Taunton Opportunity Group

A child can make a choice through a photograph, a sign or a switch here. Taunton Opportunity Group (TOG) specialises in preschool provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Its Multi-Sensory Unit provides personalised sensory work with babies and children alongside their parent or carer.

Based at Wooden Spoon House in Taunton, TOG has capacity for 18 children; its preschool morning sessions serve children over two. Babies and younger children also feature in its family services. At its 4 May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Outstanding, highlighting education tailored to individual needs and skilled support for communication.

Morning preschool, Lunch Club and parent-accompanied Stay and Play serve different purposes. The distinction matters: this is specialist early-years provision with family support, rather than a single attendance arrangement for every child.

Rooms and Ages

The preschool spaces include a main playroom, a messy play area and a conservatory, with an outdoor playground surfaced for safety and equipped with two specialist swings. The messy play area also accommodates snacks and Lunch Club, giving familiar surroundings another use during the day. Child-sized basins and toilets, potties and nappy-changing facilities support children at different stages of personal care.

Within the Multi-Sensory Unit, the white room uses lights and sensory equipment for interaction and early understanding of cause and effect; the dark room uses ultraviolet light and changing visual stimuli for work on light awareness and visual tracking. These are sensory spaces, rather than age-banded preschool rooms. Individual appointments include the child and their parent or carer, and can last from 45 minutes to an hour according to the child's needs. Referrals commonly come through paediatricians, health visitors or physiotherapists.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) frames play-based learning in communication, physical development and relationships. Alongside it, Somerset Total Communication uses photographs, symbols, signing, picture exchange and switches. These let children influence an activity through choices they may not express in words.

Parents complete a communication profile describing their child's signals, including eye pointing, facial expressions, movements and sounds. This helps staff interpret needs and preferences.

Hello time includes an individual welcome song and a big mac switch that enables children to take part in saying hello. Later singing uses pictures, props, signing and actions to help children choose songs. Free play includes water, sensory and messy activities, small-world play, musical instruments and switch toys. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language care plans can be incorporated into these play periods, so therapeutic work sits within the child's morning.

In May 2023, choosing boards helped children request the swing, and bubble play linked words with actions. Tactile coat-peg coverings helped visually impaired children find their belongings: a practical adaptation supporting independence.

Outdoor and Community Life

Morning outdoor play includes physical equipment, sensory activities and specialist swings, with support for children to follow their interests. Families supply winter clothing and summer sun protection.

In May 2023, children explored a local park and nearby forest and joined local physical-activity initiatives. Story and singing time also feature in the preschool routine.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is guided by the family. Some parents or carers remain for several sessions; others stay for a shorter period before their child attends independently. A key person develops the relationship, keeps observations and progress records, and acts as the family's first contact. This gives parents a familiar person with whom to share changes in their child's needs.

During the first half term, observation and family discussions inform weekly activity planning. Parents help shape a special educational needs support plan with three targets alongside therapists' care plans. Reviews take place each term, or sooner after targets are achieved, giving families specific progress to discuss.

Parents can stay in the family room during mornings, meet others and find information about local support. A link book and preschool entry planning connect care across settings; family service plan meetings bring professionals together to discuss progress and support with parents.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Parents and community nurses help coordinate medical training. A medical professional signs the manager's care plan, which covers long-term and emergency medication. Staff record doses and times, with parents signing at collection, connecting preschool care with home.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and described staff training for specialist medical care, equipment risk assessment and calm support for children's emotions. In May 2023, a self-regulation room offered space to process feelings, while sensory resources in the white room and dark room helped children settle their attention.

Lunch Club welcomes children who need help eating, including those receiving tube feeds, with relevant staff training arranged before they start. Families supply the lunch, which can be warmed, and the snack routine provides choices such as fruit, yoghurt and crackers while accommodating dietary and medical needs.

School preparation includes a school entry meeting after a place has been allocated, with parents and the school; the key person and external professionals are invited. A review follows during the autumn term after the child starts. For physical adaptations, TOG can refer families to the Physical and Medical Support Team (PIMMS Team), whose involvement can begin four terms before school entry. This gives practical requirements, such as changing facilities or ramps, time to be discussed.

Sessions and Attendance

Preschool morning sessions run Monday to Friday, 9.05am to 12.05pm. Lunch Club extends attendance from 12.05pm to 1pm on Monday to Thursday and is separately charged. It is an additional supervised opportunity to practise eating and self-care, rather than part of every morning booking.

Stay and Play takes place on Tuesdays and requires a parent or carer to remain with the child throughout. A referral or diagnosis is not required for this group. Play leaders offer practical suggestions while families play together, and activities include messy play, a group activity and a goodbye song. Individual Multi-Sensory Unit appointments provide a further option for a child attending with their parent or carer. In May 2023, preschool operated during term time only.

Getting There

The address is Wooden Spoon House, Crowcombe Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 7NF, on the same site as Wellsprings Primary School. Sharing the site does not guarantee a Reception place. TOG supports planning for either local primary education with support or specialist provision.

Enquiries go to the manager by telephone on 01823 284550 or email at admin@tauntonopportunitygroup.org.uk. The family room also gives parents somewhere to remain during a morning session when that forms part of their child's settling arrangements.

Funding and Paid Extras

TOG receives funding through 2–4-year-old Entitlement and High Needs Funding, alongside parent-paid sessions. Subsidised preschool and Stay and Play fees may apply to parents or carers receiving benefits. Current prices should come in a written quotation from TOG, with Lunch Club and personalised sensory appointments distinguished from preschool attendance.

Families supply packed lunches, spare nappies and summer sun cream; TOG provides snacks during the morning routine.

• Tuesday timing. Stay and Play gives its hours as 1.15pm to 2.45pm, while Essential Information gives the baby group as 1.10pm to 2.30pm. Ask which timing applies to the group you intend to join before arranging the afternoon.
• Care before the first session. Medical plans require a medical professional's signature, and tube-feeding training is arranged before Lunch Club starts. Use an initial discussion to agree the equipment, training and care plan needed for your child.
• Choosing the attendance pattern. Morning preschool finishes at 12.05pm, with Lunch Club until 1pm on Monday to Thursday; Stay and Play requires an accompanying adult. At a visit, discuss how the pattern and settling arrangements would fit your child and family.
• Food allergies and sensory play. Stay and Play includes food-based tactile activities, and its allergy policy asks families to identify allergens so those foods can be excluded. Confirm current practice for your child's allergy, including snacks and any food used in play.

TOG suits families seeking specialist morning preschool for a child over two, morning attendance extended by Lunch Club, or parent-accompanied Stay and Play. Personalised sensory appointments offer another form of early support. Its strongest practical qualities are the communication tools, individual targets and coordination with health professionals and other settings. The Outstanding judgement belongs to May 2023; the current services give families clear ways to participate, with medical planning and the adult's role needing careful agreement for each child.