The Lodge Day Nursery

Allocated baby cots, woodland play and specialist preschool music and drama give The Lodge Day Nursery a day that changes as children grow. Its four rooms combine familiar care routines with opportunities linked to Ipswich School.

At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Outstanding, but that judgement covered children under two; the older children's provision fell within the school's registration and was inspected separately by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Families comparing care for different ages should keep that boundary clear. The nursery accepts children from three months through four years, with rooms spanning baby care to the year before Reception.

Full days, mornings and afternoons are offered, alongside separate funded session windows. Paid fees include meals and standard baby supplies.

Rooms and Ages

Discoverers has separate areas for younger and older babies, books and play resources, an allocated cot for each baby and care following home routines. Explorers combines sensory and messy play, stories, craft and dancing with year-round garden access and growing independence.

From 33 months until the September after the third birthday, Adventurers mixes adult-directed and free-flow play with outdoor space beside the room and woodland access. Pre School spans the September after the third birthday to the September after the fourth, combining independent play, outdoor exploration and gradually structured activities; term-time specialist sessions cover PE, music, dance, drama and library time.

Room moves take account of development as well as age.

Learning and Activities

All four rooms use the Early Years Foundation Stage: play develops language, movement, relationships, early reading and mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Specialist preschool sessions add to this common early-learning framework.

In September 2022, staff responded to babies' gestures and early sounds, introduced vocabulary during everyday activities and sang songs with actions. April 2023 activities included Explorers making story-linked porridge and houses from sticks and playdough, while Adventurers met a Suffolk Constabulary visitor and explored a police van.

Outdoor and Community Life

Children regularly use the large garden. In September 2022, outdoor play included the deck and garden, with adults supporting standing and stair climbing.

April 2023 brought spring exploration at Christchurch Park and Westwood. World Book Day that term invited favourite-character costumes and story sharing, with vegetable activities inspired by Supertato.

Relationships and Communication

A designated key person and familiar buddies give children continuity, while parent meetings and electronic learning journeys keep families involved.

Two initial settling sessions can be extended according to the child's needs. The first includes parent time to discuss eating, sleep and preferences, with a telephone update offered after separation; the second gives the child time apart, again with feedback.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Discoverers has two sleep rooms with ten cots; Explorers naps in the library and role-play room, while Adventurers uses a sensory-play room adapted for sleep. Comfort items stay close by.

Blackout blinds, monitors and thermometers support the sleep arrangements, with recorded staff checks every ten minutes. A key person or familiar adult helps children settle, following home routines.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to recognise concerns and report them, supported by training and recruitment checks. Current arrangements include a designated safeguarding lead available while the nursery is open.

Most food is prepared on site by the nursery's chef, with a cooked lunch and lighter tea among the meals included according to the booked session. The allergy policy aims to keep the setting free of nuts and asks parents to avoid bringing food or empty food packaging, with dietary arrangements handled through the nursery.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Ivry Lodge, Ivry Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QW. Opening hours run from 7.30am until 6pm on weekdays, across 50 weeks, with bank holidays and a week each in August and over Christmas excluded.

A full day runs from 7.30am to 6pm; mornings run from 7.30am to 12.30pm, and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. Discoverers requires two full days each week, while Explorers, Adventurers and Pre School require three attendances or 15 hours weekly, unless another arrangement is agreed before booking. These minimums make the attendance commitment as important as the individual session times.

The usual booking pattern covers 50 weeks. Term-time arrangements are restricted to funded-only attendance or children with siblings at Ipswich School or Ipswich Prep. Wraparound care and holiday clubs are also offered. The enquiry form accepts visit requests and session requirements, and enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funding runs for 38 term-time weeks. Eligible working parents can receive up to 30 hours from nine months, with a valid eligibility code required before each term. Qualifying low-income or SEN children aged two to three receive 15 hours; children aged three and over receive 15 universal hours, with another 15 subject to an eligibility code. Age before term starts determines eligibility.

Funded mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am and funded afternoons from 1pm to 4pm, with at most two funded sessions daily. Attendance beyond these windows is charged at the full session rate. These are shorter windows than the paid morning and afternoon bookings, an important distinction when matching care to work.

Paid fees include meals, nappies, wipes, sun cream, bedding and the selected formula brands; parents supply alternatives at their own expense when those brands do not suit their child. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, and the fees and session arrangements explain what each booking includes.

A non-refundable registration charge and a refundable acceptance deposit apply, with the deposit's return dependent on the required notice; applications for an eligible funded-only place for children aged three and over do not require either charge. Reducing attendance or ending the contract requires 30 days' written or emailed notice, so changes to family circumstances need planning.

Getting There

Parking accessed from Ivry Street is for brief collections and drop-offs, while older-room families can use the slope and rear access associated with Ipswich Prep. A buggy park and storage for bicycles and scooters support families travelling locally on foot or by bike.

The nursery presents Pre School as preparation for continuing into Ipswich Prep's Reception, and preschool staff work with Reception staff, with children sometimes joining older children's activities. The Reception admissions policy gives preference to children in the Pre School room. Attendance does not guarantee entry: families still follow the school's admissions process.

• The baby-to-toddler move. Discoverers and Explorers have different crossover ages in the room descriptions and fees arrangements. During a visit, establish which room would take your child and how their development affects the move.
• The weekly commitment. Discoverers requires two full days, while the older rooms require three attendances or 15 hours unless otherwise agreed. Match that commitment to your intended pattern before booking.
• Funding and care supplies. Funded sessions occupy shorter windows than paid sessions, and preferred formula or nappy brands are supplied by parents. Request a written breakdown for your proposed funded attendance and discuss current food handling if your child has an allergy.
• The school connection. The 2022 Outstanding judgement concerned under-twos, and progression to Reception uses a separate admissions process. Assess the room your child would attend as well as the appeal of continuing at Ipswich Prep.

The Lodge suits families seeking full days, morning or afternoon care, or eligible funded-only sessions, who can meet its room-specific minimum attendance. Its strongest practical features are concrete: baby routines carried over from home, dedicated sleep provision, included standard supplies and specialist sessions for preschool children.

The connection to Ipswich Prep adds opportunities and a clear school-preparation context. It also calls for careful reading of the inspection boundary and separate Reception arrangements. Choose it for the care and experiences appropriate to your child's age, with the school connection as an additional consideration.