Outdoor playground area of Woodham Walter nursery, with a white building displaying a banner reading 'The Tadpoles Nursery Rated Ofsted Outstanding,'. The building is the Old Chapel Stores, the garden area displays children's play tables and toys.

An idyllic, nurturing nursery in the heart of a beautiful village.

Nursery Background

The Tadpoles Nursery was established in 1995, to help extend the Early Years provision for families with pre-school children in Woodham Walter and the surrounding villages.With the support of the local school and community, Tadpoles Thrived!

We started in the Woodham Walter women’s club room (in Top Road opposite our current site). In 2014 when The Old Chapel Stores became vacant we moved in, in order to increase our numbers and provide more facilities and resources for our families. We are extremely well established in the local community and provide a strong link and support for new families entering the area. Our ethos ‘The Child is at the heart of all that we do’ reinforces our commitment in working with our children and families, respecting and valuing our partnership with parents, reflecting our belief that ‘parents are the primary educators of their children’.

A Street in the village of Woodham Walter leading up towards the church, colourful pennant banners overhead, surrounded by trees and greenery. A road sign indicates a 30 mph speed limit. A poster on the right advertises "Bell Meadow Day."

At The Tadpoles Nursery, we love:

  • Two children playing outdoors, washing a red and yellow toy car next to a wooden shed and greenery in the background. The children are using water filled from a sink in the outdoor mud kitchen at the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.

    Playing outside

    Whatever the weather
    Tadpoles are a free flow indoor outdoor setting where children are encouraged to splash in their puddle suits, make mess in the mud kitchen, have fun at the water wall and dig for gold in the sandpit, we believe a little dirt never hurt!

  • Wooden shelf with various educational toys and small world play, including nesting dolls, natural materials like rocks and wood, baskets, a rainbow stacker, and a book titled 'The Seasons' within the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.

    Small World Play

    Gaining an understanding of the world
    Small world play transports children to another space and time entirely. The children have multiple opportunities to…

  • A group of children from the Tadpoles Nursery wearing colorful winter jackets and hats sit on a log in a forest, listening to a woman. The setting is in a forest outdoors among trees with a field visible in the background.

    Forest school

    Promoting Outdoor Learning
    We provide Forest School sessions that have many benefits, fromimproving physical health, increasing creativity, reducing stress levels, and enhancing cognitive learning.

  • Corkboard with Makaton sign language guides, including signs for 'Good morning,' 'Goodbye,' 'Thank you,' 'Please,' 'Toilet,' 'Happy,' 'To eat,' 'To drink,' and multilingual greetings within the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.

    Makaton

    Communicating clearly together
    Makaton can support individuals with no speech, unclear speech or those who are reluctant to communicate. Tadpoles enjoy learning sign, picking up valuable early communication in Makaton.

  • Historic brick church with a clock tower and gabled roof, surrounded by a cemetery with old gravestones on a sunny day in the village of Woodham Walter.

    Community trips and events

    From the local church and village hall to the nearby park and even the zoo!
    We love to take the children on exciting adventures and welcome parents to get involved too where possible. Life beyond the nursery is a key part of learning for the children.

  • Two plush toys from the Gruffalo placed on a white shelf with an illustrated book in the background of the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.

    Reading and rhyme time

    Inside on the carpet by the book corner or maybe even outside in the sandpit!
    The children love the use of the Tadpoles library where they can take a book home every week. Together we sing songs and explore new stories and authors, indoors or outdoors - everyday!

  • Children's books and toys in a container inside the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.

    Emotions and Wellbeing

    The colour monster theory
    We encourage the children to talk about their feelings through reading the colour monster, having regular discussions about our emotions and enabling the use of play with the regulation tools provided on the emotions trolly

  • Child in a pink hat and purple outfit carefully pouring their own milk from a jug into a cup on a blue table; a tray with fruit and a jug labeled 'Oat Milk' also on the table. It is snack time at The Tadpoles Nursery in Woodham Walter.

    Independent learning

    Giving children confidence to manage their own tasks
    We guide, help and encourage each child to become independent in various ways throughout the setting, from putting on their own coats and boots to pouring their drinks, even tidying up toys! Children try and do things for themselves, whenever possible and love the opportunity to do so.

  • Classroom corner with children's school uniform hanging in the window to prepare the older children for 'school readiness', a small table with a children's tea set and chairs are below. Art all around the Nursery of the Tadpoles Woodham Walter.

    School readiness

    Preparing Tadpoles for their next journey
    We have a very strong school readiness programme in place which is concentrated in the summer term prior to the children starting school in September. This includes sharing information and school readiness tips with parents about their individual child. P.E sessions, lunch sessions and interaction with the reception class of our local school. We also liaise with the reception class teachers of the schools our leavers will be attending the following September.

Outdoor play area at the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter. A traditional sandbox, blue activity table, storage shelves, and an umbrella for shade.
Children's cloakroom at the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter with hanging jackets, hats, backpacks, and shoes, alongside a blue chair and wall notices.
Tudor-style building with a steep red-tiled roof and black-and-white timber framing, located near a road surrounded by lush green trees and a grassy area in the rural village of Woodham Walter.
The interior of the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter with tables, chairs, educational materials, and colorful posters, the windows are arch shaped and original chapel windows.
Wooden playground structure with slide and swing set surrounded by a picket fence in a grassy area. Houses and trees are visible in the background under a blue sky with clouds in the rural village of Woodham Walter.
Classroom bulletin board with children's art and family photos, arched window overlooking greenery, and various educational posters and plant pots on the windowsill in the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter.
A country road with a white cottage featuring pale green trim, surrounded by lush greenery, on a sunny day with blue skies and white clouds in the rural village of Woodham Walter.
Forest path, surrounded by leafless trees and green undergrowth in the village of Woodham Walter.
A nursery manager assists a group of children sitting on logs in the forest. Children are dressed in winter clothing, engaged in an activity, surrounded by nature with green plants in the background.
Children at the Tadpoles Nursery Woodham Walter take part in forest school using colorful yarn to knot around a stick in a muddy outdoor setting, the children have created magical wands.
Child in pink raincoat holding orange bucket filled with muddy water, standing on leaf-strewn ground.
Child in a brown jacket and beanie walking through muddy puddles in a wooded area in Woodham Walter.