About us

Taunton Opportunity Group (TOG) is a well-established registered charity, set up in 1973. We are situated within Wooden Spoon House which is located on the same site as Wellsprings Primary School in Priorswood, Taunton. Our charitable object is to provide a safe and satisfying group experience and play for the advancement of the education of children with special needs and other children under statutory school age. Our charitable mission is to help children realise their potential.

Our staff

Our staff are level 3 qualified in early years childcare development and are highly skilled in supporting children with a wide range of additional needs, including complex medical and physical needs. We use a Somerset total communication approach which includes signing and the use of photos and provide a stimulating environment, planning for each child’s individual needs in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage. We are lucky enough to have recruited two new apprentices in September 2023 and we have a dedicated team of playroom volunteers. We have students on placements with us throughout the year. All our students have their suitability verified by their college or school, and are supervised during their placement by our Manager.

Helen Charles

Manager and Student Mentor

Julie Farmer-Labbe

Deputy Manager and Lunch Club Leader

Hayley Hooper

Play Leader and Lunch Club

Mary Allen

Play Leader

Kim North

Play Leader

Mia Thomas

Apprentice

Sophie Stoneman

Apprentice

From our very first stay and play session we instantly knew this was the right environment to support Logan and us as parents. The whole place is carefully thought out to suit the children’s needs and has so much on offer each week! Logan now attends morning pre-school sessions and he is thriving!

He has a great relationship with his key worker and all the staff have a very caring and supportive nature that not only helps Logan but us as parents as we go through the ups and downs of caring for a child with additional needs. We are really pleased we started Logan’s journey of education in such a special place.

Rosi Rosthorn (2024)