Each child settles into nursery in their own way. In our nurseries we have seen some children wave off their parents on their first day and embrace nursery life, on other occasions children have taken weeks and on occasions some children have taken longer. Children also have to adjust to moving rooms within the nursery and on occasions children who are perfectly happy can become unsettled as they have to adjust to new routines, staff and rules. So there is no quick answer on how to best settle children.
Nursery life is very different to home life and children have to adjust to a new environment, food, people, rules etc and this can be extremely overwhelming (think of your first day in a new company or a new job!). We aim to offer a caring, nurturing environment where children feel safe and parents feel assured their child will be cuddled and looked after. This adjustment can be difficult especially for parents who have never left their child before, so our settling in period isn’t intended to completely settle your child but an opportunity for parents to cope with separation and for staff and children to get to know each other.
Ultimately, for children to receive quality care and early learning that suits their individual needs, parents/carers and staff need to work together in a close partnership. The two-way sharing of information is key to this and a relationship that is built on trust and understanding.