We want your child to be happy at Dorothy Gardner Centre.  Nursery can be a busy and new and exciting place for a new child so we ask that you help your child to settle with us. All children are different. Some children settle very quickly, others take more time. It is important that this process isn’t rushed and you should be prepared for this process to take up to a week or longer. During the settling process you will need to stay at nursery with your child. If this is difficult for you, we ask that you arrange for a relative or familiar adult to stay with your child.

 

 

On the 1st Day…

 

We would like you to stay for one hour

 

• 9:45 – 10:45 if your child has a morning place

• 13:15 – 14:15 if your child has an afternoon place.

 

Please stay with your child and play with him/her. This will give your child time to become familiar with the space and all the new adults.

 

 

On the 2nd Day…

 

• For morning places please expect to stay from 9:15 -11:00.

• For afternoon places please expect to stay from 12:45 – 14:20.

 

If your child seems very settled his/her Key Person may ask you to sit in the Dining Room. It is important that you say goodbye to your child before you leave. Some children get very distressed if the person settling them disappears without saying goodbye.

 

 

On the 3rd Day…

 

• For morning places please expect to stay from 9:15 -11:45.

• For afternoon places please expect to stay from 12:45 – 15:15.

 

You should settle your child with his/her Key Person, say goodbye and then go and sit in the Dining Room. Your child’s Key Person will discuss with you when your child is ready for you to leave him/her in the nursery. Please check with your child’s Key Person before you leave the nursery building.

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Building Independence

 

When your child starts nursery everything will be new to him/her. To help your child adjust please help him/her work on these skills.

 

• Putting their own coat on.

• Using the toilet and washing their hands after using the toilet.

 

 

Comfort Toys

 

f your child has a comfort toy that is very important to them and will aid the settling process please give it to their Key Person.  Wherever possible we try to discourage children from bringing toys to nursery. Toys sometimes get lost or broken and this can lead to children getting upset.

 

 

Safety

 

It's important to everyone that children are kept safe. Please make sure you close all doors and gates as you come in to the nursery. Take your child across to greet their Key Person (or a member of the team) before leaving.

 

We ask all parents to enter the nursery through the cloakroom and leave via the stairs by Reception.  When exiting the building please make sure that you have only your own child/children with you.

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