The largest Roman home in the country has received an award for its learning services.

Fishbourne Roman Palace in Chichester has been recognised for its “first-class” educational sessions which are delivered to thousands of schoolchildren each year.

It has received the coveted Sandford Award, managed by the Heritage Education Trust, the “quality mark for heritage learning and validation” at historical sites.

An assessor’s report of the site said: “Fishbourne Palace has an exceptional collection of early Roman mosaics interpreted by a first-class learning service, two good reasons for a visit.

“The palace and garden is the largest Roman palace north of the Alps, discovered in the 1960s information is still being found by archaeological digs.

Fishbourne Roman Palace from the outside Fishbourne Roman Palace from the outside (Image: Sussex Past) “The national curriculum is delivered by the wealth of Roman history in the museum and many resources in the workshops, available for all key stages, schools return year after year.

“There are opportunities to handle real Roman material, but the extraordinary mosaics containing dolphins, flowers and patterns are an unmissable sight.”

John Baldock, general manager at Sussex Past which manages Fishbourne Roman Palace, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Fishbourne Roman Palace has received a Sandford Award for the quality of its learning service, which is testimony to the excellent work of our learning team.

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“Every year they welcome thousands of visiting schoolchildren who come to find out about many different aspects of life in Roman Britain in a way that is inspiring, educational and fun.

“We look forward to welcoming many more parties of schoolchildren to Fishbourne Roman Palace to take part in the range of top-class educational workshops on offer.”

The establishment is set to receive the award in a presentation ceremony at Kensington Palace on December 10, hosted by Historic Royal Palaces.

Fishbourne Roman Palace consists of an excavation site as well as an onsite museum and recreated Roman gardens. It is also home to the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK.

The site was accidentally discovered in 1805 during the building of a new home on top of the ruins.