Foot Steps Crèche

Foot Steps crèche welcomes all pre-school aged children into the Choir Vestry (Turner Vestry) on Sunday mornings during the 9.30am communion service. The only exceptions are on the first Sunday of each month when we have our All Together Worship in church, which is a special service put together using a simpler service sheet, an all-age activity and some children’s songs.

Foot Steps is led by our team of Crèche Leaders and helpers. The Crèche leader will lead the session and circle time whilst the Crèche helpers who help supervise the children, ‘monitor the door’ to ensure your child is safe in the room and help set up and tidy away.

Both the leader and helpers can be easily identified by their lanyards, so parents can spot them and introduce their child to a friendly face. All of our crèche team have a DBS, (police check), in line with church policy and undertake regular Church of England safeguarding training.

Thanks to this fantastic team of leaders and helpers the children who come to Foot Steps get to celebrate and worship in their own special way, usually following the same Gospel theme as the grownups in church.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Foot Steps Crèche welcomes both babies and all pre-school aged children.

However, our Trekkers Sunday school runs weekly, (except for the summer holidays), in the Clergy Vestry at the front of the church for all school aged children.

WHEN DO WE GO INTO FOOT STEPS CRÈCHE?

The Leaders and helpers will go into crèche to set up as soon as the service begins. However, we ask parents and children to come into Foot Steps when the ‘Gloria’ is being sung. By this time you will have heard the important notices in church and had the opportunity for a little personal spiritual nourishment. Just go up the steps at the back of the church, thought the wooden arched door and turn right. Time for Crèche (and Trekkers) is usually announced during the service, but if not, please don’t be afraid to be the first one to move. Others will soon follow!

DO I HAVE TO STAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CRÈCHE?

Yes please, we would ask that all children have just one adult to accompany them in crèche.

Crèche can be very busy at times, which does pose its own problems, as well as being fantastic news for our church and children. For this reason we would ask that only one parent stays with your children in crèche if possible please, as us grownups do take up a lot of space!

I AM WORRIED THAT I WON’T KNOW ANYONE IN THE CRÈCHE?

We have all been there at some time, in a room full of people, and it feels like you are very much on your own. This is something which our crèche team are very aware of and so we do our best to look out for anyone we don’t recognise or that might be new.  So, any of the crèche team may well just come up to you and have a chat. If not, do go and find yourself a seat at the craft table, as there is always a leader or helper based at this activity and it’s a good place for the opportunity to chat. If all else fails, (hopefully not!), then please introduce yourself to the crèche leader on the day. It might be your first time in crèche or perhaps you’ve not been for a very long time, but please be assured of a warm welcome.

WHAT HAPPENS WHILST IN THE CRÈCHE?

There is always an optional craft activity which is related to the theme of the week, eg Harvest, Remembrance Sunday or the Gospel reading that is being read in church that day….. so you are not completely missing out on the message from the service in church!

There is also opportunity for free play with the toys, and a baby mat for the very young ones.

Around 10.15ish, we all work together to tidy the toys away and sit together in a circle. We may sing songs, have a story or rhymes and will always sing our special crèche song and say the crèche prayer. As the children leave crèche they are given a sticker.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER CRÈCHE?

We ask that you go back into church quietly and you are invited to go up to the altar for communion if you are confirmed, or a blessing if not. After communion we stay in the service until the end, then hopefully you will join us for refreshments after the service for a short while. After all, how many times a day does someone else make you coffee! We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to St Mary’s.