Roman River Pre-School

A sand timer for taking turns and a pretend cookie shop capture Roman River Pre-School’s emphasis on independence and learning together. In December 2025, children negotiated access to play equipment, exchanged pretend money and developed conversations through role play. These are practical ways to practise patience, language and making decisions.

At its 9 December 2025 inspection, Ofsted assessed behaviour and routines, and children’s welfare and wellbeing, as Strong standard, with achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance at Expected standard; safeguarding standards were met. The pre-school has 25 places in total, at Fingringhoe Village Hall in Fingringhoe.

In December 2025, children used play dough to shape pretend cookies and took different roles in their shop. Singing Christmas carols with accompanying signs gave another outlet for communication. Outdoors, uneven ground and opportunities to climb supported physical practice, while natural materials in the garden became flower crowns. The activities combined movement, conversation and imagination.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the December 2025 activities included pretend shopping, handling play money and talking with other children, putting learning into play rather than separating it from the day.

Two teaching priorities temper that picture. At the December 2025 inspection, Ofsted identified a need for staff to respond more confidently to children’s developing ideas during activities and to strengthen mathematics teaching, while finding that tailored support and work with outside professionals helped children with SEND make progress. Staff had been enrolled on training to develop their mathematics practice.

In December 2025, staff listened to children’s feelings and demonstrated calm ways to resolve disagreements. Familiar routines gave children opportunities to manage personal care and practise doing things for themselves. At meals, adults sat alongside children, encouraging them to eat independently and explore unfamiliar foods.

Support also involved families. In December 2025, parents received information about their children’s development and ways to extend learning at home. Staff planned activities around individual interests, including sustained play with cars, soap and water, and adjusted support following advice from external professionals. This connected individual planning with everyday play.

Roman River Pre-School’s address is Fingringhoe Village Hall, Chapel Road, Fingringhoe, Colchester, CO5 7BH. Its whole-setting capacity is 25 children; that figure is separate from the number attending an individual activity.

In December 2025, children attending were aged two to four, and opening hours ran from 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Those hours describe the operation at that time, rather than a particular bookable session.

• Mathematics development. Strengthening mathematics teaching was a December 2025 improvement priority. Ask what progress has been made with the planned training and mathematics teaching.
• Following children’s ideas. Staff needed greater confidence in adjusting teaching during play in December 2025. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how practitioners now extend a child’s spontaneous questions or discoveries.
• Your attendance needs. The December 2025 opening window was 8.30am to 3.30pm on weekdays. Which current attendance pattern would fit your family?

Roman River Pre-School suits families who value opportunities for children to practise independence, cooperation and communication through play. Its December 2025 account gives concrete examples, from turn-taking with a timer to imaginative shopping and garden creations. Mathematics teaching and responding to children’s ideas are the important development points to weigh alongside that picture.