Childcare

A large part of what makes our group unique is our childcare room, which can be used by children over 9 months old for a gold coin donation (babies remain in the activity room with their mothers during the session). We aim to have the same childcare workers each week so that your children develop a relationship with them and are happy spending a few hours there each week, giving you that much needed child-free time to recharge and refill your personal cup. As a lot of the activities we do involve things like hot glue, sharp objects and small pieces, plus the boiling water available for coffee, we request that any mobile children over 9 months of age utilise our childcare as a safety precaution.  We do however have a large playpen that can be brought out upon request to allow children that are having trouble settling in the childcare to remain in the activity room.

Our child care room is run by our lovely childcare professionals, led by room leader Simone, along with Anna, and Lindsay. They are all experienced childcare professionals who have been caring for the children at Majura Women’s Group for many years. Whilst our childcare has trained carers who provide quality care, it is not governed by the same regulations as childcare centres. We are an adjunct childcare (similar to a creche in a gym), not an accredited childcare centre. As our sessions are right next door to our children we are still ultimately responsible for our own children. If your child becomes unsettled while in the child care room, you may be asked to go and soothe them.

As well as providing mothers with important respite, the childcare has also been important for the children. For many it is their first experience of childcare with a non-family member, and provides an introduction to the routines of the structured care which they later encounter at preschool and school. It is also a source of new activities and toys and interaction with other children and adults. For many children their Wednesday mornings at ‘the group’ are as eagerly anticipated as they are for their mothers.

Children are placed into the childcare at your own liability and you will be asked to sign a waiver form before leaving them in the care of our childcare workers. It is your responsibility to alert the childcare workers to any allergies or special care requirements your child may have before leaving them. The childcare has capacity for up to 20 children and is available from 9:30am to 12:30pm – no care is provided beyond this time so please aim to collect your children by 12:15pm to enable the carers time to pack up.