Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley
At Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, children and babies joining the nursery can benefit enormously from ‘settling-in sessions’. These are available to all newly registered families. These are essentially taster sessions where little ones — and their parent(s) — can experience life at the nursery or preschool ahead of the little one’s official start date. In today’s post, we explore the benefits of settling-in sessions at nurseries and preschools, and explain how they work at Little Acorns Nursery itself.
What Exactly Are Nursery Settling-in Sessions?
Nursery settling-in sessions form the basis of a gradual, phased enrolment into a new early years setting. They are designed to help babies, toddlers, and children aged up to five years old, as well as their parents, get used to the new environment, routines, staff, and peer group, in readiness for regular attendance.
What are the Benefits of Nursery Settling-in Sessions?
For a baby or child, there are many benefits to attending settling-in sessions ahead of their start date. Firstly, settling-in sessions are a great way for them to become familiar with their new surroundings and the day-to-day routine of the nursery. Additionally, they can get to know staff, grow bonds with their key worker, familiarise themselves with all the new facilities, and start to build friendships with other children in their peer group. As some parts of the earliest sessions may include an accompanying parent or carer, they’re also a great way for the child to ease into the new setting without feeling totally alone. Otherwise, they could feel torn away from Mum or Dad and the security of the family home — perhaps for the very first time in their lives. After all, starting nursery is a huge milestone and a massive change from a child’s perspective.
For parents or carers, there are also a number of important benefits. Firstly, settling-in sessions are the perfect way for them to see the childcare setting in action and see how it all works on standard nursery days. Additionally, when accompanying their child during the earliest settling-in sessions, they will be able to see how their child fits in and build a picture of how the child is feeling at the setting. They will then be better equipped to understand whether the child warms to the new setting, is likely to make friends and, importantly, is likely to form a healthy bond with their key worker. Through the sessions, parents will also have the opportunity to get to know staff and build a healthy relationship with the child’s key worker. Crucially at this early time, they will also be able to provide reassurance to their child during their earliest stages of the settling-in process. They can then answer questions like, “Is the setting a good fit for my child?” … “Will my child feel safe, loved, and happy here?” and “Have I made the right choice?”
How Do Settling-in Sessions Work at Little Acorns Nursery?
At Little Acorns Nursery in Chorley, settling-in sessions are planned and tailored on an individual basis so as to best suit the particular child and family involved. That said, the following 3-step approach is typical for the majority of newcomers:
- The first step is usually a 1-hour inaugural session during which the parent/carer stays with the child. They also supply information about their child including filling in one or more forms with the child’s designated key worker.
- Session 2 is usually a 2-hour session and the first where the parent or carer leaves the child at the setting.
- Then follows Session 3, which is normally 3 hours in length, again with the child usually remaining at the setting without an accompanying parent being present.
- The above is just a rule of thumb and adaptions can be made to better suit individual children/families.
- If the child needs more than the standard 3 settling-in sessions, Little Acorns Nursery is happy to do as many as perhaps a month of transitions to help them feel more comfortable and ‘at home’.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Must children have a confirmed nursery place before they can attend settling-in sessions at Little Acorns Nursery? Yes; settling-in sessions are intended for families who have successfully enrolled, i.e. with a nursery place confirmed for their child.
Q: What happens if the nursery doesn’t work out as a good fit for a child? If during settling-in sessions it becomes apparent that the nursery is not going to be a good fit for a child, the nursery place can simply be cancelled.
Q: Do parents pay for the settling-in sessions at Little Acorns Nursery? No; settling-in sessions at Little Acorns are free of charge.
Q: Do babies have access to settling-in sessions at Little Acorns Nursery too? Yes; settling-in sessions are available to babies (from 3 months) as well as toddlers, and pre-schoolers aged up to five.
Q: Do the rules and approach towards settling-in sessions differ for different age groups? Aside from any tailored aspects employed to best suit individual children and their parents/carers, the approach towards settling-in sessions is generally the same, as outlined in the previous section, whatever the child’s age.
Q: Are settling-in sessions pre-scheduled or taken on an ad-hoc basis? Settling-in sessions at Little Acorns Nursery occur at pre-agreed dates and times in order to ensure the correct staff-to-child ratios are in place. That said, dates and times can be rescheduled on request.
Final Thoughts
Settling-in sessions are the perfect way for babies, children, and parents to ensure stress-free onboarding to the new setting. After all, starting nursery and being away from home for the first time is a huge step for little ones. It’s similarly huge for parents/carers, who will naturally want children to feel safe, loved, and well looked after at this critical and often emotional time.
All in all, settling-in sessions are a fabulous way to ease children into nursery and for them to build bonds with other children, staff, and their key worker. The sessions will also allow them to familiarise themselves with the day-to-day routine and all the wonderful toys, equipment, and resources at this exciting new place! It’s the perfect way to start this incredibly exciting new chapter, and the staff at Little Acorns Nursery look forward to welcoming new babies, children, and families to the setting.
We hope we have answered any questions you may have about settling-in sessions at the nursery, but simply get in touch if there is anything else you need to know and we’ll be happy to provide clarification and any reassurance needed. Thank you for choosing Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire.
A Nursery Place for Your Baby, Toddler, or Preschooler in Clayton-le-Woods
High-Quality Childcare Near Chorley, Central Lancashire
Based in Clayton-le-Woods near Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery provides high-quality weekday childcare for children under five, virtually all year round. With a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating, support for funded childcare hours for eligible children, and regular Forest School sessions, the childcare setting represents a great choice for Central Lancashire families. Opening times are convenient for working families too, starting the nursery day at 7:30 a.m. and remaining open until 6:00 p.m.
Get in touch today to register for a nursery place, ask any questions, or book a guided visit with your child:
Our Clayton-le-Woods childcare nursery near Chorley may also suit local families from Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, as well as those living around Penwortham, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Buckshaw Village, Lostock Hall, Leyland, Pippin Street, Thorpe Green and Euxton.
