CHILDREN'S WORK
Welcome to the Children’s Work page!
Children’s work happens throughout the week at St Andrew’s.
Open the Book has been operating in the local primary
schools since 2002. Members of local churches form a team of
volunteers to tell bible stories in Collective Worship once a week at each
of the schools.
Open the Book website
Wednesday lunchtimes from 11.00-1.00pm term time is BLT (Babies Lunch & Toddlers), a time for mothers to meet over lunch while babies play.
Sundays there is a crèche for babies and children under
3.
Crèche is overseen by Jancie (e-mail). Children
can be left.
Little Fishes for 2-5 year olds. They enjoy a time of worship together, a story, some craft and a prayer.
Little Stars for reception age children.
Shining Stars for year 1
Faith Rocks for years 2 - 3
Our Group for years 4 - 6
Plus groups (no name) for years 7 - 9 and for 10+
Alison is an accredited Godly Play teacher. Her group for children in Years Four to Six of primary school follow a Godly Play curriculum Godly Play website
What is Godly Play?
To quote the Center for the Theology of Childhood, the parent organization
of Godly Play, “The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using
religious language to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of
God's presence and direction in their lives.”
(www.godlyplay.org) It has been developed by Jerome Berryman,
Episcopalian priest, author and teacher from Montessori roots. It has been
tested in classrooms since 1972 but is still relatively new to the UK.
The programme embodies values that we share:
> It believes that each child faces the same major existential issues
that adults do – issues of aloneness, use of freedom and the search for
meaning.
> It affirms the power of God’s Word to define meaning and direction
in our lives
> It recognises and values the presence of the Holy Spirit in the
lives of children
> It affirms the basic goodness of our children
> It creates an environment for children that clearly demonstrates
our love for them
These values are communicated in the organization of the setting and the use of time. Children are welcomed to the circle, hear a story, “wonder” in an open-ended way about its meaning for them and respond to that story in their own way using a variety of creative materials. They gather again to pray and chat together and share a “feast”.
Stories are told in a meditative way using beautiful, hand-crafted materials which communicate their value to us.