Welcome to Crane Park Children’s Centre

 Timetable for January/ February 2010

My name is Karen I am your Children’s Centre Manager.

 

Crane Park Children’s Centre has been open since November 2005.  We offer a wide range of activities and services to parents and carers providing childcare, education, health and family support within the local community.  All Children’s Centre activities are open to parents, grandparents and carers with children under five. 

 

We have an established and successful Parent & Toddler Group which runs each Wednesday afternoon from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. With lots of fun activities including singing, story time, toys, games, arts & crafts.  It provides social time for children and is a great place to meet other local parents.  There is a nominal fee of £1.00 for the first child and 50p for each additional child but drinks and snacks are provided. We also have regular visits to the group from Musical Steps which provide baby, toddler and pre-school music based sessions and explore a whole range of educational, fun-filled activities. The sessions are very relaxed and friendly and a wonderful way to spend quality time with your child.

  

Starting new this half term we have Tatty Bumpkin.  These are Classes for children from 18months to five years inspired by yoga. With stories, music, exercise, interactive play and designed for parents to join in (so you can get a good stretch and also relaxation too!). Start with the Tatty Bumpkin warm up song, Bendy, Giggly, Clever and Strong, and then go on a magical adventure through the Giggle Tree.  Every Thursday afternoon from 1:00pm to 2:00pm Places are limited but free.

 We also have a Sewing Circle every Friday morning 9:15am to 11:30am.  Would you like to learn how to use a sewing machine, make curtains, clothes or even just sew on a button? Then the sewing circle is the place to learn.  There are also a range of other crafts on offer and it is a good place to socialise.  There is a charge of £1.00 per session but this does include refreshments. A crèche is available must be pre-booked.

Do your children love to make a mess but you’re not so keen on them making it in your home?  Well why not all come to our Messy Play and Arts & Crafts Sessions every Tuesday and Friday afternoon from 1:00pm to 3:00pm(see timetable). Learn how to make play dough & gloop.  We also have paper crafting, all sorts of painting, model making, sticking & gluing, bubble play and lots more.  See the notice board for each weeks activity. No need to book just turn up on the day.

Fancy a quick cuppa & a chat, then why not pop into our Coffee Morning every first Thursday of the month 9:30am to 10:30am. Tea also available for non coffee drinkers). Cost is just 50p per family. Story & Rhyme Time runs alongside coffee morning and each month there is a guest story teller. Please bring your child’s red book along to claim your free Bookstart pack.

Crane Park Children’s Centre also has a well stocked Toy Library that you can borrow toys and games from for 50p per toy per week.  It is a fantastic way to provide your children with a variety of new toys to help them learn and develop, but without the cost of buying them. 

We have a range of a activities which include Baby Massage, Kiddikicks, Stay & Play and Little Buds Baby Group. Please see our timetable for a full list with times and dates.

Family Learning opportunities are also available when children and parents can learn a new skill together. If several people show an interest in the same course we would try and set it up.

The Children’s Centre is very much a community lead resource.  We want to know from our local families what they would like from the Centre and are keen to recruit parents to join our Parents Forum.  We will be setting this up in the near future so we will keep you posted.

We also have great links with the extended school service, adult education and various community groups.  Crèches are available for Mums attending courses in our Children’s and Community Centre. We also run a Breakfast Club and After School Care Club during term time and Holiday Play Schemes run during school holidays.  Adult Education Courses currently on offer include basic skills and English for speakers of other languages. These courses are advertised locally and in the centre.

The Children’s Centre offers a wide range of leaflets and information from benefits, health care, baby clinics, information for fathers, childminders, other local groups and lots more. 

There will be various events and activities going on throughout the year which will be published and flyers sent out, but also check our notice boards for updates. 

The Centre has its own entrance to the left of the Key Stage 1 playground.

We look forward to seeing you!  Crane Park Children’s Centre – to 0208 583 5866