During the half term before your child starts we will contact you to arrange for a visit for you both. You and your child will be able to stay and join in with a normal session. This will help your child to adjust more easily into the pre-school. You will be classed as a visitor, which means you do not have to pay anything – but you must remain with your child at the pre-school. This will also be a good opportunity for you to ask questions of the staff and observe the routines that your child will soon be part of.
We want your child to feel happy and safe at the pre-school. To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle into the pre-school. This can take longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle. Most children settle very happily within a week or two, but just now and then a child will need their trusted adult with them for longer. Please do not worry, it is quite normal and your patience will be rewarded as you watch them become socially confident.
Joining a pre-school is a very big step for a small child. It may be the first time they have met so many adults and children and heard so much noise and bustle. The pre-school has a policy about helping children to settle into the pre-school; a copy is available from our staff.
Our programme of activities always includes some form of crafts, such as painting, glueing, cutting, as well as physical play, such as dance and movement or climbing frame and slide. Although we provide aprons for the children when they play with messy activities, it is advisable to send your child dressed in suitable and comfortable clothing.
The pre-school encourages children to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet, for the young children always under the supervision of a DBS checked member of staff, older children will be encouraged to go by themselves with a member of staff nearby, and taking off and putting on outdoor clothes. Please send your child in clothes that will make this as easy as possible as success increases their confidence. Also ensure that all jumpers/sweatshirts and outdoor clothing including wellingtons are clearly named.