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Hertsmere Leisure Children's Centre Head Office
Shakespeare Drive
Off Furzehill Road
Borehamwood
Herts, WD6 2FD
Tel: 020 8386 4038
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Children's Centres & Facilities
Bushey Children's Centre
We are pleased to announce that this new centre has been approved. Keep an eye on the website for more details.
Staff Photos
Activity Programme (January – March 2010)
Activities for children under 5 and their parents and carers
We are in our second term of activities and I hope you have all enjoyed our sessions because the team and myself have all loved meeting you and your friends. We have introduced some more new sessions that we hope you will enjoy, but if for any reason it is not possible for you to attend a session you have booked for could you please let us know.
As some of you may be already aware that all of our sessions are FREE – however we do have donation boxes available at all our activities and we would be most grateful if you would consider this when attending the groups as this will aid us to continue providing good quality activities.
If you would like to book onto a session but have not filled in a registration form, do not worry, just ring our office and we can send you a form or pop along to any of the drop in session and pick up a form, our staff will be on hand with any support or information you may need.
Browse activities by day:
Monday
Toy Library
It works as an ordinary library enabling people to hire toys and equipment for short periods of time at very reasonable costs. To find out how to become a member pick up one of our Toy Library leaflets or speak to one of the Children’s Centre staff to find out more. You can pre-order toys and even get Home delivery!
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 11.00 am – 12.00 noon
Dates: 11th January – 29th March (not 15th February)
Fun with Stories
This session is to use your well known popular stories in a different way, watch and take part in making “Going on a bear hunt” come alive, “Elma the colorful elephant” can live in your home or decorate a biscuit for when “Tiger comes to tea”.
Who: Recommended age 0 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Holy Trinity Church Time: 9:45 am – 10:30 am
Dates: 11th January - 29th March (Not 15th February)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Sticky Kids
Help develop your child’s listening skills through this interactive fun and lively music session. For children aged 2 – 5 years.
Who: Recommended age 2 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Holy Trinity Church
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Dates: 11th January - 29th March (Not 15th February)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Story and Rhyme Time at Bushey Library with Library Staff
Who: Recommended under 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Bushey Library Time: 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Dates: Every Monday all year round except Bank Holidays
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Tuesday
Sticky Kids
Help develop your child’s listening skills through this interactive fun and lively music session. For children aged 2 – 5 years.
Who: Recommended age 2 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Dates: 12th January – 9th February
(Not the 19th January)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Rhythm & Rhyme
Come and join us for a fun music session. These sessions will be run by Children’s centre staff and encourage young children to listen to and join in with rhymes and songs. We will also explore musical instruments and the sounds they make.
Who: Recommended age 2 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Dates: 23rd February – 30th March
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Parenting Café
Please join us for a free cuppa and a chance to chat with other parents/carers. Children’s Centre staff will be on hand to answer questions and tell you more about the centre’s Programme
Who: For parents and carers with their children 0 – 5 years
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Dates: 12th January - 30th March (Not 19th January or 16th February)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
123 Cook with Me
Tired of trying to provide good food on a budget? This course is for you and your children. You can experiment with new foods that are easy and practical. After cooking the food we will all sit down together to a sociable, healthy snack
Who: Recommended age 3 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: St James Church.
Please be aware there are no parking facilities at this site
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Dates: 12th, 19th, 26th January
Bookings: 020 8421 7140
Parenting Puzzle
The Parenting Puzzle is run over 8 weeks. It encourages parents and carers to enjoy bringing up children and getting the best out of family life. It will help you understand how emotions influence our actions and offers many positive, practical ways of guiding children so they learn to handle both their feelings and their behaviour. Best suited for parents/carers of children aged 3 years and over.
Who: For parents and carers of children aged 3 years and above
Where: St James Church.
Please be aware there are no parking facilities at this site
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Dates: 2nd February - 30th March (Not 16th February)
Bookings: 020 8421 7140
Crèche: limited places available please book in advance
Wednesday
Baby Rhyme Time with Bushey Library and their Staff
Rattle and shake. Come and join in with baby rhyme time.
Who: Recommended for under 5 years with a parent or carer.
Where: Bushey Library
Time: 11:00am – 11:30am
Dates: 27th January, 24th February, 31st March
(last Wednesday of every month)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Make Believe NEW
Come and join in with your children to explore their imagination by using a variety of themed props and dressing up clothes, pretend to be a Doctor/Nurse or a Pirate sailing the seven seas.
