Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
Information Booklet 2016
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare
Scheme is Ofsted registered to provide childcare for children
aged 3 to 13 years. We operate during all school holiday
periods excluding the Christmas break. Working Parents
resident in Tower Hamlets have priority on all Schemes. More
information can be found on the booking form.
Next Schemes:
Summer Holiday Scheme
St Marys and St Michaels primary school:
(Week 1) Monday 25th July – Friday 29th July
(Week 2) Monday 1st August – Friday 5th August
(Week 3) Monday 8th August – Friday 12th August
(Week 4) Monday 15th August – Friday 19th August
October Holiday Scheme
St Matthias primary school
Monday 24th – Friday 28th October
Admission and Fees
Times
8.00am–6.00pm
Working parents resident in
Tower Hamlets
Non-working parents (in receipt of
Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance)
Non-residents of Tower Hamlets.
(extended hours)
Cost per child
per day
£ 14.00
9.00am – 5.00pm
£ 10.00
9.00am – 5.00pm
£ 4.00
8.00am–6.00pm
(extended hours)
£ 25.00
We reserve the right to alter scheme operation times in line with the
requirements of the service.
Background
The Holiday Childcare Scheme is managed by the London
Borough of Tower Hamlets, Holiday Childcare team. The team
are dedicated to managing and supporting all aspects of the
scheme. This includes: bookings, quality assurance,
recruitment, training and management of staff, ensuring
statutory regulations are met.
Policies and Procedures
The scheme is governed by a number of policies and
procedures, copies of which are available at each scheme, we
welcome your comments.
What we Offer
We aim to provide a good quality, safe, inclusive childcare
service encouraging all children to engage and participate in
play based activities indoors and outdoors. The highly qualified
staff will provide and plan a range of activities following the
children’s interests, including cooking, sport, craft, needlework,
board games, reading, role play, construction, and much more.
We promote and encourage children to choose their own
activities and make decisions for themselves.
(please refer to our mission statement)
Early Years provision
We have a separate space for children who are in Nursery or
Reception. Within this space the staff plan and provide
activities following the children’s interests, and in accordance
with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
(Please refer to out EYFS policy)
Young Peoples Provision
We provide a young people’s area for children in Year 7 & 8 of
Secondary School, which they have a choice to use or to
access the main scheme. We support children in year 5 & 6 to
join in with the young people’s area if they wish. The aim of
this is to support their transition to secondary school, giving
them opportunities to join the older children in a more youth
focused environment.
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
2
Safeguarding
The Holiday Childcare Scheme ensures the protection, welfare
and safety of the children at the scheme is paramount. We
have a duty of care to safeguard them by ensuring robust
systems are in place, which include a designated safeguarding
officer, safer recruitment and risks assessments.
(Please refer to our safeguarding policy)
Arrivals and Departures
The Holiday Childcare Scheme recognises that the safe arrival
and departure of the children in our care is paramount.
Arrivals
Our staff will greet each child warmly on their arrival and will
record their attendance in the daily register. We ask for you to
sign your child(ren) into the scheme and record their time of
arrival. At 10:00am each day the children will be brought
together to be introduced to staff, discuss the activities on offer
that day and the rules of the scheme.
Departures
 You are required to sign children out before they leave,
on the signing in/out sheet, noting the time of collection.
 Children can only be collected by an adult who has
been authorised to collect them on their enrolment
form.
 You must inform the manager of the scheme in
advance if someone who is not listed on the enrolment
form is to collect your child.
 You must notify the scheme if you will be late collecting
your child. If the scheme is not informed, the
Uncollected Children policy will be followed.
 Children in year 6 and above will only be allowed to go
home unaccompanied if we have discussed this fully
with you and we have received your written consent.
 Children below year 6 will not be allowed to leave the
scheme unaccompanied.
(please see the arrivals and departure and uncollected children
policy).
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
3
Staffing
The Holiday Childcare Scheme is staffed by a manager who
takes responsibility for the scheme, deputy, early years lead,
special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) all who form
the management team and childcare / play workers. Staff from
the central team are also on site at times supporting the
scheme. All staff have significant experience of working with
children, and comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage
(EYFS), and the requirements of the Ofsted Childcare
Register. All staff members have a full up to date Disclosure
and Barring Check (DBS). We maintain a minimum staff/child
ratio of 1:8. A list of staff who hold a valid paediatric First Aid
certificate is displayed at the scheme.
Food and Drink
We recognise the importance of healthy nutrition. Water is
available throughout the day for all the children to access. We
also have a clear notice on our parent’s notice board regarding
food allergies. Parents/carers must inform a member of the
management team if their child has any allergy.
Breakfast
Children who are booked onto our extended day provision are
offered a healthy breakfast between 8:00am- 8:45am.
Breakfast include cereals and milk, toast and spreads, beans,
eggs, bagels, fresh fruits and yoghurts.
