Cranston Country Nursery is situated in a wonderful rural setting enabling us to offer great facilities for your child. We are less than 20 minutes from Leith, Musselburgh, Tranent, Lauder, Haddington, Gorebridge, Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith or Penicuik.

We know the importance of making such a decision as to who to entrust care for your child, and so we want to share with you why we feel we are the perfect fit for your family.

Cranston Country Nursery is proud to partner with Midlothian Council to provide early years care and education. We follow the curriculums set by the Scottish Government as follows

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“The fun and pleasure of playing is a vital part of a happy childhood as well as being crucial to children’s development as individuals and members of society. High quality play opportunities and provision of a physical and social environment that supports play, increases the likelihood of improved outcomes for children”

The Scottish Government ‘Play Strategy for Scotland’

About Us

A yellow box filled with colorful markers in the foreground, with a child coloring with rainbow-colored markers in the background.

Play

We provide all children with a variety of play experiences according to their individual needs. Planned and informal activities take place every day to help your child grow as a person and develop into responsible and caring individuals.

Kids playing on a wooden train-themed playground structure at a preschool or park during the day.
A black puzzle piece with a glossy surface, showing some reflections, and part of a circular highlight.
A black outline of a puzzle piece with a circuit board design inside it.
Outline of a square puzzle piece with four tabs and four blanks, used to connect with other puzzle pieces.
Black and white outline of a person climbing a mountain.

Outdoor Space

Cranston Country Nursery sits in a rural setting surrounded by fields, horses, cows, sheep and the occasional hare! Your child will be cared for in a secure safe setting that has clean air, no traffic fumes, and they are encouraged outside regardless of the Scottish weather!

  • Wild Garden – situated at the rear of the nursery, this garden has tree swings, a sensory garden, a music area and a talking den for the children. There are mainly natural resources in this area and children are encouraged to use their imagination.

  • Hard Surface Play area – situated at the front of the nursery, this areas provides children with opportunities to develop their physical abilities. We mark out hopscotch using chalk, ride bikes, practice literacy and numeracy, and even provide opportunities for planting and growing in the many tubs and containers.

  • Grassed area – this area provides a variety of opportunities for the children, including growing their own fruit and veg in our very own plant beds! There is a climbing frame, a sand tray, a large mud kitchen, water table, play house, undercover activity area, and our very own train in which the children travel to many far flung destinations!

  • Infant area – for our very young children we have a separate outdoor area used by only them, that has a variety of surfaces and resources suitable for the very young child.

Music

We are proud to partner with Boogie Beats music and movement! Mairi and her team visit the nursery weekly with Giggles the Monkey, singing, sharing stories and dancing with the children. These classes help children develop motor skills, hand eye coordination, and build on their social skills and confidence. Suitable for age 2+.

Please note, there is an additional charge payable to Boogie Beats for this activity, please contact us for details of how to book.

Four women standing outdoors in front of a bushes with red leaves, each holding a plush monkey toy wearing a red shirt. They are smiling and wearing colorful leggings and dark jackets or shirts.
A group of young children holding plastic eggs and toys in an outdoor playground, with an adult standing on a wooden platform leading them in an activity.

Sensory Room

We have a dedicated sensory room within the nursery where the children are welcome and encouraged to have some quiet time when it all gets a bit too much!

Outings and Adventures

We take the children out regularly to local parks and farms, introducing them to our beautiful surroundings and neighbouring animals. Weather permitting, you can find some of the children enjoying their snack in the adjacent sunny fields or searching for the Gruffalo in Vogrie Country Park!

A group of young children and two adults on a nature walk in a wooded area. Some children are seated in a wagon, while others are standing or sitting on the ground, all wearing colorful hats and high-visibility vests. The adults are smiling and waving.
A group of children wearing yellow safety vests and red helmets walking on a grassy hill.
Children and an adult in yellow reflective vests observe a horse on a grassy field during daytime.
Children in high-visibility vests walking on a grassy path through a rural area with fields, hedges, and power lines, led by an adult.
Six young children sitting in a large red double stroller outdoors, with trees, grassy fields, and a metal gate in the background.
A young child wearing a dark blue helmet, yellow safety vest, floral pants, and sneakers is sitting on top of a hay bale in a farm field with cloudy skies overhead.

Graduation

To mark the end of their preschool journey, we hold a Graduation Ceremony involving all the children who are leaving us to embark on their school journey. Our staff are here to help and prepare you and your child for their final year of nursery care and ensure both you and your child are ready and prepared for such a big milestone. The ceremony is held locally at the end of June each year and is a very special event for all involved. 🎓

A group of young children dressed in graduation gowns and caps sitting on chairs on a stage decorated with a rainbow-shaped balloon arch, with three women standing nearby, one in a pink dress, one with glasses and a floral dress, and another in a black top and leopard print skirt, as a girl in purple pajamas sits on the floor next to the stage. The stage has black curtains, a wooden podium, and posters with black backgrounds and yellow stars on the front.

S.I.M.O.A

Simoa the elephant 🐘 has been introduced to our setting to raise awareness and act responsibly to safeguard, protect and support children’s wellbeing.

They are displayed at each of our room entrances alongside the poster from the care inspectorate. 🐘

Infographic with a purple cartoon elephant and flowers. The text says 'Remember to Look, Think, Act' and provides safety tips for children: 1) Safety - Be alert to potential risks. 2) Inspect - Check the environment. 3) Monitor - Make sure children are accounted for. 4) Observe - Think about children's feelings. 5) Act - Take action to keep children safe.
School bulletin board with the word 'SIMOA' at the top, featuring an ACT logo, a plush purple elephant on a swing decorated with green vines, and a list of safety steps: SAFE, INSPECT, MONITOR, OBSERVE, ACT.
A display board in a classroom with three pictures of smiling children. The words 'Achieving,' 'Respected,' and 'Responsible' are written above with the last word also emphasized with the word 'Included' below. There are educational toys and a yellow clock showing 12:25 on the table.
Display with four photographs of children, each with a label: 'Safe' with two smiling girls hugging, 'Healthy' with a boy by a pool, 'Active' with a boy blowing bubbles, and 'Nurtured' with a girl smiling outdoors.

At our nursery, our practice is guided by Realising the Ambition: Being Me, the Scottish Government's national practice guidance for Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). This essential, research-based document ensures we provide the highest quality experiences for your child, from pre-birth all the way into their early primary school years. Its core philosophy is simple yet powerful: placing the child at the heart of everything we do. By fostering secure, nurturing relationships, we aim to ensure every child is seen, heard, and understood, empowering them to truly "Be Me" and develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence from their earliest days.

The guidance emphasizes that play is a child's work, recognizing it as the main way children learn and grow in our setting. We use this comprehensive framework to understand and support your child's individual learning journey and pace, recognizing that development is not bound by rigid age brackets but is unique to every child. We focus on providing rich interactions, experiences, and spaces that build on what your child already knows, carefully planning to support their learning (including play schemas), and smooth, positive transitions as they move towards primary school. This commitment to 'Realising the Ambition' ensures we are actively working towards making Scotland the best place for your child to learn and thrive.

Find out more here

Realising the Ambition: Being Me

Child writing on a large sheet of paper with a green marker, creating a list with check marks, a smiley face, and some doodles.

Get in touch

If you are interested in your child attending Cranston Country Nursery, please fill in the form here

For general enquires please get in touch via our social media, email, or telephone below.