Children's Centre

Welcome

Edith Kerrison Children’s Centre has a dedicated team to support families in the local community. Our team consists of a Centre Coordinator, Senior Practitioners, Senior Family Support Workers, Family Support Workers, and Early Years practitioners.

We aim to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Our goal is to collaborate with families and children to provide the best start in life.

We are the lead centre providing services to families in Custom House and Canning Town. Our services are run in partnership with Keir Hardie Primary School.

Children's Centre

Welcome

Edith Kerrison Children’s Centre has a dedicated team to support families in the local community. Our team consists of a Centre Coordinator, Senior Practitioners, Senior Family Support Workers, Family Support Workers, and Early Years practitioners.

We aim to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Our goal is to collaborate with families and children to provide the best start in life.

We are the lead centre providing services to families in Custom House and Canning Town. Our services are run in partnership with Keir Hardie Primary School.

Universal services

Drop-in sessions do not require booking. Our universal services include baby and toddler groups, messy play, and storytime. These services are quite popular, so we kindly ask that you arrive no more than 10 minutes before the session starts. It’s important to be aware that some sessions have limited capacity. In the winter, in particular, it may not be possible to attend if we are full, and we may have to close registration due to health and safety reasons.

Targeted services

We offer a wide range of services. Universal services are open to all but have limited capacity and become booked quickly. Other health services can be accessed through drop-ins, such as oral health promotion. Some services are provided by children’s centre staff, such as Baby Massage and Stop the Bottle. These may also require booking. It is important to check the Activity Programme to see whether you need to book a session. We also signpost to support groups such as breastfeeding.

Multi-Professional Partnerships

The Children’s Centre collaborates with various professionals to offer a wide range of services and developmental play for children with complex needs. This collaboration includes speech and language therapists, health visitors, educational advisors, and other practitioners.

Two year old provision

We offer education and care for all eligible two-year-olds, with a place available through government funding. The government has set the criteria for accessing this free place.
Learn more about Two Year Old Provision

3 hours a day

We offer a 3-hour morning or afternoon program, available every weekday during term time. Consistent attendance is important for your child to make the best progress. We value collaboration with all parents and carers.

Workshops

Workshops and events are an excellent way to connect with other parents and exchange parenting ideas. You can gain insight into your child’s learning both at home and in school. Our workshops and parent events are very popular.

Our opening times

The Children’s Centre has a dedicated team to support families in the local community. During the sessions, you will meet either family support or outreach workers. These sessions offer informal opportunities to discuss pregnancy, babies, children, and family life.

Entrance
The entrance is via Canning Town Recreation Park. You can get there by following the directions via Sophia Road park entrance. Once you’re at the park, follow the perimeter of the school and then follow the pathway. When you pass the tennis courts, take the pathway to the right. You will find the entrance gate, which has a Children’s Centre sign, located along the fence.

The staff at the children’s centre are available at the following times:

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 4.00 pm
Closed for Bank Holidays

At other times please call
0207 476 1735

info@edithkerrison.newham.sch.uk

Registration

Registration can be completed online via the Best Start in Life Registration Form.

If you don’t have a card or have recently moved to the area, please visit the centre, and we will register you in our system. You don’t need to bring any documents, and you can start using our services on the same day as your registration. Our services are free.

Get in Touch

Useful documents

Registration Form

Your Journey from Pregnancy to Age 5

Programmes

Miscellaneous

Activity Programme

Booking

Please call the central booking line for sessions that require booking, unless stated differently. Please call the day before to book a place. Please call on a Friday to book a Monday group.

Booking times are 9am – 3pm
Central booking number 0207 473 2761

Transparency

All service users will have access to 3 groups per week, based on the age of the child, at both sites. Families receiving support through our services will be able to access additional sessions. If sessions are full, a waiting list will be in place. For more information, please call and speak to a member of the team, or register here for
Newham BSiL Children’s Centres

Our programme can change and due to limited capacity, only one adult per family is admitted to a group unless otherwise arranged.

Please note that not all activities are held at the Children’s Centre. some are held at Family Hub Shipman Youth Zone. Please refer to our Activity Programme for details.

Gain exclusive access to a wide array of enriching activities, programs, and resources at any Children’s Centre in Newham.

Family Support

Life can be challenging, and we sometimes need support to navigate difficult situations. Our team of experienced family support workers is able to offer you help during times of worries and concerns, no matter how small it may seem.

Please contact the centre to speak to a family support worker. They can offer support with signposting to the food bank, SEND, domestic abuse organisations, parenting support, child development, emotional well-being, and much more.

Childcare

If you require childcare, please visit Newham Family Information Service. Childminders are able to offer 15-30 hours of childcare.

Healthy Start

Vitamins

Edith Kerrison Children’s Centre is a distribution centre for Healthy Start Vitamins

All pregnant women, new mothers, and children under the age of 4 can access free vitamins, including the recommended amount of Vitamin D, in Newham.

Collection times: 9am-3pm Monday to Friday