Nurseries in Fife
Fife is a large and diverse region on Scotland’s east coast, known for its mix of coastal towns, historic villages and well-connected commuter communities. Covering postcode districts KY1–KY16, it includes Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, St Andrews, Cupar, Cowdenbeath, Leven, Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing and surrounding villages. Families benefit from excellent transport links to Edinburgh, Dundee and Perth, a wide choice of parks, beaches, libraries, community hubs and strong local primary schools. Nursery and preschool demand is consistently high across commuter areas near the Forth bridges, university-led St Andrews, and growing towns such as Dunfermline and Glenrothes.
Parents in Fife typically pay £74 per day for childcare, which is slightly 1% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £74
- Comparison
- -1% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 2,105 places
Nurseries near you in Fife
nuuri registered
62 places
Ages 1 months to 5 years
4.75 / 6 inspection score
19 June 2024
nuuri registered
50 places
Ages 1 months to 5 years
5 / 6 inspection score
18 January 2023
nuuri registered
56 places
Ages 1 months to 5 years
5 / 6 inspection score
6 March 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Private nurseries in Fife typically accept children from around 3 months old, depending on staffing and availability. Council nurseries usually offer places from age 3, depending on eligibility and local capacity.
In Scotland, all children are entitled to 1,140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare per year from the term after their 3rd birthday. Eligible 2 year olds may also qualify based on income, disability, or care-experience criteria. Funding can be used in council nurseries, private nurseries, childminders and blended-care models. Fife Council manages admissions and allocation of funded spaces. Parents may also use Tax-Free Childcare, which provides a 20% government top-up on childcare costs up to £2,000 per child, per year.
Private nursery fees in Fife generally range from £55–£75 per day, with higher rates in popular commuter areas such as Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay and St Andrews. Rural and coastal settings may offer slightly lower fees but may have fewer available spaces.
All nurseries in Fife are regulated by the Care Inspectorate. The delivery of funded hours is overseen by Fife Council.
Ask about outdoor play access, delivery of funded hours, meal and snack arrangements, staff ratios, key worker systems, and waiting list times—particularly in high-demand areas such as Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and St Andrews.
Applying for funding
Fife is covered by Fife Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Fife Council website
