Children's Sunday Provision from the 11th June onwards
We currently have a very wonderful problem that we are trying to improve the situation for - that we have LOTS of amazing children in our creche (currently for ages 0-4)! The creche have basically outgrown the space in the lounge that they currently use. Therefore, we are having a bit of a trial jiggle around for this half term to try and better care for all of our children, with the goal of making any possible further changes ahead of the new school year in September.
I am sharing the plan here to make you all aware of where your children will need to be taken and collected from on Sundays from June 11th onwards.
'CRECHE' (Younger Creche): Babies 0-18m/2yrs (top age may depend on the child)
Babies may stay with their grown ups in church and make use of the 'baby corner'. If a quieter space is needed, the lounge (the room through the doors to the right of the front of church) will be available and set up with baby toys, baby change, squash and biscuits for you to go with your child and make yourselves comfy. We are hoping to be able to relay the main service into here, but parents/carers will remain responsible for their own children. It is our hope to build a team of 'hosts' - members of the congregation who are happy to welcome, chat and show families where everything is really, but who will not be responsible for the children. (If you fancy becoming a creche host - please speak to Hannah Evans - 07921 287 241).
'SCRAMBLERS' (Older Creche): Toddlers aged from 18m/2years (again starting age may depend on the child) up to, and including School Nursery age
Our current 'older creche' children will be cared for by the current creche team, over in the 1st room of the annexe. There they can play, use the outside space and play equipment, have a snack, and have more space to move around, have a story and have some fun. The toilets are also easier to access and have lower toddler sized toilets more suitable for their age. (Again, we need to recruit more creche team, so if you fancy giving it a try, please do chat to Hannah - 07921 387 241)
'CLIMBERS': Reception to Year 2 aged children
The group will remain as they are, but will be using the back room of the annexe, rather than the first room that they currently use. The team are remaining as they are (although there are always spaces for more!)
'EXPLORERS': Year 3 and upwards aged children
This group will remain as there are and keep the same team (although a n extra person would be very helpful), and will make use of the corner room (the room at the end of the corridor where the toilets are). The room will be more age appropriate with no more sitting on 'baby seats' as they have been in the annexe. For sessions where we may be doing 'messier' crafts we may move to the kitchen, or if we need some more space we can use the annexe garden or church garden for games etc. We will leave a note as to where we are on the door, for when you come to collect if we are not in the corner room - so no need to panic if we are not there! There may also be some weeks we will join with Climbers too, so are likely to be over in the annexe in the 'Climbers room' for those weeks. But we will communicate any changes with you from the front before we go out.
Scramblers, Climbers and Explorers will all gather in the foyer with their leaders before being taken over to the annexe by their leaders together. They will all start off together for a time of snack, chat and worship in the 'Scramblers room', before separating to their own groups, where you will need to collect your child at the end of the service.
We have spent a long time discussing and plotting solutions, and are hopefully confident of this solution. But we would value feedback from parents about how this is working, before we embed this permanently, so please do not be shy about sharing your experiences and feedback on how this is working for you and your family. We are open to changes and just want to be able to best cater for and care for all of your children.
