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Nurseries in Ipswich

There are 73 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Ipswich, and 20 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Ipswich

  • Ofsted report cards: 10 settings (16 Strong standard, 38 Expected standard, 6 Needs attention)
  • Ofsted grades before November 2025: 54 settings (11 Outstanding, 43 Good)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Nurseries and pre-schools

  • ABC Childcare (Ipswich) Ltd - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 8LR, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 9 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Acorn2Oak Preschool - Pre-school, Ipswich IP1 6QD, ages 2 to 4, 28 places
    Ofsted, 23 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Barking Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP6 8HP, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 11 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bramford Pre School Playgroup - Pre-school, Ipswich IP8 4AH, ages 2 to 4, 33 places
    Ofsted, 17 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bright Sparks Nursery - Pre-school, Ipswich IP2 9TH, ages 2 to 4, 35 places
    Ofsted, 3 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Brookside Pre-school - Pre-school, Ipswich IP2 9LQ, ages 2 to 10, 30 places
    Ofsted, 21 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Busy Bees Day Nursery at Ipswich Pinewood - Day nursery, Ipswich IP8 3TL, ages 0 to 4, 100 places
    Ofsted, 29 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Busy Bees Day Nursery at Ipswich Rushmere - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 5RE, ages 0 to 4, 112 places
    Ofsted, 7 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Buttons and Bows Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 0NR, ages 0 to 5, 71 places
    Ofsted, 30 January 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Buzzbee Babes Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 4AL, ages 1 to 4, 79 places
    Ofsted, 19 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Chelmo Kidzone - Pre-school, Ipswich IP9 1DT, 46 places
  • Chives Montessori School - Day nursery, Ipswich IP6 0HL, ages 0 to 4, 50 places
    Ofsted, 8 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Claydon Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP6 0DZ, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 13 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Copdock and Washbrook Pre-school - Pre-school, Ipswich IP8 3LF, ages 2 to 10, 18 places
    Ofsted, 16 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Daisy Chain Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP4 3HE, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 6 July 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Dilly's Daycare - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 4LX, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 28 July 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Early Years @ Highfield Daycare - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 6DW, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted report card, 15 January 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 5NW, ages 2 to 4, 28 places
    Ofsted, 23 September 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Forest Learners Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 0EY, ages 0 to 1, 16 places
    Ofsted, 27 March 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Garden House Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 1TJ, ages 1 to 4, 53 places
    Ofsted, 3 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • GBP Ipswich Childcare - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 2ET
  • GBP Ipswich Childcare (Castle Hill) - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 6DG
  • Hadleigh Parkside Pre-school - Day nursery, Ipswich IP7 5ER, ages 1 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 24 June 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Happy Tots Pre School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP3 9LX, ages 2 to 4, 38 places
    Ofsted, 21 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Heathlands Community Preschool And Out Of School Club - Pre-school, Ipswich IP4 5XD, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted report card, 9 June 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Henley Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP6 0RP, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted report card, 6 May 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Holbrook and District Pre-school Playgroup - Day nursery, Ipswich IP9 2PZ, ages 0 to 11, 20 places
    Ofsted, 16 June 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Honey Bees Nursery - Pre-school, Ipswich IP7 7NE, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
    Ofsted report card, 10 March 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Hunnitots Day Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 5PD, ages 0 to 4, 102 places
    Ofsted, 15 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Ipswich Early Years - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 1LH, ages 1 to 3, 109 places
    Ofsted report card, 25 August 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Ipswich Private Kindergarten Limited - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 4NX, ages 1 to 4, 96 places
    Ofsted, 23 May 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jack n Jill Pre-School and Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 0QY, ages 2 to 4, 48 places
    Ofsted, 5 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jigsaw Pre-School (Sproughton) - Pre-school, Ipswich IP8 3BB, 24 places
  • Kip McGrath Ipswich West - Pre-school, Ipswich IP1 1SL
  • Kirton Kites - Day nursery, Ipswich IP10 0QW, 39 places
  • Little Acorns Pre School - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 4JD, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 1 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Leaders Childcare - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 1PD, ages 0 to 4, 34 places
    Ofsted, 11 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Leaders Kesgrave - Day nursery, Ipswich IP5 1JF, ages 1 to 4, 43 places
    Ofsted report card, 19 June 2026: Strong standard in 2 areas, Expected standard in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Little Leaders Martlesham - Day nursery, Ipswich IP5 3SL, 62 places
  • Little Leaders Ransomes - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 9FG, ages 1 to 4, 40 places
    Ofsted report card, 15 September 2026: Strong standard in 2 areas, Expected standard in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Little Learners Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 0EY, ages 2 to 4, 64 places
    Ofsted, 22 May 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Martlesham Preschool - Pre-school, Ipswich IP5 3QR, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 25 April 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Nacton & Bucklesham Under 5s - Pre-school, Ipswich IP10 0EU, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 3 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Noahs Ark Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP4 4QE, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
    Ofsted, 10 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Oak Wood Nursery and Forest School - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 0RH, ages 1 to 4, 55 places
    Ofsted, 4 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Play2day Nurseries (Ipswich) - Day nursery, Ipswich IP5 3RJ, ages 0 to 4, 68 places
    Ofsted, 5 April 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Play Out Ipswich - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 9BU, 71 places
  • Puddleducks Kindercare LTD - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 8NG, ages 0 to 4, 53 places
    Ofsted, 14 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Rainbow Bright Day Care - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 4QS, ages 0 to 4, 43 places
    Ofsted, 20 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Robins Childcare - Day nursery, Ipswich IP9 2EG, ages 1 to 11, 50 places
    Ofsted, 22 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Rosehill Playgroup - Pre-school, Ipswich IP3 8HQ, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 5 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Shotley Kidzone - Day nursery, Ipswich IP9 1NR, ages 1 to 10, 45 places
    Ofsted, 19 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Small World Kindergarten - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 3PP, ages 1 to 4, 42 places
    Ofsted, 10 May 2021: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • St Helens Playgroup - Pre-school, Ipswich IP4 2LS, ages 2 to 4, 22 places
    Ofsted report card, 22 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • St John's Playtime Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP4 5JD, ages 1 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 18 April 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • St. Marys Preschool Playgroup - Day nursery, Ipswich IP4 4BD, ages 2 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 18 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Stutton Young Explorers - Day nursery, Ipswich IP9 2RY, ages 0 to 10, 34 places
    Ofsted, 10 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Stutton Young Explorers Forest School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP9 2TA, 15 places
  • The Little Rascals Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP1 2NA, ages 2 to 4, 34 places
    Ofsted, 18 November 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Lodge Day Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 3QW, ages 0 to 2, 42 places
    Ofsted, 28 September 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Nest Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 0AN, ages 1 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted report card, 25 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • The Peartree Kindergarten - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 8PR, ages 0 to 11, 71 places
    Ofsted report card, 19 June 2026: Needs attention in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • The Playstation Preschool - Day nursery, Ipswich IP7 5HQ, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 5 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Roundabout Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP5 1AA, ages 1 to 4, 29 places
    Ofsted, 17 March 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Willows Daycare Limited - Day nursery, Ipswich IP2 9UX, ages 0 to 4, 46 places
    Ofsted, 25 June 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Three Bears Playgroup - Pre-school, Ipswich IP5 2ES, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 27 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Toybox (Gatacre Road) Pre-school Group Limited - Pre-school, Ipswich IP1 2LQ, ages 2 to 4, 28 places
    Ofsted, 7 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Twizzle Tops Day Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP3 8AX, ages 3 to 3, 77 places
    Ofsted, 16 December 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre - Day nursery, Ipswich IP7 7RE, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
    Ofsted, 17 May 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Wellington Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 2PB, ages 0 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 21 November 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Wigwams Nursery - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 6LW, ages 0 to 4, 110 places
    Ofsted, 30 April 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Witnesham Pre-School - Pre-school, Ipswich IP6 9EX, ages 2 to 4, 16 places
    Ofsted, 7 January 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • YMCA Childcare Providence - Day nursery, Ipswich IP1 2NU, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
    Ofsted, 8 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

