Elm Tree Nursery
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Lowestoft for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2023. Open since 2013, with 30 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
NR33 9HNWhat 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, 22 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are at the heart of this nursery. They thrive in the welcoming and nurturing environment. Children build trusting relationships with staff, who greet them with 'good morning' and big smiles as they arrive. Children quickly learn the daily routines. They place their lunch boxes on the trolley and hang their bags up.
They find their name and self-register. Children seek out their friends. They play collaboratively together as they explore the stimulating activities on offer. Staff support children's developing imagination by giving them the freedom of selfexpression. Children tell staff, 'If you put the seashell to your ear, you can hear the sea.' Then they say, 'If you look up, you can see the seagulls.'
The staff's approach to teaching ignites children's curiosity and interests. As a result, children are fully engaged and immersed in their learning. During group time, children wait eagerly to hear about the nursery bear's holiday adventure in
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen opportunities for children to develop their independence.
- 22 June 2023Good
- 10 November 2017Good
- 1 May 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Elm Tree 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.