Nurseries in Dumfries & Galloway

There are 82 nurseries and pre-schools on the Care Inspectorate register in Dumfries & Galloway council area, and 1 other childcare setting such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Dumfries & Galloway

Care Inspectorate grades: 79 settings (3 Excellent, 157 Very good, 151 Good, 5 Adequate)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Childminders and home childcarers

63 registered childminders in Dumfries & Galloway (Care Inspectorate, as at 30 September 2026)

Childminders look after children in their own homes. We show how many are registered, not who they are.

Nurseries and pre-schools

ACE - Nursery, Annan DG12 6AP, 24 places
Care Inspectorate, 15 January 2026: Good in 4 key questions
Beattock Nursery - Nursery, Moffat DG10 9RB, 32 places
Care Inspectorate, 18 April 2024: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Belmont Nursery - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 7BH, 56 places
Care Inspectorate, 30 May 2024: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Busy Bees Nursery (Stranraer) - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 8BF, 66 places
Care Inspectorate, 9 July 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Calderbank Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 7AJ, 56 places
Care Inspectorate, 20 October 2022: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Calside Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4HB, 43 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 June 2022: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Canonbie Nursery - Nursery, Canonbie DG14 0XA, 20 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 November 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
Cargenbridge Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 8LL, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 5 September 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Castle Douglas Nursery - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 1JA, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 3 September 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Closeburn Nursery - Nursery, Thornhill DG3 5HP, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 5 March 2026: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Creetown Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 7JR, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 October 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Crossmichael & Parton Playgroup - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 2NZ, 19 places
Care Inspectorate, 6 March 2019: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Dalbeattie Playgroup - Nursery, Dalbeattie DG5 4EX, 22 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 January 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Dalbeattie Primary Nursery - Nursery, Dalbeattie DG5 4LU, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 3 December 2018: Very good in 4 key questions
Dalry Nursery - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 3UX, 20 places
Care Inspectorate, 17 November 2022: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Drummore Nursery Class - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 9PY, 15 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 May 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Dumfries Toy Library - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 1EA, 26 places
Care Inspectorate, 10 May 2024: Very good in 4 key questions
Dunscore Pre-school Centre - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 0SY, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 November 2019: Very good in 4 key questions
Eastriggs & Dornock Early Years - Pre-school, Annan DG12 6PP, 28 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 April 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Eastriggs Nursery - Nursery, Annan DG12 6PZ, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 February 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
First Steps Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 3NT, 68 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 June 2024: Good in 4 key questions
First Steps Nursery (Springholm) - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 3LJ, 37 places
Gatehouse Nursery - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 2JX, 35 places
Care Inspectorate, 1 September 2022: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Georgetown Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4EJ, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 14 November 2023: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Glenluce Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 0JE, 25 places
Care Inspectorate, 10 November 2022: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Gretna Nursery - Nursery, Gretna DG16 5AG, 68 places
Care Inspectorate, 19 September 2023: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Happy Faces Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4HA, 54 places
Care Inspectorate, 11 December 2025: Excellent in 1 key question, Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Haugh of Urr Nursery - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 3LD, 25 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 April 2023: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Heathhall School Nursery Class - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 3QZ, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 November 2023: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Hecklegirth Nursery - Nursery, Annan DG12 6HY, 110 places
Care Inspectorate, 25 March 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
Hoddom Nursery - Nursery, Ecclefechan DG11 3DS, 25 places
Care Inspectorate, 8 October 2025: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Jaybees (Childcare) Limited - Nursery, Lockerbie DG11 1NP, 118 places
Care Inspectorate, 17 March 2026: Very good in 4 key questions
Johnston Nursery - Nursery, Kirkcudbright DG6 4EG, 56 places
Care Inspectorate, 28 March 2024: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Kelloholm Nursery - Nursery, Sanquhar DG4 6QJ, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 March 2026: Good in 4 key questions
Kids Ahoy Childcare Centre - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 2PY, 65 places
Care Inspectorate, 18 August 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Kinderhouse - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 1NQ, 35 places
Care Inspectorate, 28 May 2026: Good in 1 key question, Adequate in 3 key questions
Kirkcolm Under 5's - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 0NS, 28 places
Care Inspectorate, 17 June 2026: Excellent in 1 key question, Good in 2 key questions, Adequate in 1 key question
Kirkcowan Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 0HP, 18 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 January 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Kirkcudbright Primary School Nursery Class - Nursery, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JT, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 June 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Langholm Nursery - Nursery, Langholm DG13 0BL, 32 places
Care Inspectorate, 30 April 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
Langholm Playcare - Nursery, Langholm DG13 0AA, 54 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 February 2024: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Laurieknowe Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 7AJ, 94 places
Care Inspectorate, 10 September 2026: Good in 4 key questions
Lincluden Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 0PU, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 22 May 2025: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Little Acorns Pre-school Learning Centre - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 3TL, 79 places
Care Inspectorate, 6 March 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Little Gems Childcare - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 1PW, 35 places
Little Wonderland Nursery Ltd - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 3NU, 24 places
Locharbriggs Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 1UW, 32 places
Care Inspectorate, 1 May 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Lochmaben Nursery - Nursery, Lockerbie DG11 1NR, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 22 May 2024: Good in 4 key questions
Lockerbie Nursery - Nursery, Lockerbie DG11 2AT, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 3 September 2026: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Malory Day Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 2JE, 28 places
Care Inspectorate, 29 July 2025: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Malory House Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 1JF, 26 places
Care Inspectorate, 8 April 2026: Very good in 4 key questions
MaxPlay2 - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 0BX, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 29 August 2025: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Maxwelltown Playcare - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 0NF, 70 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 October 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Mid Annandale Playcare - Nursery, Lockerbie DG11 2AH, 86 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 November 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Minnigaff Community Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 6PE, 48 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 January 2020: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Moffat Nursery - Nursery, Moffat DG10 9QF, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 18 April 2024: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Moniaive Playcare - Nursery, Thornhill DG3 4EJ, 24 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 September 2024: Very good in 4 key questions
Newington Nursery - Nursery, Annan DG12 6LA, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 25 June 2025: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Noblehill Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 3HB, 53 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 May 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
North West Community Campus Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 9DF, 70 places
Care Inspectorate, 19 March 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Park Nursery - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 7NW, 90 places
Care Inspectorate, 30 January 2024: Excellent in 1 key question, Very good in 3 key questions
Penninghame Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 6HD, 65 places
Care Inspectorate, 29 September 2022: Very good in 4 key questions
Penpont, Keir and Tynron Pre-School - Nursery, Thornhill DG3 4BH, 20 places
Care Inspectorate, 13 February 2019: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Port William Playgroup - Pre-school, Newton Stewart DG8 9JX, 24 places
Care Inspectorate, 9 May 2024: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Rephad Nursery - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 8BQ, 58 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 February 2026: Good in 3 key questions, Adequate in 1 key question
Sandhead Nursery - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 9JD, 30 places
Care Inspectorate, 7 September 2023: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Sanquhar Nursery - Nursery, Sanquhar DG4 6BD, 53 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 May 2023: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Scruffs Registered Childcare - Nursery, Oakwell.industrial estaye DG7 1LA, 34 places
Care Inspectorate, 3 July 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Sheuchan Nursery - Nursery, Stranraer DG9 0AL, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 11 June 2025: Very good in 4 key questions
Sparklers Private Nursery - Nursery, Gretna DG16 5DH, 82 places
Care Inspectorate, 15 July 2026: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Sparklers Private Nursery Ltd - Nursery, Annan DG12 6BG, 67 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 July 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Springholm Nursery - Nursery, Castle Douglas DG7 3LP, 21 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 December 2024: Very good in 4 key questions
St. Andrews Nursery Class - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4EX, 48 places
Care Inspectorate, 6 October 2022: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
St. Columba's Playgroup (Annan) - Nursery, Annan DG12 6JG, 28 places
Care Inspectorate, 7 June 2024: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
St. Teresas Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 0DY, 36 places
Care Inspectorate, 24 April 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
The Orchard Nature Nursery Limited - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4ZZ, 35 places
Care Inspectorate, 8 August 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Thistle Grove Nursery Class - Nursery, Dumfries DG1 4JE, 16 places
Care Inspectorate, 5 June 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Troqueer Nursery - Nursery, Dumfries DG2 7LR, 70 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 April 2024: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Wallace Hall Nursery - Nursery, Thornhill DG3 5DS, 48 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 November 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Whithorn Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 8PN, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 19 February 2026: Good in 4 key questions
Wigtown Nursery - Nursery, Newton Stewart DG8 9JE, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 May 2026: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Wise Owls Nursery and Out of School Club - Nursery, Moffat DG10 9HG, 66 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 February 2025: Good in 4 key questions

