This guide is designed for working parents: what the childcare options are, how the government nursery setup works, what private nurseries typically offer, and what to do next so you’re not trying to solve childcare at the same time as starting a new job. (That way madness lies.)

Government Nursery Provision (Nursery Units Attached to Schools)

Gibraltar’s government nursery provision is commonly catered for through nursery units attached to Lower Primary schools. In practical terms, this means many children attend a nursery unit that’s part of (or linked closely with) the primary school environment, which can make the transition into full-time schooling feel more natural.

Government nursery provision is typically associated with the following Lower Primary schools:

• Notre Dame Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)
• Governor’s Meadow Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)
• St Paul’s Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)
• St Bernard’s Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)
• St Mary’s Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)
• St Joseph’s Lower Primary School (Nursery unit)

In addition, you may see nursery provision referenced separately as:

• Varyl Begg Nursery
• Nursery provision attached to St Martin’s School (early years support alongside specialist education)

Private Nurseries & Childcare (More Flexibility, Often Longer Hours)

Private nurseries are popular with working parents because they often offer: longer opening hours, more flexible drop-off/pick-up arrangements, and additional wraparound care. Some are based in modern developments (like Midtown), others operate as long-established local nurseries that generations of Gibraltarians have passed through - which is basically the gold standard of "social proof" around here.

Examples of private childcare/nursery providers you’ll commonly hear mentioned include:

• Little Harvard Nursery (Midtown area)
• RightStart Nursery
• St Theresa’s Nursery
• Rising Stars Nursery & Pre-School

There is also childcare provision connected to the military community in Gibraltar (for eligible families), such as the Sunflowers Early Years Setting at the MOD school.

How Nursery Applications Typically Work (What To Do Next)

For government nursery and Reception admissions, Gibraltar’s Department of Education opens an application window for the academic year (for example, enrolments for the 2025/2026 year were announced with an online application process). In real-life terms: don’t leave this to the last minute - nursery places are the kind of thing where "we’ll sort it later" becomes "we’ve made a terrible mistake".

• Start early: childcare planning should happen alongside your job search and housing plan.
• Decide what you need: school-linked nursery vs private nursery (hours and flexibility matter).
• Ask about hours and holidays: term-time patterns and closure dates can affect working schedules.
• Have a backup option: especially if you’re starting a job on a fixed date.

Practical tip for jobseekers: if you’re interviewing for roles in Gibraltar, it’s completely normal to ask about working hours and flexibility early - childcare logistics are a real constraint, not a personality flaw. A good employer will treat it as a normal adult conversation.