A new health room, sensory room, meeting and training facilities, a crèche and outdoor play area have been added to the revamped children’s centre, which was closed 12 months for the work to take place.
It was offically re-opened by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs on 8 March, who was joined by more than 100 families.
The move forms part of the council’s commitment to protect and invest in its children’s centres so more parents and children can benefit from them.
It follows a council consultation last summer in which a decision was taken to deliver services for families with pre-school age children from 12 existing children’s centres. This includes the newly refurbished Ocean Children’s Centre, which caters for around 1,623 children under five-years-old.
Ocean Children's Centre was originally opened in 2011 and used as a One O'Clock Club and then a venue for stay and play.
In 2014, Tower Hamlets Council confirmed to Nursery World that its children’s centre budget was protected until 2019 and it had no plans to close or make any changes to its centres.
Mayor Biggs said, ‘The council is dedicated to investing in families and giving every child in Tower Hamlets the best possible start in life, that is why we are protecting and investing in our excellent children’s centres so that even more parents and youngsters can benefit from them.’
Councillor Rachael Saunders, cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services at Tower Hamlets Council, said, ‘We are committed to providing a variety of support to empower families, children and young people in the borough to take part in a range of activities or receive information and advice and make a difference to their lives.
‘I encourage families in the Stepney area to visit Ocean Children’s Centre and find out what is on offer.’
