# YMCA Childcare Water Lane

YMCA Childcare Water Lane is a sessional pre-school at Sure Start, The Ark Childrens Centre, Water Lane, LOWESTOFT, NR32 2NH, in Roman Hill, Suffolk. It is registered for 51 children. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in September 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It is run by YMCA Trinity Group.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ymca-childcare-water-lane-ey560835  
Last checked 31 October 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Sessional pre-school
- Address: Sure Start, The Ark Childrens Centre, Water Lane, LOWESTOFT, NR32 2NH
- Registered places: 51
- Phone: 01502 561701
- Website: https://ymcatrinitygroup.org.uk/
- Run by: [YMCA Trinity Group](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/ymca-trinity-group)
- Ofsted URN: EY560835

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 19 September 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

- Quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY560835

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since July 2018 (Reference EY560835). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY560835)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 19 September 2025). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY560835)
- Registered places: 51 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY560835)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 21 October 2024). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1545036)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: Sure Start, The Ark Childrens Centre, Water Lane, LOWESTOFT, NR32 2NH

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=52.483323,1.746009

- Station: Lowestoft, 0.6 miles
- 14 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Belle Vue Park, 0.5 miles
- Park: Sparrow's Nest Park, 0.5 miles
- Playground: The Bleach, under 0.1 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.3 miles

NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In Suffolk there are about 3.5 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings


## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Margaret's Primary Academy | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (April 2026) | yes | 0.2 miles |
| Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy | Primary | 3–11 | Good (July 2022) | yes | 0.2 miles |
| Roman Hill Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Quality of education: Requires improvement; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good (November 2024) | yes | 0.3 miles |
| Poplars Community Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (July 2026) | yes | 0.3 miles |
| Include Suffolk |  | 5–12 |  |  | 0.4 miles |
| Horizon School |  | 4–16 | Requires improvement (June 2023) |  | 0.6 miles |
| Woods Loke Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Outstanding (April 2024) | yes | 1.0 miles |
| Red Oak Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (Improving) (May 2023) | yes | 1.2 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [YMCA Childcare - St Margaret's Road](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ymca-childcare-st-margarets-road-ey560834) | Good |  |  | 0.2 miles |
| [Rainbow Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/rainbow-day-nursery-ey494119) | Good |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| [Trinity Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/trinity-nursery-251700) | Good |  |  | 0.4 miles |
| [Scribbles Day Nursery (Seashore)](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/scribbles-day-nursery-seashore-2784456) | Good |  |  | 0.5 miles |
| [St Benedict's Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/st-benedicts-pre-school-ey456784) | Good |  |  | 0.7 miles |
| [Kirkley Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kirkley-nursery-2600502) | Good |  |  | 1.3 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is YMCA Childcare Water Lane's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated YMCA Childcare Water Lane Good at its inspection on 19 September 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can YMCA Childcare Water Lane take?

YMCA Childcare Water Lane is registered with Ofsted for up to 51 children at any one time.

### Who runs YMCA Childcare Water Lane?

YMCA Childcare Water Lane is run by YMCA Trinity Group, which runs 3 nurseries.

### What is the nearest station to YMCA Childcare Water Lane?

Lowestoft is the nearest station we know of, 0.6 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact YMCA Childcare Water Lane?

You can call 01502 561701 and visit ymcatrinitygroup.org.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY560835)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.