Settling in Pre-School

The aim of the nursery is to enable children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents/guardians, so that they are able to recognise other adults as a source of authority, friendship and assistance for help and guidance.  Then enabling the children to share their new learning experience enjoyed within the setting with their parents/guardians.

In order to accomplish this, the nursery will:

  • Encourage parents/guardians to visit the pre-school with their children during the weeks before an admission is planned.
  • Arrange for new children’s visit days during the September in-take, so that the children and their parents/guardians have the opportunity to participate in this specifically planned session.
  • Introduce flexible admissions procedure to meet the needs of individual children and their families, if deemed appropriate.
  • Make clear to all families from the outset that they will be supported in the nursery for as long as it takes for their child to settle.
  • Reassure parents/guardians whose children seem to be taking a long time to settle into the nursery.
  • Encourage parents/guardians, where appropriate to separate from their children for brief periods at first and gradually building up to longer absences.
  • The nursery recognises and respects that parents/guardians are the first educators in their child’s learning and that they understand their child’s emotional well-being best.  Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are anxious or unhappy.
  • The nursery’s settling in procedures aim is to help parents/guardians to support their children to feel comfortable in their new environment.  The nursery staff will aid the children to feel confident that their parents/guardians will return at the end of the session, enabling the children to reach their full potential in all areas of their development.