YMCA Childcare Providence
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2018, with 60 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 2NUWhat 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, 8 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The atmosphere within the setting is nurturing and inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging for every child. Children arrive ready to play and are warmly welcomed by staff. Staff consider children's interests when they prepare activities, which supports them to settle quickly and confidently, separating from their parents or carers with ease. Staff are quick to respond to children's emotional needs and offer plenty of reassuring cuddles.
The nursery is organised into three distinct rooms, baby, toddler and pre-school, each thoughtfully organised to meet the needs of their respective age groups. The environment is attractively presented and provides a stimulating and inviting space that encourages children to explore and engage.
Outdoor areas provide ample opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. They confidently use the space to practise throwing and kicking balls and enjoy riding bikes to support their gross motor development. Staff plan a varied selection of sensory experiences for children, with the sand area proving particularly popular. The indoor environment is equally purposeful. For example, babies use the furniture to pull themselves up and cruise, which helps to strengthen their legs as they explore their surroundings.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the consistency of teaching so that all children benefit from highly effective implementation of the curriculum n develop the mathematics curriculum so that all children develop confidence in early maths.
- 8 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 January 2020Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for YMCA Childcare Providence
- 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.