Welcome to Toybox Children’s Centre
Flexible, trusted, community-led childcare in the heart of the Highlands. Keeping our rural communities thriving.
Proudly Providing Childcare for Wester Ross Families
For over 30 years, Toybox Children’s Centre has been the heartbeat of early years care in Gairloch and the surrounding area. We proudly support families living and working across Wester Ross—from Shieldaig in the south to Mellon Charles in the north, as well as Poolewe, Kinlochewe, Aultbea and Inverasdale.
With the nearest alternative childcare facilities sitting roughly 50 miles away, our absolute priority is providing a safe, warm, and nurturing home-from-home where local children can play, learn, and thrive. Every single day is centred entirely around the happiness, imagination, and well-being of the little ones in our care, giving them the best possible start in a supportive environment.
This dedicated care gives local parents the peace of mind they need to retain employment, attend training, and live in our beautiful rural area. From NHS staff and school workers to self-employed trades and hospitality teams, we are proud to support the families who keep our local economy moving, ensuring Wester Ross remains a wonderful, vibrant place for young families to grow together.
At A Glance
Flexibility
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 3:30pm all year round. We offer ultimate flexibility with booking blocks starting from just 1 hour per day to perfectly suit changing shift rotas and seasonal work patterns.
Learning Through Play
Caring for children from 6 months. Our days are packed with child-led play, storytelling, arts and crafts, sensory games, gym hall activities, and gentle outdoor adventures to the local park and beach.
Community-Led
We are a Registered Charity and Voluntary Association run by a dedicated committee of local parents. Because we are entirely not-for-profit, every single penny goes directly back into our staff and facilities.
Why Families Choose Toybox
- Individual Attention: We operate in a cosy, dedicated room within the Gairloch Primary School building. Because we keep our numbers small, your child receives highly focused, dedicated care tailored entirely to their individual routine, mood, and needs.
- Decades of Experience: Our small staff team has worked tightly together for 18 years—with some of our team members caring for local children for over 25 years! Your child is in the safest, most stable, and most familiar hands possible.
- Seamless School Transitions: Being based inside the school building allows us to maintain close, friendly links and enjoy joint activities with the Gairloch Primary Nursery. This wonderful relationship makes transitioning into “big nursery and school” familiar, secure, and entirely stress-free for the children.
Ready to find out more?
- View Fees & Funding – Find our hourly rates and information on funded childcare spaces.
- Settling-In Guide – Read about how we help your child settle in gently (with free initial hours).
- What to Pack– A simple, practical checklist of what your child needs to bring each day.
A Small Centre Making a Big Difference
A quick snapshot of what our community charity achieves together.
- 18 Years Our Team Working Together Our core staff team is deeply embedded in the community, providing unmatched stability, trust, and a familiar face for your little ones every single day.
- 225+ Local Families Supported Since opening our doors in 1993, we have proudly provided a safe, nurturing, and reliable environment for generations of Wester Ross children.
- £480,000+ Sustaining Our Local Community A 2025 study showed that by providing local childcare, Toybox helps keep nearly half a million pounds in our local economy each year by enabling parents to work and staff to live locally.