  • Crash After School Club - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP4 1PJ, 22 places
  • Discover and Play Club - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP1 6QD, 60 places
  • Discover and Play Club - The Oaks, Ipswich - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP2 0NR, 35 places
  • Discovery Cove Out Of School Club - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP3 0LH
  • Ipswich Tuition Centre - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP4 2BN
  • Kicks and Tricks at Hadleigh - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP7 6GD, 36 places
  • Kicks and Tricks Cliff Lane - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP3 0PJ, 40 places
  • Kicks and Tricks Rushmere - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP5 1DE, 50 places
  • Kidzone Breakfast/Afterschool and Holiday club - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP1 5BS
  • LEAPS Suffolk - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP2 9HW, 30 places
  • PEG Activities - Bramford CofE VC Primary School - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP8 4AH
  • Premier Education Activities - Rushmere Hall Primary School - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP4 3EJ, 18 places
  • Premier Education Childcare - Halifax Primary School - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP2 8PY, 23 places
  • Premier Education WAC & Holiday Clubs - Dale Hall - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP1 4LX, 23 places
  • School's Out Activities At Ipswich High School, Woolverstone - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP9 1AZ, 106 places
  • Stagecoach Ipswich - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP5 3QR
  • Stagecoach Ipswich Cliff Lane - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP3 0PJ
  • The Cabin Crew Out Of School Club - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP4 4JD, 56 places
  • Wonderfully MADE - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP1 2HA, 20 places
  • XUK Excel - Out-of-school club, Ipswich IP2 9DR

Nursery groups with settings here

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Ofsted grades before November 2025 (England)

Inspections before November 2025 gave one overall grade on a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate. Ofsted also graded the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and said whether safeguarding was effective.

Settings keep their last grade until Ofsted visits again, so many nurseries still show a grade from this older scale.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Council area

Schools in Ipswich

Sources: Ofsted, registers as at 30 June 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.