Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Ipswich for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2017, with 28 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
IP1 5NWWhat 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, 23 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The curriculum is exceptionally well planned and implemented. Staff plan learning around carefully chosen storybooks that capture children's interests and reflect their home lives. Books provide meaningful opportunities for children to make connections, build emotional literacy and develop the vocabulary to express their feelings. Parents play an active role in curriculum planning and book sharing, which strengthens home learning and ensures consistency for children's learning. Staff are highly attentive to children's needs and adapt the environment to help them make the best progress possible. For example, reducing the number of resources has improved children's concentration and respect for materials, supporting their readiness for school. Play is based around children's individual learning styles and is expertly supported by staff. Children explore objects with deep concentration, solve problems and sustain high levels of engagement. Calming spaces such as a dark den help children to manage their feelings and responses, ensuring they remain settled and ready to learn.
Staff create an environment that fosters independence. Children confidently manage routines, such as washing their hands, buttering crackers and clearing away after meals. Staff promote responsibility, resilience and essential self-care skills. They prepare children exceptionally well for their move on to school. Staff model positive behaviour consistently and embed learning seamlessly into daily routines. They thank children for helping, encourage them to count fruit and engage in meaningful conversations about health and hygiene. As a result, children develop exceptionally strong social skills, early mathematical understanding and healthy habits that will benefit them through life.
- 23 September 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 3 December 2019Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse
- 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.