We want children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parents afterwards the new learning experiences enjoyed in the pre-school. We also want parents to feel welcome and involved from the beginning.

 

In order to accomplish this, we aim to create a partnership with parents in the following ways:

  • by creating opportunities for the exchange of information, using among other resources a copy of the settings prospectus and a shared approach to the registration form

  • by ensuring plentiful opportunities for parents to inform the setting about their children’s current achievements and interests

  • by encouraging parents to visit the setting with their children during the weeks before an admission is planned.

  • by introducing flexible admission procedures, if appropriate, to meet the needs of individual families and children.

  • by making clear to families from the outset that they will be welcome and supported in the setting for as long as it takes to settle their child there.

  • by reassuring parents whose children seem to be taking a long time settling into the setting.

  • by introducing new families into the group on a staggered basis, for example two new children a day for a week rather than 10 new children all at once.

  • by encouraging parents, where appropriate, to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences.

 

Home Visits

There is an optional home visit before your child starts nursery. This allows your child to get to know nursery staff at home where they feel most comfortable and secure. Two members of staff will come on the home visit, one

 

of who will be your child’s key worker. Typically a home visits lasts for 20 – 25 minutes.
We believe that the home visit is most beneficial in helping your child to settle into nursery life more easily and it establishes the link between home and school working together for the children’s education and happiness
.

 

 

Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are anxious and unhappy. Our settling procedures aim to help parents and children to feel comfortable in the setting, and to ensure that children can benefit from what the group has to offer and feel confident that their parents will return at the end of the session/day.