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Nursery at Roman Hill Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play leads the learning at Roman Hill’s nursery: building, pretend play, stories and outdoor exploration sit alongside short teaching sessions. This is an on-site school nursery for three- and four-year-olds, with children eligible to start in the term following their third birthday. There are 52 places, organised into two groups of 26.
Nursery children learn alongside Reception children, making the wider early years setting part of their everyday experience. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 26 and 27 November 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Each session begins with self-registration and an emotional check-in through Zones of Regulation. Short group teaching follows, using stories, rhymes, numbers or vocabulary. The longest part of the day is spent exploring through play, with children choosing activities and adults adding individual or small-group teaching. There is room for personal interests as well as planned learning.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement and emotional development with early reading, maths, creativity and learning about the world. Staff use Development Matters alongside this framework. Little Wandle is the phonics scheme, and daily phonics sessions introduce letter sounds and blending. In November 2024, children across early years received frequent phonics support; activities also helped them learn about themselves and their surroundings from the outset.
Practical work gives those ideas something concrete to attach to. Threading and playdough exercise small hand movements, while counting, sorting and exploring shapes bring maths into play. Construction, storytelling and role play offer different ways to develop ideas and language. Outdoor activity happens daily in all weather, and the EYFS playground provides a physical focus for this part of school life. Families need to equip children for wet days and sunshine.
Four staff work in each session, including a qualified teacher and a Nursery Nurse. Before starting, children and parents attend Stay and Play sessions lasting about an hour. A key worker gets to know the family during these sessions, giving staff a starting point for planning around the individual child.
Tapestry carries photographs and learning updates, and parents can contribute their own. Meetings take place each term; shorter conversations or telephone calls can also be arranged. This gives families several ways to discuss progress rather than relying on a hurried exchange at collection.
Morning toast, a daily healthy snack, free milk and accessible water form the food routine. If full-day attendance is agreed with the school, children bring a packed lunch and lunchtime supervision is charged. Confirm availability before booking, as nursery arrangements also exclude lunchtime provision. Allergies and dietary needs should be shared with staff.
Toileting support can be agreed through an Intimate Handling Contract. A named change of clothes also helps with accidents and messy activities. For children with medical conditions or special educational needs, staff develop care or learning plans with parents so that the team understands the support required.
Learning alongside Reception children creates familiarity with the next stage. It does not guarantee admission. Nursery attendance gives no Reception priority under the 2026–27 arrangements, and families must submit a separate application through their home local authority.
For Suffolk families, that route is Suffolk County Council. The September 2026 intake had a deadline of 15 January 2026. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions, even when the preferred school is the same.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Full-day attendance from 8:30am to 3:15pm, including supervised lunch, requires confirmation with the school: nursery arrangements also exclude lunchtime provision and flexibility in session times. The half-day pattern is three hours daily, Monday to Friday, and families can express a morning or afternoon preference.
Funding covers 15 hours weekly from the term after a child turns three. A further 15 funded hours depend on eligibility for the government scheme; families who do not qualify can pay privately for additional hours. Ask the school for current charges.
Nursery applications go directly to the school. Call 01502 563161 to enquire or arrange a visit with your child. Uniform is optional for nursery children. Entry and collection use the side Nursery door, reached via the EYFS playground from Love Road or Avondale Road. Parking. Nearby streets have limited parking, so allow time for the journey and collection.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday. The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds.
Confirm full-day availability and lunchtime arrangements with the school before booking. Full-day attendance from 8:30am to 3:15pm involves a packed lunch and charged supervision, but nursery arrangements also exclude lunchtime provision and flexibility in session times.
Before starting, families attend Stay and Play sessions of about an hour. A key worker uses this time to get to know the child and family.
No. It neither guarantees a place nor gives Reception priority under the 2026–27 arrangements. A separate application through your home local authority is required.
Nursery uniform is optional. Clothing should be named, and children need spare clothes and suitable clothing for outdoor activity in different weather.
