Our story...
brief celebration of our past, A present and future plans
Welcome... Over the next few pages, we would like to tell you a little of our story, of why and how our organisation was born - and where we are today. Research clearly shows that high quality care and education can make a huge difference to the long term success of all children, especially those from more vulnerable backgrounds. By investing in a child's learning from the very start, we not only reap great benefits as a society but also enable children and their families to contribute directly back into their own communities. This core belief drives everything we do and gives us a responsibility to create nurseries with the ambition needed to help children build the next generation. Since we first began in 1903, we have helped shape and so shared in the experiences and memories of many children; we have also enjoyed a number of great achievements ourselves along the way. So please celebrate with us now and see just how we've grown.
Early years... Established in 1903 as the City of Westminster Health Society, our pioneering founders such as Margaret Horn had a very clear purpose from the start – to promote child welfare and family health at the heart of a diverse local community very much in need. Over 100 years before the first official Children’s Centre and an incredible 45 years before the NHS, we were already pioneers, offering a service of training in professional childcare, outreach and home visits, along with local drop-in sessions and classes in parenting.
Many firsts... Inspired by the success of our first Infant Medical Inspection Centre in 1910 and Nursery Nurse College as far back as 1923, we opened our first Day Nursery in 1930. With WWII came our Gas Mask Fitting Centre and a key role in the evacuation of children to escape London’s Blitz. Relaxation classes and toddler clubs lead to our first workplace nurseries in 1991.
And more recently... Already proud recipient of Westminster’s first Outstanding Ofsted, we have seen our reputation grow as champion for both our Social Enterprise approach to community childcare and innovative practice in the sector. Our commitment to local intergenerational & community projects also helped us win the first Nursery World ‘Chain of the Year’ Award in 2008.
Today... We are naturally very proud of our heritage, but more importantly our continual development. As London’s largest childcare charity & social enterprise, we believe it is this truly unique combination that continues to sustain our ongoing contribution to society – by further helping us to improve the life chances of children and their families, wherever we have a presence. With our new name and refreshed identity, we also now have a much more clearly defined purpose, namely...
...to build a better future for London’s children, families and local communities through a commitment to Excellence in Early Years education, training and research.
Tomorrow...
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As we look to the future, we are now more focused than ever before on a handful of very specific priorities, helping us to... > ensure each child has an outstanding learning journey > increase our financial & practical support to families > give staff the confidence & support to deliver the LEYF curriculum > create a community childcare business model > make LEYF a credible voice within the early years sector With these new goals, we are now committed to having an even greater and more measurable impact for children and their parents – whatever their start in life.
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220+
We employ over 220 passionate & highly qualified staff across 19 community nurseries and Children’s Centres in Barking & Dagenham, Camden and Westminster.
1177+ Last year we were able to help more than 1177 children.
250+
Through our Accredited NVQ Assessment Centre, we have supported the professional development of more than 250 students since 1997, including many local parents.
Thank you... None of this would have been possible without an incredible amount of ongoing support – not only from our dedicated and talented team of staff, but also our kind supporters... Akzo Nobel UK Ltd The Alchemy Foundation The Ancaster Trust Awards for All Barclays Bank PLC BBC Children in Need The Cadogan Charity The Charlotte Marshall Charitable Trust City of Westminster Charitable Trust Coutts Charitable Trust Early Childhood Services The Fitton Trust Ford Britain Trust Fruit Stall The George John & Sheilah Livanos Trust Help a London Child Hyde Park Place Estate Charity John Lewis Partnership The Kathleen Laurence Trust Land Securities Capital Commitment Fund Land Securities Group PLC Mackintosh Foundation The Marsh Christian Trust The N Smith Char Trust Paddington Charitable Estates The Presidents Club Richemont Holdings (UK) Ltd Rio Tinto plc Rolls Royce plc Rotary Club Paddington Rotary Club Westminster East The Simone Prendergast Charitable Trust The Sandra Trust Community Strand Parishes Trust The Swire Charitable Trust The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn Twentieth Century Fox Westminster Grocery General Stores Westmoreland Triangle Residents Association The William Allen Young Charitable Trust The Woodroffe Benton Foundation The Wyseliot Charitable Trust Westminster Amalgamated Charity Zurich Community Trust
Together, building a better future for London’s children. 121 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4LX Tel: 020 7834 8679 Fax. 020 7233 8393 www.leyf.org.uk info@leyf.org.uk Formerly Westminster Children’s Society (WCS) Registered Charity No.299686, Social Enterprise and Company Limited by Guarantee, No.2228978