Car Park 4
Lime Road
Falkirk
FK1 4RS
0131 376 0080
CI registration number: CS2022000231
Nursery Manager – 07940 146 078
Opening Times:
Monday – Thursday 8m to 6pm;
Fridays 8am to 12.30pm (Year Round)
You can find our latest Care Inspection Report here
Located in the grounds of one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, Willow Den at the Falkirk Wheel (just off car park 4), offers a unique space amongst the birch woods for your little one to fall in love with the outdoors.
Our nursery is open for children from age 3 until they join primary school. You are welcome to come and explore our site with you little one from age 18 months at our regular playgroup Wee Willows.
We are open Mondays to Thursdays 8am to 6pm and Fridays 8am to 12.30pm – see the table below and our Fee Schedule for how you can use your funded hours. Morning and evening sessions can be booked as a top up – please speak to our Nursery Manager for details.
COME AND EXPLORE: Click here to complete our enquiry form and one of our team will be in touch to find a date and time that suits you.
FUNDED PLACES AVAILABLE
***REGISTRATION FOR AUGUST 2025*** From November 2024 we will have Sign Up & See sessions running Friday mornings 10am to 12pm. Come and visit the setting and our team will help with registration.
Unable to make it? Complete the pre-registration form and our team will be in touch
You’re bound to have questions…
We often get asked questions by parents interested in Willow Den, so here we’ve answered some of the most common questions to put your mind at ease.
- What is being at Outdoor Nursery like? (parents reveal all!)
- Why is Outdoor Nursery great for wee ones?
- What will happen when the weather is bad?
- Outdoor vs indoor – will my child learn as much at an outdoor nursery?
- How do we get started at Willow Den?
Check out the video below to get a feel for what life is like at Willow Den…
Funded Places:
We have Funded Partner status with Falkirk Council and offer full year (50 week) fully funded places as follows:
| Joining Date | 1140 Entitlement |
| Full Year (August – July) | 3 days per week with three week summer holiday |
| 2 terms (January – July) | 3 days per week with two week summer holiday |
| 1 term (April – July) | 3 days per week with one week summer holidays |
Included:
- high tea/hot snacks, wipes and other incidentals
- waterproof clothing for children attending 2 or more session per week & available at significant reduction if attending less that 2 sessions per week
- 10% sibling discount for the eldest child (on any additional private hours)
We have a number of term time places available. We can accommodate split placements (where you split your funded hours between Willow Den and another provider). Morning and evening wrap-around hours can be booked as a top up. Please speak to the nursery management team or contact FalkirkWheel@willowden.scot to discuss your needs.
Used all your funded hours? You can buy more! See the fee table below.
| Fees 2024/25 – from 1st August 2024 | Hours | Day Rate | Monthly cost per day |
| Full Long Day (Monday to Thursday) | 8.30am -4.30pm | £53.75 | From £225 |
| Morning Only (Monday to Friday) | 8.30am – 12.30pm | £28.75 | From £120 |
For more information on funded places check out our FAQs and download our Fee Schedule:
Forest Fridays
Every Friday from 8:30am – 12:30pm.
Come along to camp and get a taste of life here at Willow Den at The Falkirk Wheel! Explore our Small World loose parts play, music corner OR make some art inspired by our stunning woodland setting!
These offer great taster sessions if you are thinking about outdoor nursery but want to find out more.
Cost: £28.00
Duty of Candour
Wee Willows Toddler Group
These sessions are perfect for 18 months to 3 years who love adventure, mud pies and exploring our natural world.
Groups and Events
FAQ
You probably have lots more questions, and we would really like the chance to answer these. We’ve compiled a handy list, to give you an idea of the Willow Den experience.
Nursery Closure Dates
Closure Dates 2024-25
- Staff Training Day – Friday 9th August 2024
- Winter Holiday – nursery closes at 4.30pm Thursday 19th December 2024 and reopens from 8am Monday 6th January 2025
- Staff Training Day – Monday 5th May 2025
