Crofton Kids – with Crofton Cat
All the children and family groups and activities in Crofton Parish come under one banner – Crofton Kids.
All families in the area with children aged eleven or under are welcome to any of our meetings. We also have one special member who sometimes joins us – our larger than life mascot Crofton Cat. Do say hello and give him a tickle if you meet him!
There are lots Crofton Kids activities throughout the year. The main groups are listed below, but there are also many extra activities such as a Christmas Nativity acted by children and a Live Nativity where there are Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the animals in a stable, shepherds, angels and wise men.
To ensure the safety of everyone who attends our groups we perform background checks on all our staff and volunteers and they undergo safeguarding training.
Sunday Groups
Our Sunday Groups run during the 9:30am Family Service at Holy Rood. The children usually start in church and leave for their groups after a time of worship – but watch out for notices saying that children go straight to their groups! The children return to church for the last hymn, or for the communion prayers if it is a service with Holy Communion,
There are ‘all-in’ Family Services at 9:30 am during school holidays and some other special days, such as Harvest and Mothering Sunday, when the children’s groups do not meet.
Crèche
We have a dedicated crèche room at the back of the church for children up to two years nine months. There is a range of toys available and the crèche is staffed in term times. There is also an area outside the crèche with quiet toys where parents can sit with their children.
Scramblers
Scramblers is for children from two years nine months until they start school. We have a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who lead this lovely group where the emphasis is on getting to know Jesus through Bible stories with lots of play and activities.
Climbers
Our children move into Climbers when they start school, and remain in the group until they leave their infant school. .As in Scramblers the children here learn more about Jesus through Bible stories and play and activities that are appropriate to their age.
Explorers
The Explorers group is for junior school children in school years three up to six. In Explorers we continue to use a variety of activities to teach the children what it means to follow Jesus. This is the oldest of our children’s groups, when they go to Senior school the children move into our youth ministry where there is a whole range of activities for them
Saturday Groups
Family Fun Afternoons: take place six times a year on Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 3:30pm. Family Fun Afternoons are for families with children in primary school, but children slightly younger or older are welcome – all are welcome even if you have no other connection with the parish. During the afternoon the whole church and centre is taken over with various zones: a sports zone, a glamour zone, a craft zone, a build zone, a cafe zone and whatever else the team come up with that month! This is a great chance for the whole family to have fun together and to make new friends – do give it a try!
Mid-week Groups
Little Fish Toddler Groups: for parents / carers and their pre school children, meeting at the church centre on Wednesday mornings in term time from 9.30 am to 11 am, and on Thursday mornings from 10 am to 11.30 am. We offer a wide range of activities including craft, singing, and noisy and quiet play.
These are popular groups, so please contact the office before coming along as there may be a waiting list.
Acorn Pre School
Crofton Parish has had a close relationship with the Acorn Pre School since their founding. Acorn meets in the Parish Centre on weekdays during term time. They meet from 9:00 to 3:30 every day except Wednesday when they start at 12:00. Acorn’s aim is to work in partnership with parents to provide high quality child care and education for children aged between two and the statutory school age.
For more information about the Acorn Pre School please contact their Manager Mrs Jayne Smith on 07961 523738 or email jayne.smith9@sky.com.