The Bromley by Bow Children's Centre has two locations - the Bromley by Bow Centre itself and the Marner Centre. The Children's Centre opened in 2003, and now has over 1,000 children registered, in addition to the childcare and nursery services provided by Bow Childcare. As well as offering an inspiring and welcoming environment for children to learn and play, Marner Centre plays a central role in the local community. The Children's Centre helps to suport local after-school clubs and provides activities during the school holidays in partnership with Bow Childcare and Poplar HARCA. The Parents' Forum takes place weekly and provides an opportunity for parents to share lunch, listen to guest speakers and arrange outings. The Children's Centre supports all generations of family members, and has more recently started an Elders' Group.
Services and activities include:
BabyCaff
Weekly sessions for mothers and 0-8 month old babies, designed to give support and advice on a variety of topics. Baby massage is taught and breastfeeding support is available.
Chat-a-way team
A parent and child group for under 5's to help with listening, talking and communication, personal development and self-esteem.
Children and Families Market Place
A variety of health information and support with play and activities, including child health clinic.
Family learning
This course is aimed at parents and carers of children from 12 months to 5 years and aims to explore issues around language, literacy and communication and the promotion of creative play for your child.
Fathers' Forum and Mothers' Forum
The Fathers' Forum meets monthly for accredited and non-accredited training opportunites for fathers of under 5 year olds. Employment advice is available. The Mothers' Forum meets weekly for mothers of under-5s to provide a range of training opportunities and to share lunch. Play support is provided, and employment advice is available.
Help at hand group
Inclusive group supporting families and children under 5 where there are behavioural concerns or other problems. Families who have concerns about their children's behaviour are invited to come along to the 'Help at Hand' group and see a child psychotherapist and health visitor.
Parent counsellor
Parents who have emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety or stress are referred or self-referred to our adult counsellor.
Stay and play
An opportunity for parents to play with their children in a safe space and access professional support for their child's development. Activities are themed and range from cooking, arts and crafts, music and storytelling.
Toy library
Toy libraries offer a lending service to under 8 year olds. The toy libraries provide play and stay sessions with the opportunity for parents and children to play together with family support.
Women-only swimming group
Mothers of under 5 year-olds are invited to join our Women Only weekly swimming group. We meet at the Marner Centre and transport is provided to the pool.
Teenage parent advisor
Borough wide support for under-18 parents with children aged 0-12 months.
In addition a range of services provided through the Bromley by Bow Centre are available on-site at the Children's Centre, including:
- Advice and guidance
- Employment surgery
- English classes (ESOL)
- Sewing classes
- HARCA housing surgery
Download the Children's Centre's summer 08 activities leaflet.
To access the services at the Children's Centre, please call 020 8709 9716 or 079 5074 9144
