Admissions Overview
Admissions Overview
The School accepts admissions all year round, allowing pupils to start at any point in the academic session. We can sponsor international students for up to a year.
No Academic Entrance Exam
In contrast to Edinburgh’s other independent schools, our admissions procedure means we welcome pupils of all academic abilities and value them for what they bring to the school community.
We advise prospective parents to view our prospectus and attend an Open Tour of the school before application.
Enquire & Book a School Tour
Enquire & Book a School Tour
Prospective pupils and parents can visit our campus, situated within the protected conservation area of South Edinburgh.
Meet pupils and experience lessons ‘in action’ during one of our Open Tours, which run on the below first Fridays of the month, from 9am to 11am: 5th December, 6th February, 6th March
We invite you to continue your journey virtually, viewing our short films, learning about our curriculum, reading our school news, and visiting our FAQs section.
I feel the Steiner education is giving my daughters a rich and curious mind, a strong body and a creative spirit. The broad education, the feeling of the arts and the connection with nature roots them to the world and prepares them well for an ever changing future.
- Juan Carlos Soto, Parent
Kindergarten Fees
Kindergarten Fees
For the Scale of Tuition Fees for 2025/26, financial information (including payment, extra outlays and Notice Periods); as well as tuition reductions offered through a bursary up to 60%, Hardship Fund, Tax Free Childcare, 1,140 Hours Early Learning & Childcare Programme, Third Child Discount and Anthroposophical Fees, view the Application Form.
Seedlings Kindergarten
(Age 2 years)
| Session Dates | Academic Year 2025/26 | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Full time8.35am – 5.30pm | £18,867 | £1,573 |
| 5 Waldorf Days8.35am – 3.00pm | £13,883 | £1,157 |
| 3 Mornings*8.35am – 12.45pm | £6,311 | £526 |
There is a minimum 3 mornings in our Seedlings Kindergarten for up to ten 2-year-olds, where there is a 1:5 adult-to-child ratio. This can be extended up to five days until 5.30pm, term time and including organic lunches. Illustrative costs for a specific provision pattern can be viewed here.
- Up to £10,000 of Kindergarten One fees can be met through a Tax-free Childcare account, bringing down the cost by 20%
- There is a minimum of three mornings in our Appleseed Kindergarten,
where there is a 1:5 ratio for all 2-year-olds. Illustrative costs for a
different provision pattern to the above three models can be
viewed here. - Up to £10,000 of Kindergarten One fees can be met through a
Tax-free Childcare account, bringing down the cost by 20%
Kindergarten Two:
(Age 3 years +)
| Session Dates | Academic Year 2025/26 | Monthly | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Days until 3pm | £11,865 | £989 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 Mornings (8.35am - 12.45pm) | £8,541 | £712 | ||||||||||||||||
| Extended until 3pm | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Afternoons | £3,324 | £277 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 Afternoons | £2,659 | £222 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 Afternoons | £1,994 | £166 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 Afternoons | £1,310 | £111 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 Afternoon | £787 | £66 |
- Edinburgh Steiner School is a Partner Provider of Scotland’s 1,140 Hours ELC Programme, giving families access to a Waldorf early years education at no cost for up to 30 hours a week during term time, namely five days until 3pm during term time.
- This provision includes an organic fresh lunch and snack.
- All children living in Scotland become eligible the term after they turn 3; as well as a quarter of 2-year-olds and deferred 5-year-olds. Children need to reside in Edinburgh and be applying for five days until 3pm if you would like fees to be met through the ELC programme.
- There are a limited number of funded places offered in our Kindergartens. Priority on the waiting list will be given to enrolled children and prospective pupils who meet one or more criteria.
- To be added to the waiting list for enrolment in August 2026 and August 2027, please apply here: Seedlings (2yo) I Kindergarten (age 2.5 - 5.5 yo) I Treetops (up to 6yo).
- Edinburgh Steiner School is a Partner Provider of Scotland’s
1,140 Hours ELC Programme, giving families access to a
Waldorf early years education at no cost for up to 30 hours
a week during term time, namely five days until 3pm during term time. - This provision includes an organic fresh lunch and snack.
