Advice to help your child (and you) settle into Nursery.
Our Inclusion Manager and Donaldson Room Class Teacher, Farhana provides some advice on the settling in process and offers advice on how to make the process easier for you and your child.
Starting nursery can be daunting for both children and parents. At Rebecca Cheetham Nursery we recognise this and do everything we can to make the settling in process as smooth as possible for everyone. We understand that no two children are the same, and that they all have their own likes, dislikes and personalities. By caring for and meeting the needs of every individual to the best of our ability, we know every child can flourish, learn and have fun whilst enjoying a sense of belonging and community.
Every child that joins our nursery has a key person. You will receive the name of this team member and a little bit of information on your first day. They will be responsible for compiling your child’s, ‘Special Book’ and learning for their duration in the nursery.
Advice for parents
Talk about nursery
You might be feeling just as nervous as your child, but it’s so important to make nursery sound positive and exciting. Try reading stories about nursery together, emphasising all the fun things your child will be doing, the friends they’ll make and share stories about your own time at school or nursery
When you are with your child in the room, let them explore and interact with the staff. Try to be in the background but don’t rush your child. They might stay on your lap the first time. They might play at your feet on the second time. Step by step, they will eventually explore the room.
Remember that your child has no concept of time. A classic settle in period – leave her for one hour, then two, then half day, then one full day – has no meaning for them. It’s the way you handle the separation that matters, not the length of time you are separated from each other. But it’s good if they have an understanding of the routine of the nursery before they start.
Saying Goodbye
Saying your goodbyes is often the hardest part of a child starting nursery, and while it might feel cruel to walk away if your child is upset, it’s vital to keep smiling and say goodbye as quickly as possible. Chances are that a few minutes after you leave they’ll be playing happily, and it can add to their anxiety if children see their parent leaving upset. Use a cheery tone to say goodbye, so your child is assured that there is nothing to be worried about.
What OFSTED say: An effective key-person system and settling-in process helps children to form secure attachments with the adults who take care of them, gaining comfort and reassurance as needed. Key staff share relevant information about each child as they move on to the next room, helping children to quickly feel settled in their new surroundings.
Farhana Hoque
Donaldson Room teacher