New Road Preschool

In July 2025, vegetable superheroes, puppet-led songs and visits from community workers gave New Road Preschool a recognisable character. Based at Croxley Green Methodist Church in Rickmansworth, it has 23 places in total. At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective.

Children attending in July 2025 were aged two to three. The account of their day combined practical exploration with conversation: building with small bricks, talking about family photographs and joining songs through words and actions.

In July 2025, learning included sustained construction play, with children testing how to arrange toy bricks into a stable wall. That gave them a concrete problem to solve, rather than simply a finished model to copy.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, its everyday expression in July 2025 included language practice, mathematical ideas within songs and activities shaped around children's interests. Puppets encouraged participation in action songs, while staff helped children pronounce words accurately.

Supertato inspired children to make vegetable superhero characters using carrots and potatoes. They then recreated parts of the story, connecting a familiar book with imaginative play. Visits from a veterinary nurse and a school crossing patrol officer introduced different kinds of community work.

A large photo board displayed family members and pets. Children used it to discuss their own families and those of other children, giving conversations about similarities and differences a personal starting point.

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities through tailored plans, individual strategies and collaboration with families and other professionals, using additional funding effectively. This was support organised around individual children.

In July 2025, books about feelings and accompanying soft toys helped children talk about emotions. Children shared materials and listened to one another's suggestions. Practical health habits included washing hands before serving snacks, discussions about toothbrushing and reminders to drink water in warm weather.

Communication with parents included weekly summaries of achievements and activity intentions, alongside termly progress reports. However, changes to children's learning priorities were not consistently shared during the term, and families needed more practical ideas for continuing that learning at home.

The address is Croxley Green Methodist Church, New Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, WD3 3EL.

In July 2025, opening hours were 9am to 1pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time. That daytime window is relevant to families weighing preschool attendance against their working hours.

Government-funded early education was provided for eligible children in July 2025. Eligibility remains a condition of that funding statement.

• Challenge for confident learners. In July 2025, the most able children did not consistently receive sufficiently demanding activities. For a child who masters tasks quickly, the level of challenge deserves attention.
• Learning beyond preschool. July 2025 communication did not consistently keep parents abreast of changing learning priorities or give them ideas for home. Families wanting to build on activities between sessions should weigh this limitation.
• Term-time timetable. The July 2025 opening pattern ran from Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1pm. At a visit, ask how today's attendance arrangements fit the days and hours your family needs.

New Road Preschool suits families drawn to practical, story-led preschool experiences and the term-time daytime pattern described in July 2025. Vegetable characters, family photographs and community visitors give substance to that appeal. The two improvement priorities matter: children ready for greater challenge needed more stretching activities, and parents needed clearer, more timely guidance for learning at home.