Little SERC Creche

Little SERC

Little SERC was set up in 2020 with support from the Coastal Communities Fund. It provides professional care, safe and stimulating play and enjoyable learning for children from three months old to school age.

Little SERC is there to help parents who enrol on a course at our Newcastle Campus and need access to childcare. Courses currently on offer in Newcastle include a range of courses on our Restart and Access programmes which are all aimed at adults returning to education. They’re designed to set you on the path to a new future.

Parents can focus on the future by accessing classes at the College, knowing that their young children are being expertly cared for. Since the creche opened it has proved very popular, so it is vital that any parent thinking of joining the adult returners courses at SERC in Newcastle puts their child’s name down for a place as soon as possible.

Help with costs Students may be eligible for a means-tested grant towards childcare costs, and charges at Little SERC are kept reasonable for anyone who does not qualify for a grant.

Creche Facilities

Within the creche we have defined areas for babies, toddlers and pre-school children, as well as an outdoor play area. Our staff are fully qualified and have a vast range of experience working with children of all ages. Our dedicated and motivated staff team will ensure that the holistic needs of each child are thoroughly met.

Our creche room is divided into 3 areas and each area is spacious, warm and inviting. The creche is fully resourced with a range of materials and resources which enable our staff to deliver a broad range of activities which are age and stage appropriate. This provides the opportunity for each child to learn through play at their own pace whilst having lots of fun.

Image of the Little SERC indoor Chreche area

Baby Area

Our baby area is a welcoming and homely environment for babies aged 3 months – 2 years. It has a range of sensory activities, music, books, sand, and water play. We use various natural and real resources to encourage our babies to investigate and explore their surroundings in a safe and secure environment.

Toddler Area

Our toddler area provides a safe and secure environment for children aged 2 – 3 years old. Each toddler’s curiosity is satisfied with activities including sand and water play, construction play, jigsaws, music, dance, and books. Busy hands are needed to explore our arts and crafts. Our toddler area is filled with open ended and natural objects enabling their curious minds to try out different ideas and through trial and error each child begins to make sense of how the world around them works.

Pre-school Area

Our pre-school area enables children over the age of 3 to learn through play in a stimulating environment. Our pre-schoolers enjoy a range of sand and water play, imaginative and role play, arts and crafts, small world, puzzles and jigsaws, construction, songs and rhymes, books, and circle time. The vast range of real, natural, and open-ended materials ignites each child’s curiosity providing the opportunity for each child to learn through play whilst having lots of fun.

Image of the Little SERC outdoor Chreche area

Frequently Asked Questions

Parents receive regular updates of their child's progress via the online portal. These updates consist of written summaries, pictures or a combination of both. Creche staff also share verbal feedback with parents at the end of each session. Parents are always welcome to speak to the creche manager at any time if they have a query or concern.

Children are offered a healthy snack and drink during each session, taking into consideration any dietary requirements or food allergies.

If you have already applied to study in Newcastle and have completed your course application form, please clink on the link to register your child now

Little SERC can cater for up to 26 children at each session.

Currently each session costs £18.00. There are 2 sessions each day; a morning session from 9:15am – 12:15pm and an afternoon session from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The creche accepts fees paid via the Care to Learn, FE Childcare and Hardship Fund Childcare provision grants.

Little SERC is there to help parents who enrol on a course at our Newcastle Campus and need access to childcare for their children from three months up to compulsory school age.

There are two separate sessions each day, from 9:15am – 12:15pm and from 1:00pm to 4:00*pm daily during term time (*subject to change).

We offer a broad range of activities both indoors and outdoors which are based on the current planning theme. This supports children’s learning while developing each child’s physical, social and emotional, cognitive and language development through play.

In each area of the creche we provide a range of activities suitable to the particular age group. This which enables each child to develop at their own individual pace.

Learning through play is an integral part of a young child’s development as through play children learn essential skills such as concentration, problem solving, imagination, working with others. This also helps to build children’s self-esteem and confidence.

Restart Education

The course is for adults who have been out of full-time education for at least 1 year. The focus of the course is on improving Literacy and Numeracy skills as well as giving an introduction to Science.

Access Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies

Access Award in Foundation Studies. A course for mature returners to education to return to study and progress to University or Higher Education.

Find out more

To find out more about Little SERC or if you have any questions, please contact:

Ursula Maginn, Creche Manager

Email: umaginn@serc.ac.uk

Tel: 0345 600 7555

To find out more about the courses on offer please ring 0345 600 7555 or email admissions@serc.ac.uk