HSCS: 1.18, 3.1, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.15, 3.16, 3.25, 4.5, 5.6
Settling In Policy
At Willow Den Scotland we aim for children to feel safe, stimulated, happy and to feel secure and comfortable with our staff. We also want parents/carers to have confidence and peace of mind that their child’s wellbeing is our primary focus.
We aim to help parents/carers and their children settle quickly but easily by considering the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families. Settling in days are key to a smooth transition and to ensure good communication/information sharing. They are a great opportunity for families to see the nursery, meet staff and the other children.
Each child is different, some will take longer to settle than others. To help each child to form a secure attachment our staff team will respond sensitively and consistently to their needs, helping them to understand that they are loved, respected and understood.
Settling in procedures:
- A senior member will review the information provided by parents on the All About Me form on the online nursery management system. If this has not been completed there will be an opportunity to complete this at the first settle session.
- A keyworker will be allocated. Different settings will choose how best to manage this allocation for their children, families and staff. This may be allocated by the Nursery Manager or Depute Manager member of staff. Alternatively, a key worker may not be allocated until the child has settled into nursery as a child may show a natural bond or attachment to a particular member of staff who will become the keyworker.
- The settling in period will generally be arranged for 2 visits or 2 hours, with the key worker or a senior member of staff spending time with and playing alongside the child and their parent/carer.
- The keyworker or a senior member of staff will spend time with the family of their first visit, introducing them to the staff team, showing them around the setting and giving information about our daily routines. The information provided on the All About Me on the online nursery management system will be reviewed and added to this if necessary. This gives everyone the opportunity to discuss the child’s individual needs.
- It is important that all staff become familiar with the new family.
- The key worker or senior member of staff, and the family will work together to see how the child gets on and discuss if the child may need a longer settling in period. This process will be flexible, and staff will work closely with families on this.
- Parents/carers are encouraged to bring any form of soothers of comforters to aid the settling process.
- Staff will reassure parents/carers whose children seem to be taking a long time settling into the nursery. In exceptional circumstances, settling in may not be possible and Willow Den will reach agreement with the family that taking up the place is not in the child’s best interests. If a child with ASN is struggling to settle, a local authority representative can be invited to attend a settling in session with parental agreement.
- Where appropriate, staff will encourage and support parents/carers to separate themselves from their children. This will be for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences.
- Staff will provide parents/carers with relevant information regarding the policies and procedures of the nursery and ensure that parents are able to log in to the online nursery management platform.
- Families will be invited to join their keyworker for a post settle check-in within 3 months of starting at the nursery.
