City Child and Family Centre

Information about the City Child and Family Centre

City Child and Family Centre provides a range of support services and activities for families with children under five. These are available from pregnancy until the child starts reception class at primary school.

Along with early learning and day care, the centre offers access to parenting classes, midwives and health visitors, ESOL courses, and advice on mental health, housing, money, training and employment.

Most of the City of London's children's centre services take place at the City Child and Family Centre although some are available at other locations around the City.

Located at the Aldgate School, the City Child and Family Centre provides early education and integrated childcare, as well as health and family support services. There is after-school care for children aged six and over.

We offer quality child care provision for children aged 3 months to 4 years; 7:45am - 6pm (47 weeks a year).

We also provide a Holiday Club (3 months - 5 years) and Play Scheme (5 years - 11 years old) during school holidays.

We have three rooms:

  • Explorers Room has the 3 months - 2 year olds (chargeable)
  • Discoverers Room: has the 2 - 3 years olds (chargeable)
  • Investigators Room: has the 3 - 4 years olds (Nursery application required)

We also offer play sessions and services for families with children 0 - 5 years old, such as adult learning sessions. For current sessions please click on the links under 'Downloads' on the right.

SEND provision at Children's centres
Children's centres are fully inclusive. This means that all activities welcome children who may have additional needs, and reasonable adjustments will be made were necessary.

All children's centres in the borough have sensory play facilities for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

There is a specialist SEND Early Years Practitioner who works across the Children's Centres in the borough. They can help to identify children who may have additional needs and work with them in up to six 1:1 sessions to support their development. Ask in your local Children's Centre for more information.

Who to contact

The City of London Child and Family Centre
St James's Passage
Duke's Place
London
EC3A 5DE

Phone number: 020 7283 1147
Email address: office@thealdgateschool.org

The City Child and Family Centre (CCFC) is situated within the Aldgate School.

To find the school, use Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/o9zRTgw4z6ZqLC1r9

By Underground
Nearest station: Aldgate Station - Circle /Metropolitan lines
Aldgate East Station – District/ Hammersmith and City lines
Tower Hill – Circle line.
Liverpool Street – Central/ Elizabeth lines

By Train
Fenchurch Street – C2C

By Bus
8, 15, 25, 115, 78, 100, 205, 135

See tfl.gov.uk for more details

If you would like to know more about our children’s centre activities and receive information or support, please complete the application form below and email it to jo.welsh@thealdgateschool.org or gpoullais@thealdgateschool.org.

We are excited that some sessions at the Child and Family Centre will be face-to-face once again. However, please note that these will be limited to five adults. We still have lots of activities happening online for children, young people and adults. Look out for our libraries' sessions and our adult learning courses.

Please contact the centre for more information using the above details.

Please also see the autumn activities timetable below for information about the services and activities available to families, children and adults across the Square Mile. 

You can download the timetable at the bottom of the page.

Children’s Centres provide a range of support services and activities for families with children under five. These are available from pregnancy until the child starts reception class at primary school.

Along with early learning and day care, children’s centres offer access to parenting classes, midwives and health visitors, ESOL courses, and advice on mental health, housing, money, training and employment.

Most of the City of London's children's centre services take place at the City Child and Family Centre although some are available at other locations around the City.

Located at the Aldgate School, the City of London Child and Family Centre provides early education and integrated childcare, as well as health and family support services. 

Stay and Play
Our Stay and Play sessions encourage development through play. Spend quality time with your little one exploring all forms of play, both indoors and in our extensive outdoor area!

Tuesdays

  • Messy Play, Tuesday, 9 – 11am.
    • Indoor and outdoor play. Bring your wellies and a change of clothes!
  • Stay and Play, 1 - 3pm.
    • Indoor and outdoor physical play

No booking required.

Fridays

  • Stay and Play, 9 - 11am
    • Indoor and outdoor physical play
  • Sensory Play sessions and outdoor play, 1 - 3:15pm 

No booking required.

Baby and toddler orchestra
Mondays 9:30 – 10:00am
Start Monday mornings with musical fun, learning new songs and actions! Explore musical instruments! A service provided by Thames Music Service.

No booking required.

Sensory Room (bookable)
Mondays 10:00 – 11:15
Thursdays 10:20 – 11:15

Suitable for babies and young toddlers. Enjoy a calm, relaxing atmosphere in a quiet room, which offers a variety of visual and physical experiences using light and tactile toys and materials.

20 minutes sessions available through booking.

Baby Massage (bookable)
Thursdays, 10 – 11am, 4 week course

Come along to the group of sessions and learn massage techniques to relax babies and improve wellbeing, up to six months old. Opportunity to stay and chat with other parents/carers after the session, until 12pm. Booking required.

Family Cooking (bookable)
Tuesdays, 1 – 3pm, 4-week course
Adult and children under 5 sessions. Learn to cook healthy recipes with Hasna.

Booking required.

Family Lives Parenting advice
Tuesdays, 9:15am – 3:30pm

One to one appointments available.
Please book through Georgina, our Family Support worker at gpoullais@thealdgateschool.org

Speech and Language Therapy appointments 
First Wednesday of the month, 1:30 – 3:30pm

Referrals only via the SaLT team, City and Hackney residents only.

Breast and infant-feeding advice 
First Wednesday of the month 11am – 1pm

No booking required
Email Georgina for more information gpoullais@thealdgateschool.org

Contact directly for advice regarding money/benefits/debt, legal, housing and employment.

For more information: www.toynbeehall.org.uk/get-help

Tel: 020 7247 6943
28 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LS

City of London activities timetable for children and families, September - December 2024
City of London activities timetable for children and families, September - December 2024