Tadpoles was started by Claire Dimpfl in 1976 in Lamont Road. From 1980 - 1993 it was situated in Ifield road and became Tadpoles Nursery, Chelsea, on the site that it is today in the September of 1993. When we arrived at the current Chelsea Site in 1993, it was a bare building with a simple, bare playground out at the front, a building site of a garden at the back and an empty, old and unloved pond.
Claire's vision to bring it back to life began. The vision of Tadpoles has grown, rather like it's green counter-part, organically, ever changing and evolving over the years. Early years should never be a 'static' moment, our lessons should grow and evolve with the children, our surroundings and the world about us.
Claire's vision to bring it back to life began. The vision of Tadpoles has grown, rather like it's green counter-part, organically, ever changing and evolving over the years. Early years should never be a 'static' moment, our lessons should grow and evolve with the children, our surroundings and the world about us.
Services
There are always 22 qualified staff with the children. 2 with EYPS [Early Years Professional Status] and 4 with Early Years Degrees, 1 with a Masters Degree. Our lowest qualification held by a member of teaching staff is a Cache Level 3 (a qualification that many managers would have in other settings).
Alongside the Early Years National curriculum we have a varied and exciting range of peripatetic and extra curricular classes included in our daily and weekly timetables for the children, in order that they may experience as many things as possible during their first steps into the world of education.
At the far end we have a mud-kitchen, where the children enjoy playing and exploring with real kitchen utensils and mud. You will find nothing 'specially made' or 'designer' here, we use old pots and pans, old wooden spoons, retired colanders and we even have an old microwave. This all sometimes looks messy but is very much enjoyed by all children.
Our swimming pool is situated just across the playground so there is no need to leave the school site. The pool is a specially designed children's training pool. The children who choose to swim do so once a week throughout the term. Our under 3's swim in groups no larger than four children and our over 3's in groups no larger than 6 - ability is, of course, looked at to determine the most suitable group for each child.
Our Munch Bunch Club is our lunch club for all those who stay the full day or choose to simply stay until after lunch and are picked up at 13.30. We work directly with the wonderful Chilli Bees Catering Company who prepare exciting and very child friendly food that even the fussiest of eaters dig into with glee.
