HCS about our scheme activities and newsletters

About our scheme

The Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme provides a good quality, safe and inclusive childcare service.

We encourage children to engage and take part in play-based activities indoors and outdoors. Highly qualified staff plan and provide a wide range of fun activities.

They follow the children’s interests, supporting them to choose their own activities and make decisions for themselves.

Your child/ren will be placed in the appropriate area in the scheme according to their age group.

Parents should provide their child with a packed lunch each day. Check our healthy packed lunch guidance.

Staffing

The Holiday Childcare Scheme is staffed by

a manager who takes responsibility for the scheme
a deputy or second in charge
an early year’s lead
a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
childcare workers

All staff have plenty of experience working with children and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They also follow the requirements of the Ofsted Childcare Register.

All staff members have a full, up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Check (DBS) and hold a valid paediatric First Aid certificate.

Holiday Childcare Scheme expectations

Within the scheme we support and expect children to respect each other and the scheme rules.

The rules are formed in collaboration with the staff and the children on the first day of each scheme, and are displayed. The rules include promoting positive behaviour and self-regulation.

Please dress children appropriately. The children 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 do not bring any toys from home. We cannot take responsibility for any loss or damage to toys brought from home.

Children aged 3 to 5 years old

Children who are in nursery or reception are placed in our Early Years’ area. In this space, the staff plan and provide activities following the children’s interests and under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The Early Years areas are set up with a range of activities, allowing the children to choose from sand, construction, trikes, arts and crafts and more.

Circle time discussions each day children will have circle time, where they can discuss different topics. For example, focussing on children’s wellbeing, supporting them to understand feelings and share their thoughts.

Children aged 6 to 10 years old

Children aged 6 to 10 are placed within our main scheme area. The children can take part in a range of activities.

We also provide a young people’s area for children between the ages of 10 to 13. The children in this area have activities available in a more youth-focused environment and can access the main scheme activities too.

Holiday childcare activities timetable

Some of the main activities on offer. Outdoor activities will be weather dependant.

Week 1

Design and Technology
Areas	Mon 27 July	Tues 28 July	Weds 29 July	Thurs 30 July	Fri 31 July
Creative zone main scheme and Early Years	Make your own plaque	Create your own cork sailboats	Design and make your own pot	Badge making	Balloon push car
Outdoor main schemes Early Years	Bench football	Capture the flag	Water fun	Nerf fun	Badminton
Baking and cooking	Carrot cake	Blueburry muffins	Oat Flapjack	Honey cake	Iced fairy cakes

Week 2

Sports
Areas	Mon 3 August	Tues 4 August	Wed 5 August	Thurs 6 August	Fri 7 August
Creativity Zone Main Scheme and Early Years	World Cup flags	Shoebox table football	National playday sports day	Paper stadium Sports craft	Make your own sports badges
Outdoor Main scheme Early Years	Football	Baseball	National playday sports day	Cycling	Short tennis
Baking and cooking	Apple and blackberry pie	Mini Victoria sponge cakes	Call for Better Spaces	Sticky upside-down banana cake	Cherry Bakewell pudding

Week 3

Space explorers
Areas	Mon 10 August	Tues 11 August	Weds 12 August	Thurs 13 August	Fri 14 August
Creativity Zone Main scheme and Early Years	Rocketship models	Planet mobile hanging	Out of this world headbands	Starry night art	Rocket launch balloon rockets
Outdoor Main scheme Early Years	Urban golf	Karaoke fun	Mini cricket	Parachute games	Water fun
Baking and cooking	Carrot cake	Blueberry muffins	Fruit salad	Honey sponge cake	Iced fairy cakes

Week 4

Construction fun
Areas	Mon 17 August	Tues 18 August	Wed 19 August	Thurs 20 August	Fri 21 August
Creativity Zone Main scheme and Early Years	Build your own rollercoaster	Build your own stick boat	Construct your own house	Slime mania	Scheme party
Outdoor main scheme early years	Team tag rugby	Lacrosse	Laser tag	Cycling	Athletics team races
Baking and cooking	Old school sponge tray bake	Old school sponge bake	Vegetable pizza	Apple fruit cake	Cheesy scones

Newsletters

For more information on activities at the holiday scheme please view our newsletters from each scheme . Through our newsletters highlights from the scheme are shared with parents/carers and partners.