​From 1st September 2017, if you have a child aged between 3 and 4 years old, you may be eligible to claim 30 hours of free childcare per week. The City of London and Sir John Cass’s Foundation primary school already offer additional childcare from the term of your child’s 4th birthday, so these changes will have a limited effect in our setting.
 
These are our provisional arrangements for next year. We will write to parents and carers individually when we have further confirmation from the City of London.

All children are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare from the start of the term after your child turns 3. This means a child born between:
· 1 September and 31 December is eligible from 1 January
· 1 January and 31 March is eligible from 1 April
· 1 April and 31 August is eligible from 1 September
 
You may also be eligible to apply for an additional 15 hours of childcare, taking the total to 30 hours of free childcare per week.
 
Am I eligible?
· You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £120 a week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage).
· If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
· If you, or your partner, expect to earn £100,000 or more a year then you will not be eligible for the 30 hours free childcare.
 
How can these additional hours be taken?
The way the school operates full time and part time places remains in place. If eligible, your additional free hours may be taken in addition to your part time place meaning that your child will be in our Nursery from 8.55am to 3.15pm every day. This is offered for 38 weeks of the school year (term time only).
 
If you wish for your child to attend breakfast club, tea club and holiday club these will be chargeable extras. If, during the course of the year, your child is absent from school for any reason you will not be refunded for the hours your child missed (due to holding the place for the child).
 
Parents who are not eligible for the 30 hours free childcare will continue to be entitled to 15 hours free per week, as is currently available. You can top up this childcare by paying additional childcare fees.
 
When do I stop claiming?
The City of London and Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School already offer free childcare for 30 hours from the term of your child’s 4th birthday. At this point you will no longer be eligible to claim.
 
Ms Alex Allan
Deputy Headteacher and Head of Children’s Centre
 
 

​Did you know that in Tower Hamlets and the City we have some of the poorest dental health in the country? You may have seen a recent report on the news about the huge increase in the number of extractions of baby teeth: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39327425
 
The NHS Community Dental Services will be visiting the Children’s Centre on 2nd May, 2017 from 9.30-11.30am. All parents are more than welcome to attend. 
 
If you’re interested in improving your family’s oral health or would like information and advice about keeping your children’s teeth clean and healthy come along to our workshop.
 

We're strating a major new partnership with the Anna Freud Centre after the Chrismtas holiday. We'll be running a parent and toddler group with a specific focus.

​What we help with

• The usual types of issues that the parent-toddler group can help with include:

• Trouble sleeping or eating
• Difficulties communicating and playing
• Finding it hard to share at home or when out
• Feeling isolated, frustrated or angry
• Worried about your relationship with your toddler
• Difficulty separating
• Developmental delays or concerns

 
How we help
 
You will meet with a member of the Anna Freud Under 5’s team who will discuss the parent toddler group with you and see if you would like to attend. The small informal parent toddler group will meet weekly for one and a half hours from January 2017 to January 2018. We ask parents and carers to try to commit to coming to the parent toddler group for one year.
 
There will be 8-10 children in the group with their carers all living in the local area. Parents and carers can get advice and support from experienced professionals.
 
We aim to build your relationship and support your toddler’s development through talk and play.
 
We think together about your child’s feelings and behaviour, try to understand what she/he is communicating and explore ways of responding.
 
We aim to encourage your child’s self-confidence and independence in preparation for nursery school.

​What parents say
 
"A regular place to come with continuity, focus and respect for the children and the importance of the parents' relationships with them. Skillful and informed help from the group's leader and assistant. Thank you very much, my son and I have loved the group".
- Parent who attended a Parent-Toddler Group

Explorers and Discoverer's enjoying a picnic on Victoria Park

Come along to our all new Stay and Play every Thursday at 9.15am.

We've been enjoying a wonderful new weekly activity in the Children's Centre. Each Monday morning our babies have been making music as part of a new rhythm and beats session. If you have an under 2-year old, come along and join in the fun.