- All children living in Scotland become eligible the term after they
turn 3; as well as a quarter of 2-year-olds and deferred 5-year-olds.
Children need to reside in Edinburgh and be applying for five days
until 3pm if you would like fees to be met through the ELC programme. - There are a limited number of funded places offered in our
Kindergartens. Priority on the waiting list will be given to enrolled
children and prospective pupils who meet one or more criteria. - To be added to the waiting list for enrolment in August 2026
and August 2027, please apply here: Kindergarten (age 3-4.5yo)
/Treetops (age 4.5-6yo).
Treetops Kindergarten
(Age 5 - 6 Years Old)
| Session Dates | Academic Year 2025/26 | Monthly | Academic Year 2026/27 | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treetops Morning8.35am – 12.45pm | £10,249 | £854 | £2,828 | £707 |
Extended until 3pm
| Session | Academic Year 2025/26 | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 5 afternoons | £3,324 | £277 |
| 4 afternoons | £2,659 | £222 |
| 3 afternoons | £1,994 | £166 |
| 2 afternoons | £1,330 | £111 |
| 1 afternoon | £787 | £66 |
Extended until 5.30pm*
| Type | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Termly | £17.50 / session | |
| Emergency / Flexi | £20 / session | |
- Treetops has a minimum of five mornings.
- *Kindy Club (3pm – 5.30pm) is VAT exempt and can also be met through a Tax-Free Childcare account, reducing the cost by 20%
- There are a limited number of places offered in Treetops. Priority on the waiting list will be given to enrolled kindergarteners seeking to continue their Waldorf education in the school and prospective pupils who meet one or more criteria.
- To be added to the waiting list for enrolment in August 2026 and August 2027, please apply here: Treetops (age 5-6yo).
- Treetops has a minimum of five mornings.
- *Kindy Club (3pm – 5.30pm) is VAT exempt and can also be met through a Tax-Free Childcare account, reducing the cost by 20%
- There are a limited number of places offered in Treetops. Priority on the waiting list will be given to enrolled kindergarteners seeking to continue their Waldorf education in the school and prospective pupils who meet one or more criteria.
- To be added to the waiting list for enrolment in August 2026 and August 2027, please apply here: Treetops (age 5-6yo).
School Fees
School Fees
For the Scale of Tuition Fees for 2025/26, financial information (including payment, extra outlays and Notice Periods); as well as tuition reductions offered through a bursary up to 60%, Hardship Fund, Tax Free Childcare, 1,140 Hours Early Learning & Childcare Programme, Third Child Discount and Anthroposophical Fees, view the Application Form.
Lower School
| 2025/26 | Annual (including VAT) |
Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | £10,880 | £907 |
| Class 2 | £12,486 | £1,041 |
| Class 3 | £12,486 | £1,041 |
| Class 4 | £14,819 | £1,235 |
| Class 5 | £14,892 | £1,241 |
| Class 6 | £15,039 | £1,254 |
| Class 7 | £15,039 | £1,254 |
| Class 8 | £15,039 | £1,254 |
| 2025/26 | Annual (including VAT) |
Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| - | £10,880 | £907 |
| - | £12,486 | £1,041 |
| Class 3 | £12,486 | £1,041 |
| - | £14,819 | £1,235 |
| - | £14,892 | £1,241 |
| - | £15,039 | £1,254 |
| - | £15,039 | £1,254 |
| - | £15,039 | £1,254 |
Classes 1 – 6 After School Club
| 1pm finish | 3.15pm finish | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 4 days | 1 day (Thurs) |
| Class 2 | 3 days | 2 days |
| Class 3 | 2 days | 3 days |
| Thursday | 1 day (Fri) | 4 days |
| Friday | 1 day (Fri) | 4 days |
| 1pm finish | 3.15pm finish | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 4 days | 1 day (Thurs) |
| Class 2 | 3 days | 2 days |
| Class 3 | 2 days | 3 days |
| Thursday | 1 day (Fri) | 4 days |
| Friday | 1 day (Fri) | 4 days |
After School Club is VAT exempt. The cost can also be met through a Tax-Free Childcare account until the September after your child turns 11.