Who: Recommended age 3 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Bushey Community Centre to the right of Bushey Country Club
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Dates: 13th January – 10th February
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Create and Take NEW
This session will centre around a special day or festival like Mothers day or Chinese New Year. Create a master piece for the fridge, the dog, Nanny/Grandad or even the next door neighbour.
Who: Recommended age 2 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Bushey Community Centre
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Dates: 24th February – 31st March
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Thursday
Hands on Creative Play Workshop
A drop in class for you and your child to come along and enjoy a range of messy play activities. The activities will be provided and co-coordinated by a member of the Children’s Centre Team. Please dress your children in suitable clothing for messy play. Recommended for 1-5 year olds.“Despite appearances, messy play can make an enormous contribution to babies’ and young children’s cognitive and creative development” – Early years foundation stage
Who: Recommended age 1 – 3 years with a parent or carer
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dates: 14th January – 11th February
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Make Believe NEW
Come and join in with your children to explore their imagination by using a variety of themed props and dressing up clothes, pretend to be a Doctor/Nurse or a Pirate sailing the seven seas.
Who: Recommended age 2 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dates: 25th February – 25th March
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Be Creative and Weekly Toy Library Support Session at St James Toddler Group
We will be providing an activity each week within the Toddler Group. Plus our staff will be available to provide information. Please note that there will be a small charge or donation for you to attend the Parent and Toddler Group.
Who: Recommended age 0 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: St James Church Parent and Carer Toddler Group,
Please be aware there are no parking facilities at this site
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Dates: 14th January – 25th March (Not18th February)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Bushey Play & Stay
Come along to and enjoy a range of fun and stimulating early learning activities with your children. The session includes free nutritious snacks for the children. You will be encouraged to interact with your child/children. Children’s Centre staff organise and lead these sessions. Please dress your children suitably for messy sessions
Who: Recommended age 0 – 5 years with a parent or carer
Where: Bushey Community Centre
Time: 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Dates: 14th January – 25th March (Not 18th February)
Bookings: Not required – just drop in
Save a Life - First Aid – 2hr course
This session will focus on family first aid and you will learn about resuscitation and how to manage emergency situations. Led by an Experienced First Aid Trainer
Who: For parents and carers of young children
Where: Hartspring Community Centre
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Date: 21st January
Bookings: 020 8421 7140
(No children permitted as there are no facilities for a crèche)
Friday
Baby Massage – 5 week course
Baby Massage is run over 5 weeks by IAIM qualified instructors. You will learn: to massage your baby, using approved strokes and techniques about the benefits of massage
Who: Recommended age 2 – 8 months with parents or carer
Where: Holy Trinity Church
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Course 1: Dates: 15th January – 12th February
Course 2: Dates: 26th February – 26th March
Bookings: 020 8421 7140
Great news for Bushey!
There are plans for a new Children’s Centre to come into your area. Hertsmere Leisure has won the contract to set up and manage the centre that is coming to your area.
What happens next?
Firstly we need to find the right premises and we are working with Hertfordshire County Council’s building department. In most cases it will probably be a small extension or modification of any existing building. Watch this space for further developments.
What will my local Children’s Centre look like?
Every Centre will be different but you can expect to see a small office with a small meeting area for training and small groups. All activities for larger groups will be held in Community Venues spread around each Children’s Centre area to ensure that the majority of people will have easy access to our services.
Will local people have their views heard about the services on offer?
Absolutely right!
A consultation has been conducted with local parents, carers, children and everybody running services for children aged 0-5. You will have an opportunity to complete a questionnaire (which will also be available on line on this website); attend a focus group and local children will have the chance to get involved in a range of activities so that we can find out what they enjoy doing.
How much do your services cost?
Wherever possible our services are FREE, however we do encourage people to give a small donation.
What qualifications do the Children’s Centres staff have?
All our Children’s Centres staff have a level 3 or above qualification in Early Years Education, they also complete training in First Aid, Safeguarding Children, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Baby Massage and Parenting Facilitation.
Will you be looking for new staff for the Centre?
Yes – over the next two years there will be a number of vacancies. All staff vacancies are advertised on our website.
When will you be opening?
The deadline is March 2010, however, we have already begun to put some services in to the new areas and as soon as the buildings are complete a full programme will be available.
Look forward to meeting you
Hertsmere Leisure’s Children’s Centres Team