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Garden House Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2025)
·
4.5(8 parent reviews) ·Garden House Nursery, 18a, Ipswich, IP1 1TJ · Suffolk
Number of places
53 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
Suffolk

About this day nursery

Garden House Nursery, re-registered in 2023, provides childcare for children aged 1 to 4 years old. Open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round (excluding a week at Christmas and bank holidays), the nursery offers a welcoming and engaging environment in Ipswich.

Staff excel at creating an atmosphere where children readily engage in activities that reflect their interests, fostering strong friendships and a positive attitude towards learning. The leadership team has crafted a broad and balanced curriculum that ensures all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress.

This curriculum features opportunities for both indoor and outdoor play. For example, babies enjoy practising walking in the garden, while older children develop balance and coordination on bucket stilts.

The nursery values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds of all children, encouraging them to share their experiences and promoting respect for both similarities and differences. While Garden House Nursery has effective SEND provision, the inspection report noted that staff are not always quick to identify when some children might need additional support to engage fully in their play and learning.

What it's like

Staff at Garden House Nursery create an exciting, friendly and inviting environment where children readily engage in activities that reflect their interests, such as superhero play. Children form strong friendships, play harmoniously, and develop a positive attitude to learning, confidently leading their own play. The leadership team's clear vision and broad curriculum, including indoor and outdoor play, ensure all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress.

Exciting, friendly environmentConfident communicatorsCompassionate towards petsPhysically active childrenSupportive leadership

Key facts

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Garden House Nursery

Last inspected 3 March 2025

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff at Garden House Nursery create an exciting, friendly and inviting environment where children readily engage in activities that reflect their interests, such as superhero play. Children form strong friendships, play harmoniously, and develop a positive attitude to learning, confidently leading their own play. The leadership team's clear vision and broad curriculum, including indoor and outdoor play, ensure all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff create an exciting, friendly and inviting environment for children leading to ready engagement in play.
  • Children are becoming confident communicators, developing an early love of books and a wide vocabulary.
  • Children learn to take responsibility and develop compassion and empathy for nursery pets, helping with tasks like cleaning and feeding.
  • Children enjoy being physically active and develop their balance and coordination through activities like walking on bucket stilts.
  • The leadership team is supportive, staff feel happy and confident in sharing ideas, and reflect on their practices to continually develop their skills.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to better recognise when some children may need additional support to help them engage in their learning
  • 2continue to establish the key-person system with new staff to ensure children form secure attachments and their emotional well-being is supported effectively.
Inspection #10383203 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

However, staff are not always quick to identify when some children might need further support to engage fully in their play and learning.

Outdoor space

The leadership team has designed a broad and balanced curriculum that includes opportunities for play both indoors and outside. For example, in the garden, babies beam with pride when they practise their walking, with staff allowing them the time to succeed. Older children develop their balance and coordination as they walk on bucket stilts, showing increasing confidence in their abilities.

Parent Reviews of Garden House Nursery

4.5
(8)
Sophielyse
7 months ago

We’ve been part of the Garden House Nursery family for three years now, and I can honestly say it’s been nothing short of wonderful. From the moment you step through the door, you feel the magic of its small, personal atmosphere—quirky, warm, and full of heart. Every single staff member knows every child by name. The team’s dedication and consistency have been incredible—never once have we had a problem, which speaks volumes about their professionalism and care. What sets Garden House apart is its ethos: planting smiles, growing laughter, and enjoying learning. And they truly live by it. Whether it’s imaginative play, nature-inspired activities, or simply the way they greet each child with genuine joy, this nursery is a place where little ones thrive emotionally, socially, and creatively. If you're looking for a nursery that feels like an extension of your house ,Garden House is it.

Read on Google
Sun Shine
8 years ago

My son has been going to garden house since he was 9months old, he is now 3 and he will continue to go to the nursery until he leaves for school. All the staff are very welcoming and easy to talk to and are happy to answer any quiestions given and offer any advise when needed for example the girls really helped me with potty training! The care given makes me feel at ease and my son has always had fantastic bonds with all of his key people and the staff in the room, this is shown through his happiness during drop offs and pick ups. I would recommend this nursery, you will defiantly feel relaxed like I do when leaving your child in this homely environment!

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Angel Naidoo
3 years ago

Honestly the best nursery in Ipswich. I have had both my kids at this nursery and the staff became like family to us. My kids were so attached to them. They take great care for the kids and develop their minds as well. Highly recommend this nursery.

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intheocean
5 years ago

Avoid this nursery at all costs! Garden House don’t like reading the truth also google don’t allow it. My son cried on arrival, cried all day long. Came home most days having wet himself without staff even noticing. I think that’s all I will be ‘allowed’ to write but says enough.

Read on Google
Natasha Maule
3 years ago

This place is amazing! My boy always comes home very happy after his sessions here, the staff are excellent. I would definitely recommend

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Garden House Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: March 2025

  • March 2025Good
  • March 2025Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more