About Us

What we do at our group

The Eye Opportunity Group is a specialist playgroup and family support group for
children under 5 years old with additional needs. We offer structured play sessions
with trained and experienced staff and volunteers.
There is a warm and friendly atmosphere and parents/carers are given the
opportunity to have a break and chat with other parents/carers. We have a large
range of play equipment, including a sensory soft play room and an outdoor play area.

Health visitors and other professionals can make referrals to the group and
parents/carers can self-refer. Just give us a call on 01379 870975 and staff will be
happy to take your details. Our family support worker will then be in touch to
arrange a home visit and give you more information about the group and find out
about your child and their needs. We will also discuss which session is most suitable
to attend.
We look forward to hearing from you and supporting you on your journey.

We take a very child-led approach at the group and staff can provide support to children with their communication, their social interaction and their physical development, through play-based activities. We have small numbers of children per session in order to ensure that children are given the support they need.
Staff regularly include singing and playing instruments as part of the sessions, as well as craft activities, messy play, stories and outdoor play.

Our sessions run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday:

morning sessions are 9.30am-11.45am

afternoon sessions are 12.30pm-2.45pm.

Our sessions run during term-time and we also offer sessions during the Easter holidays and the summer holidays.

Children don't need to have a diagnosis in order to access the group. Many parents come along to the group when they are beginning to notice differences in the way their child is developing, compared to their peers. Parents/carers find coming along to the group and chatting with staff and other parents/carers helps them feel less alone and more confident in advocating for their child's needs.
We understand that caring for a child with additional needs can be both rewarding and challenging.

At Eye Opportunity Group we hope to create an environment
where children and their parents/carers feel relaxed and supported.

Our Story

The Eye Opportunity Group was originally set up in 1983 by a group of parents with children with special needs. It started as a self-help group, meeting in someone’s front room and it grew from there, with input from staff from Ipswich Hospital. We were eventually able to secure funding from Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council as well as other grants, so that we could employ staff and run the group professionally, whilst preserving as much as possible the intimacy, informality and supportive ethos that makes this group so special.

Meet the Commitee

Here are just some of our commitee members

Chair

Nicholas Joy

Nick brings his experience in consulting & sales to the Group which provides a different perspective on resolutions required, along with the push on digitalisation where possible. Nick moved to Eye with his wife, son and soon-to-be daughter in 2024 from Kent and wanted to support the local community which brought him to the Grou.

Secretary

Jane Bright

I first came into contact with the group when a child in my care needed some additional support.

The staff were absolutely fantastic and helped me understand how I could ensure she reached her true potential. She had since moved onto an adoptive family but I have continued to be involved with the group; both helping at fundraisers and as secretary of the committee.

IMG-20240417-WA0000~3 BRIDGET_edited.jpg

Treasurer

Bridget Hitchman

I first became involved with the Eye Opportunity Group many years ago as a volunteer driver for a family living in my village & then started helping at the sessions. I later became an assistant playleader & also playleader at the "rising 5's" group one morning a week.

After retiring, I joined the Committee & have been treasurer for several years.

Our Team

Play Leader

Jane Last

NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education

Training in speech and language support, ASD, ADHD, portage, Makaton and managing challenging behaviour

I have worked at the group for over 30 years and have gained experience of working with children with a wide range of additional needs. I started originally as a parent attending the group with my daughter who has a rare syndrome and sight loss.

Hobbies include listening to music, walking my dogs and spending time with my grandchildren.

Manager

Sanchia Brandreth

I have been working at Eye Opportunity Group since 1992, in my role of generally managing and coordinating the Group's activities.

A large part of my role as Opportunity Group manager involves fundraising and applying for grants.

I am a trained primary school teacher and have, in the past, also worked in education welfare and childcare roles.

Although as manager, I am not directly involved in the support of our families and spend most of my day upstairs in the office, I still find it very rewarding work, knowing that every successful grant application will help towards the essential costs that are needed to keep the group running.

Having been with the Opportunity Group for such a long time, I have seen it grow and develop over the years and I feel very proud of this amazing group and the support our staff team offers to families who have children with additional needs.

Family Liaison and Support Worker

Laura Stretch

I have been working as the family support worker at the Eye Opportunity Group since 2015. My background is in Psychology and I have previously worked in various roles supporting children and their families. I take a therapeutic approach to working with families and I believe in building trusting relationships with parents/carers and try to ensure that our families feel valued, nurtured and supported.

I understand the challenges of caring for and advocating for a child with additional needs and I think my personal experiences bring an extra sense of empathy and sensitivity to my role.

I love my job at the Opportunity Group and it's a privilege to be part of a team of staff that can help to make a real difference in the early years to the children that come to the group.

Assistant Playleader

Gill Mossop

Diploma in Pre-school Practice – Level 3

SENCO – Early Years

Portage Level 3

Training in speech and language support, ASD, ADHD, portage, Makaton and managing challenging behaviour.

I started my journey working with children and adults with additional needs after studying ceramics at Art College. I have facilitated creative inclusive workshops in a variety of settings.

My work with Stowmarket Opportunity Group, initially as a volunteer, started in 2002. I attended the group with a family member with additional needs and really valued the support of staff and other families. I then went on to train and work part-time at Eye Opportunity Group in 2007.

Interests include walking my dog, crafting, yoga, Pilates and spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy live music, reading and going to the cinema.

Assistant Playleader

Jayne Havis

I was born and lived in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex for most of my life until moving to Suffolk ten years ago.

I began my career, after leaving college, by working in a children's home, then later working as a learning and support assistant in a school for children with special needs. It was here that I completed my NCFE level 3 Award for special needs assistants.

I left Kingsdown School to train and work as a nurse at Southend University Hospital, where I worked for many years, mainly in Oncology and also on the hospital bank.

I started working at the Eye Opportunity Group in June,2019, which I really enjoy. I love working with children.

I have 3 grown-up children and five grandchildren,and my hobbies include gardening and reading.

Members

Chair - Nicholas Joy

Secretary - Jane Bright

Treasurer - Bridget Hitchman

Jane Scott

Anna Chambers

Caroline Boama

Laura Chapman

Alison Carter

Kerry Studd

What the committee does

Eye Opportunity Group is run by an elected voluntary committee of parents/carers, past-parents/carers and supportive members of our local community. As a small charity we simply cannot exist without the involvement, dedication and skills of our volunteers.

The Management Committee members are trustees for the charity and are jointly responsible for the effective running of the preschool and helping to ensure the charity is able to achieve its aims. The Committee have an overriding duty to act lawfully and in the best interests of the preschool and its beneficiaries – the children.

When your child joins us, your family automatically becomes a member of our group, and you're then able to vote for the Management Committee at our Annual General Meeting in November. We are always on the lookout for willing volunteers who want to put their skills and experience to good use within the community. It's a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with our staff team to shape how the setting is run and a great way to meet other families and make new friendships. If you would like to get involved, please contact eyeopportunitygroup@btconnect.com

EYE OPPORTUNITY GROUP

About Us

Contact us

Our Story

Meet the Commitee

Our Team