Settling In

It is a very big step for a child to leave a parent and we are dedicated to giving your child all the support and help needed to make the transition easier for both you and your child

This is why we offer a two-hour settle session with you & your child prior to starting. During this time, we welcome you and your child into the setting to play. During this time you will meet your key person and discuss your child's needs and interests. We then suggest you leave your child for an hour. We aim to keep settle sessions short and positive experiences for your child without it feeling to overwhelming. 

Prior to starting we will also ask you to fill in our 'All about me' form to help us get to know your child and family best. We believe strong parent partnership creates the best foundations for our children success.  

Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are unhappy or anxious. Our settling in procedures help parents/carers by having the following aims:

• To help children feel comfortable in the pre-school
• To give them the ability to benefit from what it has to offer
• To be confident that their parent/carer will return at the end of the session

All children settle in at different rates, and parents/carers are welcome to attend as many sessions as they feel are needed to ensure their child is happy to be left with us.

Each child has a "key person" to support them throughout their time at our Pre-school

This ensure good individual support for children, continuity of care and positive contact with parents. We believe that this promotes active learning and the holistic development of each child

We assess how young children are learning and developing by conducting formal and incidental observations. Parents are encouraged to celebrate their child's achievements with us and work together by sharing information about what their child likes to do at home

We take the view that we are acting in place of a parent/carer. Sometimes it is appropriate for a child to sit on an adult's lap, particularly at story time. If a child is missing it's parent/carer or has hurt themselves, giving them a little cuddle is quite often the appropriate way of offering comfort and reassurance for many children. We aim to create a home form home feeling for our children as we know they learn best when they feel supported, valued, happy and confident. 

Support for children with additional needs is ensured. We have a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and staff work sensitively with parents to identify where children need additional support. Resources and planning are adapted to promote individual learning, development and needs

Staff successfully use a range of visual prompts, puppets and signing. These methods have a positive impact on children's speech and language development