Settling in

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We understand that settling in can be a worry for some families and so we wanted to dedicate a page to explain how we ensure your child settles in well. Our settling in process follows a simple step by step pattern.

Before a child starts to attend our setting, we use a variety of ways to provide their parents with information. These include written information (including our prospectus and policies), displays about activities available within the setting, show arounds and individual meetings with parents.

During the term before a child is enrolled, we provide opportunities for the child and their parents to visit the setting together. The key person welcomes and looks after the child and their parents at the child's first session during the settling-in process.

We may offer a home visit by the person who will be the child's key person if we feel that is needed to ensure all relevant information about the child can be made known.

We use pre-start visits to explain and complete the child's registration form with their parents. We explain the process of settling-in with families and jointly decide on the best way to help the child to settle into the setting.

Usually, we agree that the parent or carer will stay for most of the session during the first week, gradually taking time away from their child; increasing this time as and when the child is able to cope.

Younger children will take longer to settle in, as will children who have not previously spent time away from home. Children who have had a period of absence may also need their parent to be on hand to re- settle them.

We judge a child to be settled when they have formed a relationship with their key person; for example, the child looks for the key person when he/she arrives, goes to them for comfort, and seems pleased to be with them. The child will also become familiar with where things are and is pleased to see other children and participate in activities.

When parents leave, we ask them to say goodbye to their child and briefly explain that they will be coming back, and when.

We recognise that some children will settle more readily than others, but that some children who appear to settle rapidly are not ready to be left. We expect that the parent will honour the commitment to stay for at least the first two days, until their child can stay happily without them.

We do not believe that leaving a child to cry will help them to settle any quicker. We believe that a child's distress will prevent them from learning and gaining the best from the setting. We aim to minimize distress by pacing when parents / carers begin to leave their child at the nursery and for how long at a time.

Children usually settle within one to two weeks. There is no strict rule for this as all children develop in different ways and at different rates.

We use a settling in booklet to track how well a child is settling into the setting and once that is signed off, usually within the first four to six weeks of starting, we begin to create a record of the child's development.

If you have any questions or concerns about our settling in process, please get in touch.