Dunbar Private Nursery

Dunbar Private Nursery Be Curious, Have Fun, Make a Difference

🍃 Play is more than an activity. It’s the foundation of childhood.We’ve recently taken time as a team to reflect on and ...
22/08/2026

🍃 Play is more than an activity. It’s the foundation of childhood.

We’ve recently taken time as a team to reflect on and review our Play Pedagogy Statement, not because we’ve changed who we are, but because we wanted to ensure it truly reflects our values, our practice and, most importantly, our children.

Every den that’s built, every puddle that’s jumped in, every problem solved and every friendship formed is an opportunity for learning.

Our updated statement captures what we believe: children learn best through play, meaningful relationships and real-life experiences in nature.

It’s a commitment to providing an environment where every child feels safe, valued, listened to and inspired to explore the world around them.

We’d love you to take a moment to read our Play Pedagogy Statement and learn a little more about what makes Dunbar Outdoor Learning, Dunbar Outdoor Learning. 💚🍃

💬 What do you think is the most important thing children learn through play? Let us know in the comments below.

Today we celebrated something incredibly special, our very first graduating group of children at Dunbar Outdoor Learning...
07/08/2026

Today we celebrated something incredibly special, our very first graduating group of children at Dunbar Outdoor Learning.

When we first opened our gates in May last year, there was just one clear path through the woods. Like many children starting a new adventure, everyone stayed close to what felt safe and familiar.

But over time, something magical happened.

Little by little, new paths began to appear. Tiny trails leading to dens, climbing trees, bug hunts and secret places. Those paths weren’t created by us, they were created by the curious feet, adventurous spirits and endless imaginations of our children.

Those little woodland trails have become a beautiful reminder of the journey these children have been on. They arrived seeking reassurance and today they leave us as confident, resilient, kind and curious young people, ready to begin an exciting new chapter at school.

The trails they created will remain long after today. Future children will follow them, discover new adventures and leave their own marks too but it was our first graduates of 2026 who took those very first steps. They have become part of the story of Dunbar Outdoor Learning forever.

To our wonderful families, thank you for trusting us with your greatest treasures. Thank you for embracing mucky clothes, rainy days and outdoor adventures and for believing in the magic of childhood.

To our amazing team, thank you for the love, patience, dedication and passion you bring every single day. Behind every smile, every achievement and every adventure has been a team committed to giving children the very best start in life. We couldn’t do it without you.

And finally, to our graduates…

Never stop exploring. Keep asking questions, keep being kind, keep finding new paths and never be afraid to step away from the familiar.

We are so incredibly proud of each and every one of you.

Congratulations, Nursery Graduates of 2026. ❤️🌿 Your footprints will always be part of Dunbar Outdoor Learning.

🌿 Protecting Childhood in a Digital WorldAt Dunbar Outdoor Learning, every decision we make begins with one simple quest...
23/07/2026

🌿 Protecting Childhood in a Digital World

At Dunbar Outdoor Learning, every decision we make begins with one simple question:

“Is this in the best interests of the child?”

After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision that we will no longer share identifiable photographs or videos of children’s faces on our public social media platforms or in our marketing materials.

This is because we believe children deserve the opportunity to choose their own digital footprint when they’re old enough to understand what that means.

The digital world is changing rapidly. Images shared online can be copied, stored and reused in ways we can’t always control. As technology continues to evolve, we feel it is our responsibility to take a thoughtful, proactive approach to protecting the children in our care.

Children also have a right to privacy. Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises every child’s right to privacy and we believe that respecting this right extends to the way we represent children online.

This doesn’t mean we’ll stop sharing the wonderful moments that make our nursery so special. You’ll still see plenty of our adventures, our beautiful outdoor environment, children’s learning, seasonal experiences and the joy of everyday life at Dunbar Outdoor Learning. The only difference is that we’ll be sharing these moments in a way that protects children’s identities.

Families will, of course, continue to receive photographs of their own child securely through Famly, just as they do now.

We know this approach may look a little different, and we appreciate your understanding as we introduce this change. We can’t predict how technology will continue to evolve, but we can make thoughtful decisions today that protect children’s privacy and respect their future choices.

Thank you for supporting us as we continue to put children’s wellbeing, rights and dignity at the heart of everything we do. 💚

Planning application : 26/00507/PThis marks a huge milestone for Dunbar Outdoor Learning as we’ve officially submitted o...
15/07/2026

Planning application : 26/00507/P

This marks a huge milestone for Dunbar Outdoor Learning as we’ve officially submitted our planning application to create what could become East Lothian’s first dedicated Outdoor Learning Centre for children from birth to 12 years.

Our vision is to create a place where children can grow, explore and thrive through nature every single day—while supporting local families with outdoor nursery provision, after-school care, holiday clubs, Forest School training and a dedicated hub for home-educating families.