After School Club is VAT exempt. The cost can also be met through a
Tax-Free Childcare account until the September after your child turns 11.
| Session Type | 1pm – 3.15pm | 1pm – 4.15pm | 1pm – 5.30pm | 3.15pm – 4.15pm | 3.15pm – 5.30pm | 4.15pm – 5.30pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Termly block booking | £15.75 | £22.75 | £31.50 | £7 | £15.75 | £8.75 |
| Emergency / Flexi booking | £17.35 | £25.05 | £34.65 | £7.70 | £17.35 | £9.65 |
Contact Bursar, Donna Ewing, before the start of the term to reserve a place:
E-mail: bursar@edinburghsteinerschool.org.uk
Through School Shop
After School Club is VAT exempt. The cost can also be met
through a Tax-Free Childcare account until the September
after your child turns 11.
Contact Bursar, Donna Ewing, before the start of the term
to reserve a place:
E-mail: bursar@edinburghsteinerschool.org.uk
Through School Shop
Upper School
| 2025/26 | Annual (including VAT) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Class 9 – 11 | £16,823 | £1,402 |
| Class 12 | £16,498 | £1,375 |
Visiting Students
| 2025–2026 | Amount (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Annual (35 weeks) | £21,299 |
| Autumn Term (14 weeks) | £8,520 |
| Spring Term (11 weeks) | £6,694 |
| Summer Term (10 weeks) | £6,085 |
Financial Information
Financial Information
Payment
Fees for a full session are payable by direct debit in twelve monthly instalments from August to July inclusive. In the event of any instalment not being met timeously, the School reserves the right to charge 10% interest per annum from the due date until payment as per the signed enrolment agreement. Please promptly contact the School Bursar if you have difficulty making payment.
Payment termly or annually in advance is also welcomed.
Charges and Outlays
Upper School parents will be required to make a contribution towards textbooks and art materials. These will be charged each term in arrears and are payable by bank transfer or other methods. These payments are not included in the direct debit agreement for fees.
Notice Period
If you wish to withdraw a child from school you must give written notice to the School Bursar one full term before the last day your child attends School. If a child is withdrawn without appropriate notice the fees for that term are payable as per the terms and conditions of the signed enrolment agreement.
Financial Assistance
It has long been an ambition of the school that access to a Steiner education should not depend solely on the ability to pay fees. There are various avenues of financial support listed on this page.
Bursary
Bursaries are available to help fund up to 60% of fees for qualifying families. They are provided on a year-by-year basis. Please read both before submitting anything.
Bursary application process for the next academic year 2026/27 is not yet open.
Closing Date: TBC
Download Application Form - Financial Bursary: Application Form - Financial Bursary (2025-2026) PDF file
Download Application Form - Financial Bursary Application Form - Financial Bursary (2025-2026) Word Docx
Download Bursary Criteria (2025/26): Bursary Criteria (2025-2026) PDF file
No applications will be accepted after this date.
ALL supporting documents MUST be submitted along with the application.
Should you of course require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our Bursar, Donna Ewing (bursar@edinburghsteinerschool.org.uk)
The Board of Trustees reserve the right to vary the criteria for Bursaries each year.
Family Support Fund
The intention of this fund is to provide financial support for families who may need it in times of hardship. Funding will be in the form of a one-off grant.
Criteria Summary:
- This fund is only available for families of children who have been with the School for one year or more.
- Funding applications will be means-tested based on the financial information of the family. This process will be liaised with the School Bursar and the Management team.
Donating to the Bursary Scheme
To make a donation to the Bursary or Family Support Fund, please use the bank details below:
Caf Bank
Edinburgh Steiner School Trust
Sort Code: 40-52-40
Account number: 0009 0083
Tax-Free Childcare
As Edinburgh Steiner School is a registered childcare provider, fees for Seedlings, as well as Wraparound in Early Years and the School and Extra Curricular Clubs costs for children aged eleven and under, can be paid through a Tax-Free Childcare account. This UK Government scheme reduces the cost of childcare delivered by a registered provider by 20%.
To check your eligibility and set up the government account, visit: Tax-Free Childcare on the UK Government website.
Third Child Reduction
We offer a 25% discount on the fees of a third child and any subsequent children providing that all children are attending Edinburgh Steiner School simultaneously.
