Staff news

Nursery and workplace childcare scheme to benefit staff

The University has opened a new childcare facility and launched a workplace nursery scheme.

The new nursery provides high-quality childcare facilities for families living and working near the Easter Bush campus.

Set in the heart of the countryside, but just a few minutes off the City of Edinburgh bypass, the Arcadia Nursery is within a 30-minute drive of the city centre.

The purpose-built facility features open-plan play rooms and a large outdoor space, boasting views of the surrounding countryside.

New facility

The nursery can accommodate up to 78 children up to the age of five.

The facility, which is open 07:30 - 18:00 Monday to Friday, has three open-plan play rooms that encourage free play, giving children the choice to play indoors or outdoors.

The spaces offer plenty of learning opportunities. Large, open-play dining areas mean children can enjoy meals and snacks together, with shared spaces allowing children of different ages to interact.

It is the University’s second on-site childcare facility, the first being at King’s Buildings.

Workplace nursery scheme

Parents who have a child/ren at either the Easter Bush or King’s Building nursery can now benefit from the University’s workplace nursery salary exchange scheme.

The voluntary payroll option that allows staff to agree to a lower amount of gross pay in exchange for a paid-for workplace nursery space.

Further information on the scheme can be accessed through this link: https://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/staff-benefits/childcare

We are delighted to be able to offer a second on-site nursery, benefitting both locals and our staff at the campus. We know our busy working parents appreciate having their children close by. It means they can get to them quickly if there is a problem and it certainly makes drop-offs and pick-ups less stressful. We believe workplace nurseries can play an important role in supporting employees’ work-life balance. From an employer’s perspective, it is definitely something that we can offer that makes a real difference to working families.

Richard KingtonDirector of Accommodation, Catering and Events

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Childcare