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SETTLING IN - POLICY AND PRACTICE



We want children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents/carers, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parents afterwards the new learning experiences enjoyed in the playgroup.

In order to accomplish this, we will:

Encourage parents/carers to visit the playgroup with their children during the weeks before an admission is planned.

Arrange for the playgroup staff to talk to the family/carers to gain more insight into the child’s background and needs and allow the child to become familiar with playgroup adults.

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 playgroup for as long as it takes to settle their child there.

Reassure parents/carers whose children seem to be taking a long time settling into the playgroup.

Encourage parents/carers, where appropriate, to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences.

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