Buttons and Bows Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Ipswich for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2025. Open since 2009, with 71 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Suffolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Suffolk from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
IP2 0NRWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 30 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children benefit from a clear and focused curriculum at the nursery. Leaders have high expectations for children to build their resilience and become expressive communicators. Staff create a calm, enabling environment, are attentive to children and implement well-thought-out opportunities based on children's interests. For example, children shine torches on the ceiling as they explore their curiosity about how shadows are formed.
Staff provide rich learning experiences through high-quality teaching. Weekly forest school sessions allow children to experience nature. For those who are unable to attend, staff bring inspiring and exceptional learning to the nursery. For example, children hold African land snails. Children demonstrate their awe and wonder as they say, 'She's got an actual snail, real ones'.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive exemplary support tailored to their needs. Those with responsibility for children with SEND provide home visits and build firm, supportive foundations with families.
- 30 January 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 2 April 2019Outstanding
- 7 August 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Buttons and Bows Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.