About us

Gracie Drew Nursery is a small family business which provides Early Learning and Childcare from 8 am to 5.30 pm for children 0 - 5. Simplicity and old-fashioned values are at the core of our philosophy.

We operate a transparent service by working in partnership with parents to provide high-quality holistic care with endless opportunities to play, learn and socialise with friends. Enjoying the outdoors each day is essential for healthy happy children. We have a large garden to the rear of the nursery, where heuristic, natural play is encouraged using all that nature has to offer...turning sticks into magic wands, bushes into space rockets or simply reading stories under the apple tree. We also love to explore the beautiful rural spaces we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep.  Only the worst weather conditions keep us indoors.

Why Gracie Drew?

Many parents have asked this over the years, and to us, our little nursery could go by no other name. Gracie Drew was born in 1918 and was an only child, much loved by her parents Mary and Fredrick. She was devoted to her father, a tailor by trade, but sadly when she was still young he died leaving Mary to raise her daughter alone. At eighteen she married and had three children who each had their own large family all of whom she adored. She was much loved and was always surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gracie Drew moved to Dumfries in the 1960s where she spent many happy years at 5 Robison Drive. Children were her world and we know she would be overjoyed to think that Number 5 is now a second home to many little ones who attend the nursery.

Where it all began…

In 2009 Rachael and Tamsin became registered childminders in their home, caring for seven children in the first months and this steadily grew to more than thirty. The service grew so much that assistants were employed and a large and airy playroom was built to make space for the growing number of children attending Gracie Drew's.

In 2013, the new extension was built which divided the house from the nursery and enabled them to register as Gracie Drew Private Nursery.

In 2018, we expanded once more, with Rachael relocating to the Solway Coast, to allow the nursery to use the whole house. This has created so much more space for the children to play, learn and explore.

The ethos hasn't changed and it is important to Gracie Drew's that their small service continues to promote a care experience closely resembling wherever possible that of home and family.