Settling in Pre-School

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 parents afterwards the new learning experiences enjoyed in the pre-school. In order to accomplish this we will:

• Encourage parents to visit the pre-school with their children during the weeks before an admission is planned.
• Introduce flexible admission procedures, if appropriate, to meet the needs of individual families and children.
• Make clear to families from the outset that they will be supported in the pre-school for as long as it takes to settle their child there.
• Reassure parents whose children seem to be taking a long time settling into the pre-school.
• Encourage parents, where appropriate, to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences.
• Be introduced to their child's Key worker.

Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are anxious and unhappy. Our settling procedures aim to help parents to help their children to feel comfortable in the pre-school, to benefit from what we have to offer, and to be confident that their parents will return at the end of the session.