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

Lincluden After School Group - Out-of-school club, Dumfries DG2 0BX, 39 places
Care Inspectorate, 28 May 2026: Good in 3 key questions, Adequate in 1 key question

Nursery groups with settings here

Dumfries & Galloway Council (45 here)

Care Inspectorate grades (Scotland)

The Care Inspectorate grades day care of children against key questions such as care, play and learning; setting; staff team; and leadership. Each is graded on a six-point scale: 6 Excellent, 5 Very good, 4 Good, 3 Adequate, 2 Weak, 1 Unsatisfactory.

Not every key question is graded at every inspection, so two settings may show different questions.

Source: Care Inspectorate

Funded early learning and childcare in Scotland

3 to 5 year olds can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year. That is around 30 hours a week if used only in school term time, or around 22 hours a week if used all year.

Some 2 year olds can get funded early learning and childcare too.

Source: mygov.scot: Funded early learning and childcare (checked 31 October 2026)

Towns in Dumfries & Galloway

Schools in Dumfries & Galloway

Schools in Dumfries & Galloway council area
Amisfield School - Primary
Applegarth School - Primary
Auchencairn School - Primary
Beattock School - Primary
Belmont School - Primary
Brownhall School - Primary
Brydekirk School - Primary
Caerlaverock School - Primary
Calside School - Primary
Canonbie School - Primary
Cargenbridge School - Primary
Carrutherstown School - Primary

Sources: Care Inspectorate, registers as at 30 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.