SNOOP

Individual support gives SNOOP its character. Its Tadpoles Pre-School operates within a disability charity whose purpose includes supporting parents and carers as well as children, in a purpose-built, accessible centre in Eccleshill, Bradford. The nursery has 16 places in total. That is whole-setting capacity, rather than a promise about the number of children in any particular session.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated SNOOP Good overall; children attending then were aged two to four. The practical offer combines term-time morning, afternoon and full-day sessions, with direct payment and recognised funding routes.

For parents weighing support alongside early education, the relationship between the nursery and the charity matters. SNOOP can help carers with special educational needs and social services matters, including attending a child's reviews and assessments. Support reaches beyond the nursery day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care here: in everyday language, education sits alongside communication, growing independence and wellbeing. In October 2023, learning included imaginative games, stories, songs and practical exploration.

The Colour Monster story gave emotional learning a concrete starting point in October 2023. Staff used specially created play figures alongside the story, helping children recognise feelings and practise ways of managing them. For a child still developing the words to explain an emotion, the story and figures supplied something tangible to work with.

Mathematics also emerged through play that month. Children explored where objects were positioned during imaginative games, while a song about frogs introduced subtraction as the frogs left their pretend pond. Ordering resources by size and counting gave mathematical ideas a practical expression. Language work included unfamiliar descriptive words and songs throughout the day, linking vocabulary with rhythm and participation.

Exploring the world brought a clear teaching question. In October 2023, children experimented with objects in a water tray and watched stones sink; some already knew about space and animals such as gorillas and hyenas. Staff did not consistently take the most able children's existing knowledge further. The improvement action was to make that extension more consistent, especially in understanding the world. Parents of children who already have strong interests should keep that point in view.

Outdoor and Community Life

A climbing frame provided opportunities to practise balance and climbing in October 2023, when children spent substantial time outside. Physical learning therefore had an identifiable piece of equipment behind it, rather than simply an outdoor-space promise.

Books also travelled beyond the nursery. In October 2023, children borrowed from its lending library, and staff offered parents guidance on supporting reading at home. The rhyme challenge at the local library involved children in songs and rhymes, extending literacy experiences into a community setting. These were activities at that time, rather than a current timetable of outings.

Relationships and Communication

In October 2023, staff helped children tackle ordinary tasks themselves: pouring milk, peeling oranges and fastening coats. Adults supplied enough assistance to make success possible while leaving children an active part in the task. Independence was practised in small, useful steps.

Today, termly progress meetings also serve a practical purpose for funded attendance: the funding agreement is reviewed with parents to ensure children receive their full entitlement. SNOOP's wider Support For Carers service facilitates meetings around issues that matter to carers and can accompany families to reviews and assessments. That gives parents a route for discussing concerns beyond learning activities alone.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found especially strong SEND support, with individual support plans, prompt intervention and close professional collaboration, and judged safeguarding arrangements effective. Those are dated findings about practice, rather than assurances based on the charity's purpose.

The current staff structure includes a nursery administration/SENCO role, a Tadpoles nursery team leader and a deputy team leader. These identify responsibilities within the nursery; they do not establish the number of adults working with children in a session.

Health education in October 2023 included tooth care and advice for parents about preparing healthy lunch boxes. For current attendance, families supply a healthy packed lunch when their child stays over lunchtime, while a healthy snack is provided at each session and charged separately. Lunch preparation therefore remains part of the family's daily routine.

Sessions and Attendance

Tadpoles Pre-School runs during term time. Morning sessions start at 9am, afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and the full-day option runs from 9am to 3pm. Flexible sessions are also offered. The full-day finish differs from the afternoon finish, which matters when arranging collection.

Sessional bookings are made term by term. Invoices itemise charges, with payment due by the end of the month. This is a booking arrangement that asks families to plan across a term, rather than treating attendance as a series of unrelated daily purchases.

The nursery is at Newlands House One, Inspire Bradford Business Park, Newlands Way, Eccleshill, Bradford BD10 0JE. Enquiries can go directly to tadpolesnursery@snoopcharity.org or through the office on 01274 292126. SNOOP accepts direct contact from parents and carers, as well as referrals involving education, medical or social work professionals.

Funding and Paid Extras

Bradford Early Years Funded Hours offers 15 or 30 hours for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. A separate agreement is required, and the funding operates termly and is not transferable. Privately paid sessions are offered too. Families obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation; the session and charges information explains the booking structure.

Leaving requires a month's notice and departure at the end of a term, except when a child takes up a statutory Reception place. The terms also state that parents whose child leaves an early education funded place are charged for the remainder of that term. These conditions deserve attention before committing to a pattern of attendance.

• Extending established interests. The October 2023 improvement action concerned taking the most able children's knowledge further, especially in understanding the world. At a visit, ask how staff now extend a child's existing interests and understanding.
• Termly commitment. Sessions are booked by term, and the leaving terms include notice and a remaining-term charge for children leaving funded places. Consider those conditions alongside any expected change in family arrangements.
• Lunch and daily essentials. Snacks carry a separate charge and parents supply lunchtime food. When discussing a child's care, ask what families should provide for their other daily care needs.
• Morning collection. Morning sessions start at 9am. Before booking that pattern, confirm the collection time with Tadpoles.

SNOOP suits families seeking term-time morning, afternoon or full-day early education within a charity that also supports carers with disability-related concerns. Its October 2023 strengths were grounded in practical examples: individual support planning, emotional learning through a story, and everyday independence.

The decision rests on both support and logistics. Termly bookings, different session finishing times and leaving conditions need to fit family plans; the October 2023 teaching action on extending more advanced learning also matters.