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

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

April 2025, Theme Spring Fun week 1
Area	Mon 7 Apr	Tues 8 Apr	Weds 9 Apr	Thurs 10 Apr	Fri 11 Apr
Creativity zone	Make your own badges with a message	Collage making	Clay modelling	Slime activity	Paper art
Active fun	Cricket	Tag rugby	Parachute games Dance Club	Tennis club	Cycling Dance club
Baking and cooking	Peach pie	Banana bread	Lemon cheesecake	Marble cake	Flap jacks

Week 2

Area	Mon 14 April	Tues 15 Apri	Weds 16 Apr	Thurs 17 Apr
Creativity Zone	Basket weaving	Paper plate fun	Make your own sun catcher	Party Easter egg hunt
Active Fun	Archery Tennis club	Hockey	Dodgeball Tennis club	Party games
Cooking	Cherry bakewall	Raseberry Sponge cake	Fruit pie	Almond cake

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.