Nurseries and childcare in Mid Suffolk
We know of 36 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Mid Suffolk. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Bunnies Day Care Ltd Day care preschool The Old Bakery, Edgar Ave, Stowmarket, IP14 5 Call
- Busy Bees at Stowmarket Day care preschool Cedar Park, The Buntings, Stowmarket, IP14 5GZ 5 Call
- Norton Pre-school Preschool Ixworth Rd, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3LE Call
- Woodlands Preschool Preschool Lavenham Wy, Stowmarket, IP14 2BZ 5 Call
- Claydon Pre-School Preschool Thornhill Rd, Ipswich, IP6 Call
- Debenham Roundabout Pre-School Preschool Debenham Roundabout Pre-school Sir Robert Hitcham School School Corner, Suffolk, IP14 Call
- Foxglove Montessori Nursery Day care preschool Chilton School, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket, Stowmarket, IP14 Call
- Gislingham Playgroup Preschool Broadfields Rd, Eye, IP23 Call
- Great Finborough & Buxhall Under 5's Preschool Pettiward Hall, Valley Lane, Great Finborough, IP14 Call
- Henley Pre-school Preschool Henley Pre-school, Henley Community Centre, Church Meadows, Ipswich, IP6 0RP Call
- Jigsaw Pre-School, Needham Market Preschool The Drift, School Street, Ipswich, IP6 8BB Call
- Little Elms Pre-School Preschool Little Elms, Cooks Rd, Bury St Edmunds, IP30 9BX Call
- Little Mice Day Nursery Child care and day care 12a Bury St, Stowmarket, IP14 1HH 4 Call
- Old Newton Under Fives Preschool Preschool Church Rd, Stowmarket, IP14 Call
- Stowmarket Pre-School Preschool Ivy House, 81 Station Rd E, Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ Call
- Stowupland Pre-school & the Mighty Oaks Preschool Church Rd, Stowupland, IP14 5 Call
- The Mulberry Bush Nursery Preschool Langton Green, Diss, IP Call
- Woolpit Childcare Centre Home service Heath Rd, Bury St Edmunds, IP30 Call
- Yaxley and Mellis Pre-School Preschool Yaxley Road, Mellis, Suffolk, IP23 8DP Call
- Barking Preschool Preschool Barking Village Hall, Ipswich, IP6 8HP Call
- Bright Sparks Thurston Preschool Barton Rd, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PG Call
- Foxglove Montessori Nursery School Preschool The Kingsfield Centre, Chilton Way, Stowmarket, IP14 Call
- Honeycombs Nursery Preschool St. Mary's Church Hall, Poplar Hill, Stowmarket, IP14 2AY Call
- Jungle Cubs & Jungle Giants Nursery Preschool School House, Wetheringsett, IP14 5PJ Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Mid Suffolk?
We know of 36 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Mid Suffolk. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.