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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

The Forest of Dean Children's Opportunity Centre

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The Forest of Dean Children's Opportunity Centre

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From 3 months to 5 years, there's a place for everyone here! Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fodopportunitycentre

The Forest of Dean Children’s Opportunity Centre is a charitable organisation that provides care, support and facilities for children with additional needs, as well as for those without.

24/10/2026

It’s time for the final stop in our room spotlight series, and we’re heading into Rainbows! 🌈

Rainbows is home to most of our children aged three and over, a stage where they’re building on the skills they’ve already learnt and developing new ones to help prepare them for their next adventures. Here they’re growing in independence, learning skills like using the toilet and getting dressed, while also discovering how to play together, share and build friendships!

Alongside these important life skills, the children explore early maths, pre-reading and writing, the world around them and creative activities. Our practitioners get to know each child’s interests, using these to create fun, meaningful learning opportunities that support their individual development. Activities might be inspired by a favourite story, a seasonal celebration or something exciting happening in the world around us.

There’s also a balance of uninterrupted play, where children can explore their own ideas with support from adults, and planned activities such as songs, stories and small group learning. Everything is flexible, so every child can join in at their own level and pace. And our large outdoor area, including covered space, gives the children plenty of opportunities to explore in all weathers! ☔

This term, autumn has been a big inspiration for us, and as you can see from the photos, we’ve been busy! The children have enjoyed woodland walks, explored pumpkins and conkers while developing their mathematical skills, and shared a wonderful range of stories to help them discover more about seasonal changes 🍂

We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a peek inside Raindrops, Sunshine and Rainbows, and seeing how we support our children as they learn, grow and develop at each stage of their journey with us!

21/10/2026

Have your say in the Annual SEND Surveys 2026 👇

If you are a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Gloucestershire, the Annual SEND Surveys are now open, giving you the opportunity to share your experiences and help shape the support available to children and families across the county.

The survey looks at what’s working well, what could be improved and what matters most to families across education, health and care.

We’d particularly encourage families with children in Early Years to take part this year, helping ensure the voices of families with younger children are heard.

The survey closes on Friday 4th December 2026. So if you have a few minutes to spare, we’d encourage you to share your views. Your experiences matter and your feedback can help improve support for families across Gloucestershire.

🔗 You can complete the Parent Carer (0-25 years) SEND Survey here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VMeuX-NkFECbzOcvxzujEjvW4nf_rFpJnkYqUszIhxpUNkVHNEEyRk9RWDVYNDJMUVlETjQ2MlFMRi4u&route=shorturl

Please do share with any other parents or carers who may find this useful! 💜

19/10/2026

We believe that snack time and lunchtime are about so much more than food. They’re a chance for our little ones to sit together, chat with their friends, build relationships and enjoy being part of a group.

Eating meals together can help children develop positive eating habits, try new foods and learn important social skills along the way!

🍌 Snack time:

We offer a healthy, varied selection of snacks, alongside milk and water. From fresh fruit to crackers, cheese, yoghurt and toast, there’s plenty to enjoy! We also use snack time to talk about food, where it comes from and why it’s good for us. And sometimes, the children even get involved in preparing their own snacks!

🥪 Lunchtime:

Children who stay with us all day bring a packed lunch from home. We encourage families to provide a healthy, varied lunch with a few simple options, such as a sandwich or wrap, fruit and yoghurt. We just ask that you try to avoid sweets and fizzy drinks, include an ice pack for anything that needs to stay chilled, and let us know about any dietary requirements or allergies so we can support your child safely.

Mealtimes are such a great opportunity to build independence, with our friendly team always on hand to help whenever needed 💜

15/10/2026

A little reminder that our Annual General Meeting is taking place next week, and we’d love to see you there!

📅 Wednesday 21st October at 5pm
📍 The Opportunity Centre

This meeting is a wonderful opportunity to look back on our vital work within the community and celebrate everything we have accomplished together. Whether you are a parent, a dedicated volunteer, a generous donor or a supportive neighbour, your presence is incredibly important to us. Come along to hear about our latest milestones, see how your support makes a difference and help us shape the future of the Centre.

We would love to see you there, share our plans for the year ahead and thank you personally for being such an essential part of our journey.

