HCS about our scheme activities and newsletters

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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  

Below is an example of some of the main activities on offer. Outdoor activities will be weather dependant.


Week 1: Disney week

AreasMon 28 JulyTues 29 JulyWeds 30 JulyThurs 31 JulyFri 1 Aug
Creativity Zone

Spoon-ee craft

Toy Story slinky dog craft 

Finding Nemo and Dory paper craft

Disney shadow art collage

Disney badges

Outdoor

Bench football

Capture the flag

Water fun

Skipping is fun double dutch

Mini golf

Baking and Cooking

Carrot cake

Blueberry muffins

Fruit salad

Honey cake

Iced fairy cakes

Week 2: Sports

AreasMon 4 AugTue 5 AugWeds 6 AugThurs 7 AugFri 8 Aug
Creativity Zone

Paper mâché: football

Make your own medals

National Playday

Homemade winner's trophies

Make your own sports equipment

 Outdoor

Football

Baseball

National Playday

Cycling

Party games

Baking and Cooking

Apple and blackberry pie

Mini Victoria sponge cakes

National Playday

Sticky upside-down banana cake

Cherry Bakewell pudding

Week 3: I am a superhero

 AreasMon 11 AugTues 12 AugWeds 13 AugThurs 14 AugFri 15 Aug 
Creativity Zone

Create your own superhero board game

Make your own comic book

Make your superheo cushion

Make up your own super hero emblem

Superhero masks

 Outdoor

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: Environment

 AreasMon 18 AugTues 19 AugWeds 20 AugThurs 21 AugFri 22 Aug 
Creativity Zone

Making time capsules, take home to bury

Wildlife animals; fun clay modelling

Create and make your own environment posters

Make a birdfeeder from recycled material

Scheme party

 Outdoor

Team tag

Hula races

Lacrosse

Cycling

Athletics

Baking and Cooking

Tracle sponge bites

Old school sponge tray bake

 

Apple fruit cake

Treacle cakes

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. 

Read the latest scheme newsletter for Summer 2024.

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