Nurseries in Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire is a central Scottish region known for its historic landmarks, outdoor spaces and family-friendly communities. Covering postcode districts FK7–FK21 and parts of G63, it includes Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Bannockburn, Callander, Balfron, Crianlarich and surrounding rural villages. Families benefit from excellent road and rail links to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, as well as access to parks, lochs, countryside, libraries, community hubs and strong local primary schools. Nursery and preschool demand remains consistently high across commuter areas such as Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, as well as rural communities where provision is limited.
Parents in Stirlingshire typically pay £75 per day for childcare, which is higher than the UK average of £75 per day.
- Average Daily Cost
- £75
- Comparison
- Same as UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 1,299 places
Nurseries near you in Stirlingshire
Frequently Asked Questions
Private nurseries in Stirlingshire typically accept children from around 3 months old, depending on staffing and availability. Council nurseries usually begin from age 3, depending on eligibility.
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 models. Stirling Council manages local admissions and allocation of funded spaces. Parents can 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 Stirlingshire generally range from £55–£75 per day, with higher rates in popular commuter areas such as Bridge of Allan and Dunblane. Rural settings may have slightly lower fees but more limited availability.
All nurseries in Stirlingshire are regulated by the Care Inspectorate. The delivery of funded hours is overseen by Stirling Council.
Ask about outdoor play access, proximity to parks or local nature areas, how funded hours are delivered, meal and snack arrangements, staff ratios, key worker systems, and waiting list timeframes-particularly in high-demand areas such as Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane.
Applying for funding
Stirlingshire is covered by Stirling Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Stirling Council website
