Hempsted Playgroup and Toddlers
Settling in Policy

We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy within our setting 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 setting.

 

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

 

Before a child starts to attend the setting we use a variety of ways to provide his/her parents with information.

These include written information (including our prospectus and policies), an informative website detailing our facilities, and an introductory visit so parents and children can get a “feel” for the place.

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Parents may want to stay and settle their child when they first start at the setting. We will support parents and their child with this but we will also support parents who think their child will settle better without them being there.

 

We allocate a key person to each child and his/her family. The key person welcomes and looks after the child and his/her parents during the settling in process. 

 

When a child starts to attend, we explain the process of settling-in with his/her parents and jointly decide on the best way to help the child settle into the setting.

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Younger children usually 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 is also 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 explain that they will be coming back, and when.

 

We do not believe that leaving a child to cry will help them settle any quicker. We believe that a child’s distress will prevent them from learning and gaining the best from the setting.

 

We reserve the right not to accept a child into the setting without a parent or carer if the child finds it distressing to be left. This is especially the case with very young children.

 

Reviewed September 2023

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