Nurseries in East Ayrshire

There are 41 nurseries and pre-schools on the Care Inspectorate register in East Ayrshire council area, and 10 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in East Ayrshire

Care Inspectorate grades: 41 settings (1 Excellent, 76 Very good, 85 Good, 2 Adequate)

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

Childminders and home childcarers

91 registered childminders in East Ayrshire (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

Auchinleck Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 2BU, 79 places
Care Inspectorate, 19 March 2024: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Beechwood House Nursery - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 1RX, 120 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 July 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Bellsbank Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Dalmellington KA6 7UA, 48 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 May 2022: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Burns Bairns Nursery - Nursery, Mauchline KA5 5DA, 33 places
Care Inspectorate, 29 May 2025: Good in 4 key questions
Catrine Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Mauchline KA5 6RY, 87 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 February 2024: Very good in 4 key questions
Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 1FQ, 119 places
Care Inspectorate, 30 January 2024: Good in 4 key questions
Craighead Country Nursery School - Nursery, Mauchline KA5 6EX, 63 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 August 2024: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Crosshouse Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA2 0JJ, 88 places
Care Inspectorate, 17 February 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Dalmellington Primary and Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Dalmellington KA6 7SJ, 32 places
Care Inspectorate, 9 June 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Dalrymple Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Ayr KA6 6PZ, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 10 December 2021: Good in 4 key questions
Darvel Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Darvel KA17 0BP, 72 places
Care Inspectorate, 3 October 2023: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Dean Park Nursery - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 1RN, 45 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 December 2021: Very good in 4 key questions
Drongan Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Ayr KA6 7BY, 60 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 March 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Dunlop Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 4DL, 56 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 May 2023: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Fenwick Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Fenwick KA3 7BU, 29 places
Care Inspectorate, 2 March 2023: Very good in 4 key questions
Flowerbank Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 2QJ, 77 places
Care Inspectorate, 12 July 2023: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Galston Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Galston KA4 8BG, 82 places
Care Inspectorate, 25 October 2024: Good in 4 key questions
Gargieston Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 1UG, 64 places
Care Inspectorate, 21 January 2020: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Grasshoppers Children's Nursery - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 4LN, 96 places
Care Inspectorate, 30 October 2024: Good in 4 key questions
Hillbank Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 1NQ, 52 places
Care Inspectorate, 5 September 2024: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Hurlford & Crookedholm ELCS (SCIO) - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 5BU, 34 places
Care Inspectorate, 13 June 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Hurlford Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 5BT, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 22 May 2025: Good in 4 key questions
James Hamilton Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 7DF, 82 places
Care Inspectorate, 13 August 2025: Excellent in 1 key question, Very good in 3 key questions
Kilmaurs Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 2QS, 82 places
Care Inspectorate, 18 November 2022: Good in 4 key questions
Lainshaw Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 3DL, 80 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 June 2024: Good in 4 key questions
Littlemill Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Ayr KA6 7HJ, 18 places
Care Inspectorate, 20 April 2018: Very good in 4 key questions
Loanhead primary school and early childhood centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 3AU, 42 places
Care Inspectorate, 31 May 2023: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Logan Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 3HD, 44 places
Care Inspectorate, 7 December 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Mauchline Primary School Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Mauchline KA5 6AN, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 August 2026: Very good in 4 key questions
Muirkirk Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 3RH, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 5 September 2018: Very good in 4 key questions
Nether Robertland Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 5QF, 104 places
Care Inspectorate, 7 April 2026: Good in 4 key questions
Netherthird Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 3AN, 83 places
Care Inspectorate, 24 May 2021: Good in 4 key questions
New Cumnock Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Cumnock KA18 4AX, 82 places
Care Inspectorate, 9 September 2026: Very good in 4 key questions
Newmilns Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Newmilns KA16 9LP, 44 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 August 2026: Very good in 3 key questions, Good in 1 key question
Onthank Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 2ES, 151 places
Care Inspectorate, 19 March 2026: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Patna Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Ayr KA6 7LY, 59 places
Care Inspectorate, 28 March 2024: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Riccarton Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 4DY, 64 places
Care Inspectorate, 13 November 2025: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 1 key question, Adequate in 2 key questions
Sgoil-araich na Coille Nuaidh - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 7DF, 21 places
Care Inspectorate, 27 May 2022: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
Shortlees Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 4SR, 64 places
Care Inspectorate, 17 February 2026: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions
St. Andrew's Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA3 7SL, 64 places
Care Inspectorate, 4 February 2026: Very good in 4 key questions
Whatriggs Early Childhood Centre - Nursery, Kilmarnock KA1 3SZ, 103 places
Care Inspectorate, 28 July 2021: Very good in 1 key question, Good in 3 key questions

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

Bellfield Before & After School Care - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA1 3SZ, 32 places
Care Inspectorate, 15 December 2025: Good in 3 key questions, Adequate in 1 key question
Bellsbank Project Creche - Childcare setting, Dalmellington KA6 7UA, 10 places
Care Inspectorate, 8 February 2023: Good in 4 key questions
Lainshaw Lions SCIO - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA3 5BG, 50 places
PEACE Annanhill - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA1 2EW, 56 places
Care Inspectorate, 10 June 2026: Good in 2 key questions, Adequate in 2 key questions
PEACE Dunlop Schools Out - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA3 4AG, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 2 May 2022: Good in 4 key questions
PEACE Gargieston - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA1 1UG, 55 places
Care Inspectorate, 8 March 2024: Good in 4 key questions
PEACE Loanhead - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA1 3AU, 31 places
Care Inspectorate, 25 March 2024: Good in 4 key questions
PEACE Onthank - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA3 2ES, 70 places
Care Inspectorate, 16 December 2025: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
PEACE St. Andrews - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA3 7SL, 40 places
Care Inspectorate, 26 February 2018: Very good in 2 key questions, Good in 2 key questions
Rascals After School - Out-of-school club, Kilmarnock KA3 5PF, 50 places
Care Inspectorate, 23 January 2025: Good in 4 key questions

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 East Ayrshire

Schools in East Ayrshire

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