Settling in pre-school policy

Statement of intent

We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the pre-school and to feel secure and comfortable with staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children’s well being and their role as active partners with the pre-school.

Aim

We aim to make the pre-school a welcome place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.

Methods

1. Before a child starts to attend the pre-school, we use a variety of ways to provide his/her parents with information. These include written information, displays about pre-school activities, information days and evenings and individual meetings with parents.
   

2. During the half-term before a child is enrolled, we provide opportunities for the child and his/her parents to visit the pre-school.
   

3. We offer a home visit by the person who will be the child’s key worker, to ensure all relevant information about the child can be made known.
   

4. When a child starts to attend, we work with his/her parents to decide on the best way to help the child to settle into the pre-school.
   

5. We allocate a key worker to each child and his/her family, before she/he starts to attend; the key worker welcomes and looks after the child and his/her parents at the child’s first session.
   

6. We use pre-start visits and the first session at which a child attends to explain and complete with his/her parents the child’s registration records.
   

7. Within the first four weeks of starting we discuss and work with the child’s parents to create their child’s record of achievement.
   

8. We encourage parents to complete an ‘All About Me’ Booklet with their child prior to starting at the Pre-school so that the child’s key worker has some background to the child’s family, likes and dislikes.