13/10/2026

Welcome to Sunshine! ☀️

After our visit to Raindrops, it’s time to shine our spotlight on Sunshine, which is home to our children aged 18 months to 3 years, a stage where so much happens in such a short space of time.

Between developing speech and language to becoming more confident on their feet, exploring their surroundings and building friendships, there’s never a dull moment with something new always happening here! And for our practitioners, that means that flexibility is key. Every child is developing at their own pace, so activities and the environment need to adapt to meet their individual needs, interests and abilities.

While independence and social interactions are becoming a big part of everyday life, helping our little ones feel safe, secure and supported remains just as important. That’s why Sunshine is a space that grows and changes alongside the children. We have familiar areas for role play, books and construction, alongside more open spaces that can be adapted for creative activities, physical play, lunchtime and those all important naps!

We’ve also been lucky enough to have our outdoor space upgraded, giving the children even more opportunities for free flow play, fresh air and using those big muscles as they run, climb, explore and discover 🌿

Be sure to keep an eye out for the next room in our spotlight series!

12/10/2026

2026 AGM details below - All Welcome

10/10/2026

Good dental habits start early, and helping children look after their teeth from a young age can set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles! 😁

Regular brushing is important, but so is getting little ones familiar with visiting the dentist. Regular check ups can help children become comfortable with the sights, sounds and routines, making dental visits feel like a normal part of looking after their health.

At home, you can help by👇

🪥 Brushing teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
🍎 Encouraging healthy snacks
💧 Offering water throughout the day
👩‍⚕️ Taking your child for regular dental check ups
😊 Talking positively about visiting the dentist and helping them feel comfortable

And remember, those little teeth might only be temporary, but they still play an important role in helping children eat, speak and develop properly! A little brushing, plenty of encouragement and regular check ups can go a long way towards keeping those smiles healthy! 🦷

07/10/2026

Sleep is such an important part of a baby or young child’s day, so making sure they have a safe, comfortable place to rest is a priority for us!

But did you know that from September 2026, there are now updated safer sleep requirements within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), including specific requirements around sleep spaces for babies aged 12 months and under.

We always ensure that our youngest children have their own safe sleep space, and our team also make sure that👇

→ Babies are placed on their backs to sleep
→ Sleep spaces are kept clear of unnecessary items such as toys and pillows
→ Children’s heads are kept uncovered
→ Babies and children are checked regularly while sleeping
→ Babies under six months have an adult in the same room for every sleep
→ Children are always within sight and hearing of staff while sleeping
→ We monitor the temperature to help prevent children becoming too hot or cold

If your little one sleeps at the Centre, please speak to our team if you have any questions about our sleep arrangements or safer sleep practices. We’re always happy to chat! 💜

And for more information about safer sleep, we recommend reading this government guidance and following the links for The Lullaby Trust and the NHS for up-to-date advice: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/safer-sleep

05/10/2026

Today is World Teacher Day! It’s a chance to celebrate all the people who help our little ones learn, grow, explore and discover the world around them 💜

Of course, we’re incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful team here at The Opportunity Centre, but learning doesn’t only happen at the Centre.

It happens when a parent reads a bedtime story, or when a grandparent shows them how to plant a seed. When someone takes the time to answer a hundred questions, and when a child is encouraged to try something for themselves.

Parents are a child’s first educators, and those everyday moments at home play such an important part in their development. By working together, sharing ideas and supporting learning both at home and at the Centre, we can help every child build confidence, develop new skills and reach their potential, because it really does take a village!

So to all the parents, grandparents and everyone else who helps teach, guide and inspire our little ones, thank you! 🌈

02/10/2026

It's World Smile Day today, and we’re not only smiling because it’s Friday, and the sun is shining…

What really makes us smile is being at The Opportunity Centre, surrounded by our wonderful children, families and team every day!

From big belly laughs to cheeky grins, proud little smiles and those moments when a child suddenly does something they’ve been working so hard on, there are endless reasons to smile around here! 😊

So today, we’re ending the week on a high and celebrating all those lovely little moments that make us smile! 💜

Address

Bowens Hill Road
Coleford
GL168DU

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+441594837552

Website

http://fodopportunitycentre.org/

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