Snack
For children in the Early Years Foundation Stage we provide a
snack around 10am. For all children, we provide an afternoon
snack of fresh fruit.
Lunch
Lunch time takes place at 12:00 and parents/carers are
required to provide a healthy packed lunch. If you would like
some support with this please do not hesitate to speak to a
member of staff or see the Healthy Packed Lunch Guidance.
(please refer to our healthy eating policy)
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
4
Inclusion/ Meeting Individual Needs
A core principle of inclusion is that all children, wherever
possible, have a right to play. The holiday scheme offers a
limited number of places for children requiring one to one
support. Our aim is to provide equal opportunities for all those
involved in the scheme
(please refer to our inclusion and SEN policy)
Illness
We are unable to care for children who are unwell. Please
inform the manager of any infectious illness your child
contracts. If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea please
do not send him/her to the scheme for 48 hours after the
illness has ceased.
(A full copy of our Illness and accidents Policy is available on
request).
Accidents and First Aid
Every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the children
at all times. Staff are trained in First Aid and a First Aid kit is
kept on the premises. Fire drills are carried out regularly.
(please refer to our Illness and Accidents Policy)
Medication
Please inform the management team if your child is taking any
prescribed medicine and if it needs to be administered while
they are attending the scheme. If so please notify the
management team and complete the permission to administer
medical form. For any children who have asthma their pump
must be brought with them to the scheme and left with the
management team. If children require any medicine and do not
have it with them at the scheme they will not be allowed to
stay.
(please refer to our Medication Policy).
Changing and toileting
If your child/ren wet or soil themselves at the Holiday Childcare
scheme they will be supported sensitively by a member of
staff. Please speak to a member of staff if you feel that your
child may need some support with their toileting.
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
5
Changes to your Child’s Attendance.
Please remember that we need to know if your child/ren will
not be attending. In cases of illness or an emergency when
notice cannot be given, please call the management team as
soon as possible.
If you no longer require the place, one weeks’ notice must be
given before the start of the scheme in order to receive a full
refund.
Requests for changes to days should be made to the Holiday
Childcare team and will be accommodated where possible.
(please refer to our admissions and fees policy)
What to bring on a daily basis:
Please dress your child appropriately. Your child will be taking
part in physical activities and will need to be comfortable.
Please also ensure your child has clothes for all weather
conditions.
 Please provide your child with a Healthy Packed Lunch.
Please see our Healthy Packed Lunch Information
Sheet.
 For children under the age of 5 please bring a change
of clothes. If your older child is likely to have an
accident please also provide a change of clothes and
inform a member of staff.
 Please do not bring any toys from home. We cannot
take responsibility for loss or damage of toys brought
from home.
Holiday Childcare Scheme expectations
Within the scheme we would support and expect children to
respect each other and the scheme rules. There are formed in
collaboration with the staff and the children on the first day of
each scheme and are displayed for everyone to refer to. The
rules include promoting positive behaviour and self-regulation.
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
6
Complaints/suggestions
We welcome all comments/suggestions about our provision.
Your comments/suggestions are a good way for you to let us
know your thoughts on the scheme which will help us evaluate
and build on our practice.
If you have a complaint or concern about a member of staff or
any aspect of the scheme, please do not hesitate to speak to
the management team. We will endeavour to make time to
speak about any concerns and hope to resolve them promptly.
(please see the complaints procedure)
Our Pledge to Parents/Carers
We value our relationship with parents/carers and are
committed to working in partnership with you to provide high
quality play and care for your children. We will:
 Welcome you at all times and will be available to
discuss our work and the organisation of the scheme.
 Safeguard children in our care. A copy of the
Safeguarding policy is available at the scheme.
 Keep you informed of opening times, fees and charges,
programmes of activities, menus, and procedures.
 Be consistent and reliable to enable you to plan with
confidence and peace of mind.
 Share and discuss your child's achievements,
experiences, progress, and friendships.
 Ask your permission for outings and special events.
 Listen to your views and concerns to ensure that we
continue to meet your needs.
Please remember it is parents/carers responsibility to notify the
Holiday Childcare Team of any changes to personal
circumstances. E.g. medical needs and contact details.
(please refer to our working in partnership with parents policy)
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
7
Tower Hamlets Holiday Scheme - Useful contact details
Scheme Manager: Joe Boakye Yiadom
Contact Mobile: 07985 360 955
(This number will only be used when the scheme is operating)
Central Office
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Holiday Childcare Scheme
5th Floor, Mulberry Place,
5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG
Email: [email protected]
Landline: 020 7364 0523/ 4071/ 4477
Family Information Service
0207 364 6495
School site addresses:
St Mary & St Michael Primary School,
Sutton Street, London E1 0BD
St Matthias Primary School
Bacon Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6DY
Ofsted details:
St Mary and St Michaels URN EY349265
St Matthias
URN 119619
Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD
Tel: 0300 123 1231
Tower Hamlets child protection advice line
0207 364 3444
Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
8