Best nurseries in Ipswich
52 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse Full day care · 28 places · IP1 5NW | Outstanding (2025) |
| 2 | The Willows Daycare Limited Full day care · 46 places · IP2 9UX | Outstanding (2025) |
| 3 | Little Learners Nursery Full day care · 64 places · IP3 0EY | Outstanding (2025) |
| 4 | Wigwams Nursery Full day care · 110 places · IP1 6LW | Outstanding (2025) |
| 5 | Buttons and Bows Nursery Full day care · 71 places · IP2 0NR | Outstanding (2025) |
| 6 | Forest Learners Nursery Full day care · 16 places · IP3 0EY | Outstanding (2024) |
| 7 | Wellington Nursery Full day care · 26 places · IP1 2PB | Outstanding (2023) |
| 8 | The Little Rascals Pre-School Sessional day care · 34 places · IP1 2NA | Outstanding (2022) |
| 9 | The Lodge Day Nursery Full day care · 42 places · IP1 3QW | Outstanding (2022) |
| 10 | Small World Kindergarten Full day care · 42 places · IP1 3PP | Outstanding (2021) |
| 11 | YMCA Childcare Providence Full day care · 60 places · IP1 2NU | Good (2025) |
| 12 | Oak Wood Nursery and Forest School Full day care · 55 places · IP3 0RH | Good (2025) |
| 13 | Bright Sparks Nursery Sessional day care · 35 places · IP2 9TH | Good (2025) |
| 14 | Little Acorns Pre School Full day care · 30 places · IP4 4JD | Good (2025) |
| 15 | ABC Childcare (Ipswich) Ltd Full day care · 26 places · IP3 8LR | Good (2025) |
| 16 | Acorn2Oak Preschool Sessional day care · 28 places · IP1 6QD | Good (2025) |
| 17 | Puddleducks Kindercare LTD Full day care · 53 places · IP2 8NG | Good (2025) |
| 18 | Jack n Jill Pre-School and Nursery Full day care · 48 places · IP2 0QY | Good (2025) |
| 19 | Garden House Nursery Full day care · 53 places · IP1 1TJ | Good (2025) |
| 20 | Nacton & Bucklesham Under 5s Sessional day care · 24 places · IP10 0EU | Good (2025) |
| 21 | Rainbow Bright Day Care Full day care · 43 places · IP4 4QS | Good (2025) |
| 22 | Copdock and Washbrook Pre-school Sessional day care · 18 places · IP8 3LF | Good (2025) |
| 23 | Twizzle Tops Day Nursery Full day care · 77 places · IP3 8AX | Good (2024) |
| 24 | Little Leaders Childcare Full day care · 34 places · IP4 1PD | Good (2024) |
| 25 | Hunnitots Day Nursery Full day care · 102 places · IP4 5PD | Good (2024) |
| 26 | St John's Playtime Pre-School Sessional day care · 32 places · IP4 5JD | Good (2024) |
| 27 | Toybox (Gatacre Road) Pre-school Group Limited Sessional day care · 28 places · IP1 2LQ | Good (2024) |
| 28 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Ipswich Pinewood Full day care · 100 places · IP8 3TL | Good (2024) |
| 29 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Ipswich Rushmere Full day care · 112 places · IP4 5RE | Good (2024) |
| 30 | Buzzbee Babes Nursery Full day care · 79 places · IP1 4AL | Good (2023) |
| 31 | Rosehill Playgroup Sessional day care · 32 places · IP3 8HQ | Good (2023) |
| 32 | Bright Horizons Quayside Day Nursery and Preschool Full day care · 90 places · IP4 1LT | Good (2023) |
| 33 | Noahs Ark Pre-School Sessional day care · 36 places · IP4 4QE | Good (2022) |
| 34 | Oakland Hall Day Nursery Full day care · 62 places · IP8 3AS | Good (2022) |
| 35 | Brookside Pre-school Sessional day care · 30 places · IP2 9LQ | Good (2022) |
| 36 | Ipswich Private Kindergarten Limited Full day care · 96 places · IP4 4NX | Good (2022) |
| 37 | Happy Tots Pre School Sessional day care · 38 places · IP3 9LX | Good (2021) |
| 38 | St. Marys Preschool Playgroup Full day care · 32 places · IP4 4BD | Good (2021) |
| 39 | The Peartree Kindergarten Full day care · 71 places · IP2 8PR | Good (2021) |
| 40 | Dilly's Daycare Full day care · 32 places · IP1 4LX | Good (2021) |
| 41 | Daisy Chain Pre-School Sessional day care · 24 places · IP4 3HE | Good (2021) |
| 42 | Early Years @ Highfield Daycare Full day care · 24 places · IP1 6DW | Report card: 5 expected (Jan 2026) |
| 43 | St Helens Playgroup Sessional day care · 22 places · IP4 2LS | Requires improvement (2025) |
| 44 | GBP Ipswich Childcare Full day care · IP1 2ET | Not yet inspected |
| 45 | GBP Ipswich Childcare (Castle Hill) Full day care · IP1 6DG | Not yet inspected |
| 46 | Heathlands Community Preschool And Out Of School Club Sessional day care · 32 places · IP4 5XD | Not yet inspected |
| 47 | Ipswich Early Years Full day care · 109 places · IP1 1LH | Not yet inspected |
| 48 | Jigsaw Pre-School (Sproughton) Sessional day care · 24 places · IP8 3BB | Not yet inspected |
| 49 | Kip McGrath Ipswich West Sessional day care · IP1 1SL | Not yet inspected |
| 50 | Little Leaders Ransomes Full day care · 40 places · IP3 9FG | Not yet inspected |
| 51 | Play Out Ipswich Full day care · 71 places · IP3 9BU | Not yet inspected |
| 52 | The Nest Nursery Full day care · 32 places · IP2 0AN | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Ipswich?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in East of England, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Ipswich?
Of 52 nurseries and pre-schools in Ipswich, 10 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse, The Willows Daycare Limited, Little Learners Nursery.
How much does nursery cost in Ipswich?
In East of England, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £192 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Ipswich?
52 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 43 of them inspected so far.
Neighbourhoods
Belstead Hills · Bixley, Warren Heath & Nacton · Broke Hall · California · Castle Hill · Christchurch Park · Gainsborough, Greenwich & Orwell · Gipping & Chantry Park · Holywells · Ipswich Central · Maidenhall, Stoke & Port · Priory Heath · Rushmere · Sproughton, Washbrook & Hintlesham · Stoke Park · Westgate · Whitehouse · Whitton
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.