Be Well-Informed
- Find out all you can about the nursery through reading their publicity, website and newsletters or other information so that you get a ‘feel’ for what goes on there. Trust your own instincts – if you like what you read you’ll know – so don’t be afraid to trust your judgment.
- Find out as much as you can about the nursery from other parents and staff and read the OFSTED report. Getting feedback from other service users will give another angle on the information you have read – do a reality check to make sure that what is written in the publicity matches what other people tell you about the nursery.
- Once you are satisfied that the nursery sounds right for your child arrange a visit. Call the nursery – from the moment you make this first telephone contact you should be getting a positive ‘feel’ about the place. Find out about how the nursery organises visits for parents and their children and arrange to visit at a time that suits you and your child, preferably taking another adult along for support.
- When you arrive at the nursery make a mental note of the following: How staff interact with children – whether they are they warm, friendly and kind; whether the environment is clean and attractive and looks well-cared for; how staff behave to one another and how children behave towards one another and to staff; whether children seem contented and seem suitably stimulated; the activities and experiences available for the different ages of children in each room.
- On your visit ask to talk about the nursery’s settling-in policy, the key person approach and how the induction period or gradual admission for your child would be managed. Ask any questions that concern you such as what the nursery would do if your child was tired when they arrived at nursery – make sure the answer given would be right for your child.
- If you are satisfied that the nursery has good systems in place for introducing your child to nursery and for caring for your child’s emotional and physical needs whilst they are there ask for an application form and a copy of the nursery’s policies to read at home.
- After making your first visit and when you have plenty of time carefully read through the nursery pack you received to ensure that what was discussed as everyday practice in the care of children is written into the policy documents the nursery has provided.
- Check out that in the nursery pack there are policies for the following: Admissions, Key Person, Arrival & Collection of Children, Medications, Exclusions & Illness, Safeguarding Children, Curriculum and Managing Behaviour. Having established that the nursery atmosphere seems good, that the policies are in line with the discussions you have had with nursery staff and that the staff and children in the nursery appear relaxed and ‘at home’ make a judgement about whether this nursery seems to offer the right environment for your child.
- Repeat the same steps again to visit at least one other nursery (preferably more) because otherwise you won’t have anything to compare this nursery with.
- Make a choice about which nursery is best for your child based on your instincts, your findings from the visits, the literature provided, the Ofsted report and feedback from staff and recommendations from other parents. Complete the application form and if a place is available secure one for your child.
- Once you have reached agreement about when your child is to start at the nursery and the date is in sight find out the name of her key person and ask for photographs of the key person, any other nursery workers s/he will meet and the room your child will be in.
Prepare Yourself: Prepare Your Child
- Once you have made a decision about which is the ‘right’ nursery for your child you can begin to relax and feel confident about the care your child will receive there.
- Now you can help your child to prepare for the big and exciting changes ahead when they start at the nursery. The younger your child is the greater preparation you will both need because the younger they are they can’t ask you any questions or tell you their fears so they will rely on you even more than if they are a little older and able to share their feelings.
- No matter how old your child is tell them that they will be going to nursery soon and let them know you are pleased and excited about that.
- Talk to your child regularly about all the things they can do at nursery and show them photographs of some of the people they are going to be with – particularly of his or her key person and tell your child the key person’s name.
- Begin a series of visits to the nursery well ahead of your child’s actual starting date so that they and you get used to the journey to the nursery, going through the doors and into the room where your child will stay when s/he is there and to the people s/he will meet and be with – both adults and other children. Stay with your child at first so that you can help the staff get to know her and how to care for her.
- After each visit talk to your child about what happened at the nursery, the people she was with, where she took her meals, where she got changed and slept and played and how she felt about it – even if your child can’t talk about his feelings s/he will show how s/he feels through his/her responses to you.
- Agree with the nursery how long each visit will last and what you will do during each visit – after the first few visits many nurseries offer parents opportunities to leave the room, or the building for short periods to get the child used to being away from parents. Once you have established that your child is secure and happy for short periods in the nursery you can begin to plan to leave them for more extended periods building up to admission to the nursery.
- Build your child’s confidence between visits so that she knows what to expect when she arrives at the nursery, that when you leave you will always return and that you trust the people who are looking after him/ her – if you have any doubts about this your child will pick up your anxieties so be sure to be honest with yourself and if you have any concerns express them to the manager or find another nursery.
- Always remember to LISTEN and TALK to your child; to TALK, LOOK, LISTEN and JUDGE how your child is feeling when they are going to or leaving nursery.
- Always, LISTEN and TALK to staff and if in doubt ASK – remember the manager and the staff are there to help your child to settle – so don’t be shy – you owe it to your child and yourself.