Willow Den at Spartans

We're on the lookout for an Early Years Practitioner to join our amazing fully outdoor nursery in North Edinburgh!

If you're passionate about muddy puddles, den-building, bug-hunting, and nurturing young minds in the fresh air – this is your dream job. 💚

🌿 Job Alert! Love the outdoors? Love working with little ones? This one's for you! 🌟

We're on the lookout for an Early Years Practitioner to join our amazing fully outdoor nursery in North Edinburgh!

If you're passionate about muddy puddles, den-building, bug-hunting, and nurturing young minds in the fresh air – this is your dream job. 💚

👣 Think forest school vibes.
☀️ All-weather adventures.
🌱 Real connection with nature and children.

Check out the full job details here: https://www.willowden.scot/vacancies/eyop1025/

Tag someone who'd thrive in a waterproof jacket and wellies! 🐞🍂

🌿 Join Our Team! 🌿

Senior Early Years Practitioner
📍 North Edinburgh | Outdoor Nursery
💰 Salary: £26,500 – £28,000

Do you believe that the best classroom has no walls? At our fully outdoor nursery in North Edinburgh, children explore, discover, and grow through nature-based play, rain and shine!

We’re on the lookout for a Senior Early Years Practitioner who brings leadership, creativity, and a love for the outdoors. If you're passionate about child-led learning and want to help shape the future of early years education in a natural setting, we’d love to meet you!

Why you’ll love working with us:
⭐A nurturing, collaborative team
⭐Nature-rich urban environment
⭐Ongoing professional development
⭐A chance to lead in a pioneering outdoor setting

📆 Ready to take the next step?

Apply today and be part of something inspiring:

🔗 https://www.willowden.scot/vacancies/senior-eyop/

Let’s nurture young minds, naturally 🌱

Senior Early Years Practitioner - Outdoors - Willow Den Senior Early Years Practitioner – Outdoors Background  Willow Den Scotland is a fully outdoor nature-based early learning and childcare (ELC) organisation. Located in Ainslie Park Football Stadium, Willow Den at Spartans offers a unique woodland setting based in the heart of urban Edinburgh, for ...

Contenders… Ready! 💪
Inspired by our mini gladiator tournament? You don’t need a forest to recreate the fun. Grab some cushions, turn your living room into an arena, and let the kids design their own games. No winners needed, just a good laugh and a safe space to explore!

What a cracking day to get out and about! We headed over to the Apiaries at Lauriston Castle to learn all about bees. 🐝 The kids even got to try some honey made by Tony (well made by his bees, really), one of our Willow Den grandparents, from his very own beehive. Delicious!

Heading into the weekend already feeling chilled. The explorers took a minute to watch clouds drift by and stretch into the shapes they saw.

What are you getting up to outdoors this weekend?

📢 Exciting News! Our waitlist is now open! 🌿✨

Check out our new flyers for all the details, and scan the QR code to register your interest today. Spaces fill fast, so don’t miss out!

Our young adventurers set off along the cycle path, scattering birdseed, using their handmade binoculars, and sneaking behind our birdwatching sheet to spot local wildlife🐦. Sharing their excitement and curiosity —this is learning at its best!

Outdoor play builds confidence, independence, and a love for nature. If you’d love for your little one to experience magical moments like this, we’d love to chat! 💚 Visit willowden.scot to learn more or tag a friend who might be interested!

恭賀新禧 – Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year! 🎊🐉

Yesterday was such a lovely day as we celebrated Lunar New Year with the children. Cherry shared some of her own traditions with us, cooking a delicious rice cake, a special treat eaten on New Year's Eve for good luck.

The children had a great time trying out Chinese mud writing, making their own lanterns, and listening to traditional Chinese celebration music during snack and lunch. We shared stories and tales, namely the traditional fable of The Great Race, and how that has brought us the year of the Snake in 2025.

Sharing different cultures and traditions is such an important part of learning, helping children understand and appreciate the world around them. It was really special to see their (and our) curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the day.

新年快樂! 🏮🥢🎶

This week, our adventurers have been embracing the wonders of the weather! 🌀 With our weather tray at the centre, the children have been discovering the effects of storms and exploring different weather patterns through sensory play. After the excitement of last week, we’ve been buzzing with conversations about the sounds we heard and what we felt as the storm raged around us.
Linking to the curriculum, this hands-on exploration has supported their understanding of science, particularly weather and how it can impact our environment. The children have also gone on to create their own beautiful winter pictures and wind socks to take home, continuing their learning through creative expression.

If you think your child would thrive learning about nature in our natural habitat, we have some exciting news! 🥳 Our waiting list has now opened, and we’d love to hear from you. 🌳 Come and check out what Willow Den is all about!

Storm Eowyn may have closed the nursery today, but it hasn’t dampened our spirits! 🌧️💪 The team has jumped on Teams from home to share ideas, learn from each other, and plan some exciting things for 2025.

It’s giving us a little throwback to those lockdown days—anyone else feeling the déjà vu? 🤔

Hope everyone’s staying safe and cozy out there! 💚