| Teacher's Blog
Starting Nursery or Pre-Reception for the first time is a big step for both you and your child, and it’s natural to feel anxious about how you are going to cope with the transition. At Sherborne House, we aim to work with parents to make the transition as easy as we can for all the family as you join our community. The Sherborne House ethos is to put the children at the heart of all we do, so you can rest assured that he or she will be comforted, nurtured and supported by our friendly, compassionate and understanding team.
We have come up with the following Top 5 Tips which we hope might also help you settle your little one in.
1. Plan some settling in visits
Most nursery settings will offer the opportunity for you to visit with your child before they start, so they can get used to the new environment. The settling in visits give you both an opportunity to meet the staff and allows your child to become familiar with their new surroundings and routines. At Sherborne House, we encourage all joining families to attend as many of our Story Adventure sessions as possible before joining the Pre-Reception. During these sessions, your child will be able to explore and become accustomed to the environment, with the security of a loved one present. Your child will take his or her lead from you, so seeing you chatting with the Pre-Reception teachers will reassure them that this is a safe and happy place to be. These sessions are of huge importance in developing the close and trusting relationships we enjoy with our families at Sherborne House.
2. Be prepared to spend time settling your child
All children are different, and although some will be able to cope with staying for a whole session very quickly,
others may take longer to build secure attachments with the teachers and feel comfortable without you there. By
staying with your child during the settling in sessions, we work together as partners to build a familiar and secure
environment for their learning foundations to grow and flourish. Our staff have the experience to guide and advise
you, and we will work with you to put into place a settling in process that will support your child.
3. Talk about Pre-Reception positively
Young children absorb their parents’ emotions, so if you are calm, enthusiastic and confident that all will be well,
then your child will feel the same way. Talk to them about how wonderful it will be for them to meet their friends,
play with different toys, and enjoy activities such as singing, painting, and exploring the woods and garden.
4. Choose a comforter from home
If your child has a favourite comfort item such as a blanket or soft toy, allow them to take it into Pre-Reception with
them. Our staff understand that children may need a comforter and they will be able to freely access it as needed
during their time away from home. Encourage your child to tell their teacher if they are missing you and remember
you’ll be back to pick them up soon.
5. Manage the moment of parting
All young children, even once they have built an attachment with their teacher, will sometimes find it hard to let you go in the morning. If your child is upset when you drop them off, please be reassured that the teacher will contact you by phone or email to tell you when they have settled.