children from 0 to 12 years old in both Early Years and Primary settings.


For almost three years, she has been a valued member of the Bright Horizons team. She began her journey as an Early Years Teacher, progressed to Room Leader in the preschool room, and now serves as the Third in Charge. Teaching is her passion! Elisa loves creating fun and engaging learning experiences and monitoring children's progress to help them achieve their best.


In her free time, she is a sports enthusiast and plays handball for the Edinburgh Handball Team. She also enjoys taking her campervan on trips to the stunning Scottish Highlands, where she loves hiking and soaking in the beauty of nature.

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