Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare

1 Waverley Park, Spring Gardens, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh EH8 8EW
Review Us
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
  • 65
  • 9
  • 1
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Date Published
  • 75
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  • 18
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Reviewer Connection to Bright Horizons Elsie Inglis Early Learning and Childcare
  • 57
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  • 1
Total of 75, showing 61-75
Review from Barbara P (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
I found the nursery a very enjoyable place for kids. I have a son of almost 2 years old and I noticed his progress mentally and physically since he started almost 6 months ago.
The staff is professional and friendly and the place itself is peaceful.
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Review from Tiffany W (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My youngest child has been going to this nursery since she was a baby. She has a great experience from room to room and loves her time at nursery. She has a strong bond with all her teachers which is lovely to see and very reassuring.
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Review from Robbie H (Father of Child) published on 31 May 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really friendly and happy environment in the nursery. Staff show genuine affection for the children and create a very welcoming atmosphere. Activities are well managed and we always receive thorough feedback on my daughter's day. Excellent facilities for learning and play - would definitely recommend.
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Review from N D (Father of Child) published on 28 April 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My experience has been good with the nursery. I find the staff to be very helpful and caring in nature. I would recommend this nursery.
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Review from Lesley W (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery! The staff are all very friendly, caring and helpful. My son has been at the nursery for almost 2 years now, he is very fond of all staff and has also made lots of friends in his room. The facilities at the nursery are excellent, all the rooms are very well equipped and the gardens
provide great space for the children to get out and run about in the fresh air. The nursery offers a good variety of meals and I'm always happy that my son will have eaten well. My experience of the nursery has been brilliant and I would definitely recommend it to others.
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Review from D I (Father of Child) published on 5 April 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are amazing! They all take a very personal interest in our child and instantly make you feel at home. I have no worries about my daughter not being settled as she always looks more disappointed about leaving nursery than being left. We get a detailed outline of her day and what she has been
up to and had to eat. If she ever does take a tumble or feel unwell they give you a call to let you know and allow you to decide how you want to proceed. But we know that she is in safe hands. Excellent nursery.
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Review from Catherine B (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Elsie Inglis nursery since he was 6 months old, and graduates to go to on to school in August. I have always had every faith in the staff at Elsie's, and have had peace of mind that he's in a safe, caring and supported learning environment.
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Review from Lois F (Mother of Child) published on 22 March 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Great nursery - friendly, enthusiastic staff and my 4-year-old son comes home spouting facts about the animals, countries, nature things they have been learning about. He is very engaged by the learning and loves the way stuff link the topics eg. they made fortune cookies for Chinese New Year. The nursery
provides mini-French lessons and dance classes which he loves. The staff at the nursery have been very supportive when my son was diagnosed last year with a long-term medical condition. Couldn't have asked for more!
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Review from Clare M (Mother of Child) published on 15 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff in the twos Room - and the rest of the nursery - are excellent! Very caring, honest and approachable. Transitions particularly well dealt with, and we got great support when it came to potty training!
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Review from Jen T (Mother of Child) published on 10 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are very satisfied with the care provided to our child, he has been at the nursery for over 12 months. They ensure a smooth transition between the rooms & ensure they settle in well. Our child takes part in a wide variety of activities provided by the staff from painting, class tasks, home projects,
role play, exploring new things, dance, singing & also externally provided, in fact, he looks forward to Sparkle Arts weekly. He enjoys going to nursery and looks forward it. The outside space is very good & is used daily, there is a good range of outdoor toys & equipment for the children to use. I feel there is a really good balance between structured learning and independent play. The meals are all prepared on site and are a very good balance nutritionally, the nursery provide an update daily on what's eaten and a weekly menu which helps with planning at home! The staff are a major part of the success, they are committed & have a real passion for what they do and this come across.
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Review from Leah M (Mother of Child) published on 3 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I feel Elsie Inglis Nursery provides a really nice environment for my daughter. I especially like the lay out of the nursery inside with all the little rooms each group has to use. I also like the additional facilities that the nursery offers - i.e Step it up Dance etc which luckily enough my daughter
is in nursery that day that this activity takes place.
Another reason I like this nursery is that the staff are friendly and the management staff are really helpful with any enquiries that I may have had in the past.
The in-house chef and menu selection is also really good - I feel my daughter receives a well-balanced diet from the meals provided on a daily basis.
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Review from ETO (Mother of Child) published on 1 March 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son started at Elsie Inglis when he was 11 months old and has been there for more than 2 years transitioning through all the rooms in turn. All the staff have been excellent - caring, fun, approachable, knowledgeable and sensitive to his different baby/toddler developments and all its inherent mood,
emotional and behavioural changes. They are always accommodating and flexible and can be relied on absolutely to come up with innovative ways of cheering him up on sad days if traditional cuddles and stories don't work. Apart from the fun, they are excellent teachers and support all his learning (not just academic) including feeding, independence, manners, empathy, sharing and now toilet training. When I leave him there to go to work, I can concentrate on work trusting that he is safe, happy, cared for and stimulated, which is priceless. I admit to hardly thinking/worrying about him at all during the work day! The on-site chef is a bonus and his meals are excellent, varied and healthy.
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Review from Aislinn W (Mother of Child) published on 30 September 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been here since the baby room and now he is in 2's room. Most recent transition co-insided with a new sibling, changing from cot to bed and a new bedroom and great consideration was given to us so it all didn't clash. I find staff always make time to talk about things bothering us or questions
we have about new milestones etc. and advise how to deal with them.
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Review from Sarah T (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Elsie Inglis Nursery take their time to communicate with parents and they always have a good supply of clothes if our son needs them. The outdoor space is good and he loves riding on the tricycle. The staff often take the children out to Holyrood Park for walks and to pick leaves and other
objects of nature.
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Review from Stella S (Mother of Child) published on 20 September 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at Elsie's since she was a baby and is now in her pre-school year. She has been very happy at Elsie's and well looked after. Particular highlights are the garden areas, the activities she has participated in such as dance class and the food which is excellent!
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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

Please contact us for latest 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.