This is more than a planning application—it’s the next step towards creating something truly special for our community.

If approved, we’ll be investing in children’s futures, supporting working families, creating local jobs and continuing our mission to inspire a lifelong love of learning outdoors.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey so far. We can’t wait to share the next chapter with you.

🌱 Watch this space… exciting times are ahead!

💫Employee of the Month – Congratulations, Callum! 💫It’s been a little while since we’ve shared one of our Employee of th...
14/07/2026

💫Employee of the Month – Congratulations, Callum! 💫

It’s been a little while since we’ve shared one of our Employee of the Month celebrations, and we’re so pleased to be bringing them back by recognising someone who truly deserves it.

A huge congratulations to Callum on being named our Employee of the Month! 👏

Callum has consistently shown incredible hard work and dedication and he embodies the values that are at the heart of everything we do at Dunbar Outdoor Learning. From the meaningful relationships he has built with our children and families, to the inspiring experiences he creates each day, his passion for early learning shines through in all that he does.

Callum approaches every day with enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a genuine willingness to learn and grow. His commitment to developing his skills while making a real difference to the children in our care has not gone unnoticed.

Thank you, Callum, for everything you bring to our team. We’re incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see everything you continue to achieve. 🍃💚

Please join us in congratulating Callum in the comments below! 🎉

14/06/2026

What a day! 🌳💪 🦍

Our team took on Go Ape for an unforgettable team-building adventure. From facing fears and stepping outside comfort zones to supporting one another every step of the way, everyone showed incredible teamwork, determination, and plenty of laughs along the way.

We were only missing two team members, and they were definitely missed, but the rest of the crew made the most of an amazing day outdoors together.

A huge well done to everyone for embracing the challenge, encouraging each other, and making it such a fantastic experience. Here’s to more team nights, team events, and making great memories together. Bring on the next one! 🙌

AdventureDay TeamSpirit CompanyCulture

05/06/2026

🌿 What a fantastic few weeks at our Outdoor Nursery! 🌿

From watching tadpoles grow legs under the microscope, building dens and swings, creations with elder wood, learning tool skills, and nurturing our garden, our children have been busy exploring, discovering, and growing every day.

We’re so proud of how well everyone has settled and embraced the outdoors with us. Our recent badge presentation was a wonderful celebration of all they have achieved, and it has been lovely welcoming new families into our community.

Looking for an inspiring outdoor environment where your child can learn, play, and thrive? We’d love to hear from you.

✨ Book a visit today.
[email protected]

🚜🩺🛒🛠️💻🌿The children have been showing lots of curiosity about the world of work recently, so throughout June we would lo...
27/05/2026

🚜🩺🛒🛠️💻🌿

The children have been showing lots of curiosity about the world of work recently, so throughout June we would love to members of our community into the setting to talk to the children about their jobs.

We want the children to learn that EVERY job is important and helps the world around us function. Whether you work in a shop, drive vehicles, work outdoors, care for others, build things, work in an office or anything else - we would love to hear from you!

Please don’t feel that your job has to be something “special” or highly qualified. The children are often fascinated by the jobs adults see as completely ordinary and everyday.

If you would be interested in coming in to chat with the children, answer some questions, share photos, uniforms or tools (where appropriate), please speak to a member of staff or drop us a message.

We would love to show the children a wide range of careers, skills and experiences from within our own nursery community 💚

🚐 FRIDAYS OPEN FROM 3rd JULY 🚐We’re so excited to announce that from 3rd July we’ll now be OPEN on Fridays from 7:30am –...
26/05/2026

🚐 FRIDAYS OPEN FROM 3rd JULY 🚐

We’re so excited to announce that from 3rd July we’ll now be OPEN on Fridays from 7:30am – 12:30pm ✨

To make things even easier for families, we’ll also be offering a shuttle service from Bleaching Field for both collection and drop-off 🚌💫

Looking for a space? We’d love to welcome you 💛
Please email us if you’re interested in securing a space.

We can’t wait to see you on Fridays! ✨

24/05/2026

What a way to celebrate our very first year in business! ❤️

We had the most wonderful evening down at Belhaven Beach celebrating an incredible milestone together as a team. From egg & spoon races, running races, throwing the welly, tug of war, blow the cup challenges, fire starter competitions, and rounders — there was plenty of laughter, competition, and unforgettable memories made along the way! 🏃🥚👢🔥🏏

Almost a full house too, with only two of our team members missing — you were definitely missed! ❤️

Reaching our first year anniversary as a new business is something we are so proud of, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing people around us.

Thank you to our families for all of your love and support, and thank you to everyone in the community who has supported us throughout our first year. Your encouragement means the world to us.

We’re so excited to see what the next 12 months will bring!

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