YMCA Thames Gateway Romford Preschool

A sessional preschool, YMCA Thames Gateway Romford Preschool was judged Good in January 2024 after staff had addressed the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. The strongest thread is emotional development: children learned to recognise feelings, use deep breathing when upset and follow clear expectations for kind behaviour.

The inspection found an ambitious curriculum, secure relationships and children who were eager to explore and manage tasks for themselves. It also set two clear priorities: give children more encouragement and time to practise speaking, and deepen their understanding of exercise and a balanced diet.

The Early Years Foundation Stage frames learning across communication, physical development, personal and social development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts. Here, the January 2024 evidence shows those areas translated into practical play. Children made dough currant buns for a counting song, used a pictorial timetable to understand routines and listened to recordings of favourite music that reflected their individual experiences.

Independence was built into small daily tasks. Children poured their own drinks and counted to three before stopping, while a nose-wiping station with tissues and a mirror helped them manage personal care. Active play took place indoors and outdoors. This is purposeful learning through ordinary moments, not a timetable of school-style lessons.

Warm welcomes and knowledge of each child helped children form secure attachments. In January 2024, children were safe and settled enough to explore activities and join routines confidently. Staff used golden rules, including kindness and walking feet indoors, to make expectations easy to understand.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection. Staff had strengthened risk identification and their response to safety concerns, while refreshed safeguarding knowledge formed part of professional development. Additional funding was used to support individual learning and development, and gaps in learning were identified quickly.

Parents praised both communication about development and help with learning at home. The remaining communication priority matters, however: staff needed to allow more support, encouragement and practice time for children's spoken language.

The preschool is at Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 0PH. Its sessional day-care model means the current timetable is central to whether it fits the days and hours a family needs.

Current nursery-specific prices should come from the provider's written quotation. Families should also ask how any funded entitlement, meals, snacks and non-food consumables are handled within that quotation before comparing the full cost of attendance.

• Timetable and total cost. Ask for the current session patterns, minimum attendance expectation and written quotation, including the treatment of funded hours, food and consumables. The practical fit depends on the complete weekly arrangement rather than the headline price alone.
• Next steps from inspection. Ask how staff are now giving children longer and better-supported opportunities to speak, and how healthy food and exercise are being explained. These were the two improvements identified in January 2024 and are useful points to explore during a visit.

YMCA Thames Gateway Romford Preschool's January 2024 inspection presents a setting that recovered decisively from its previous weaknesses. Emotional literacy, secure attachments and practical independence are the clearest strengths, supported by memorable examples rather than broad claims. The speaking and healthy-lifestyle priorities stop the picture becoming complacent.

This preschool should appeal most to families seeking a small sessional setting and a day built around routines, self-care and play-based learning. Its suitability for different morning, afternoon or longer attendance needs depends on the current patterns supplied directly by the preschool.