This may be the first time that your child may have been away from home and familiar faces, so it is important that the child feels happy and secure in the group. We would ask a parent or carer to stay with the child as long as it is necessary for the child to feel secure.

Each child is different so the settling-in period can vary. You will always be welcome to stay in the group with your child.

When your child is ready to part from you, please do so quietly and quickly without too much fuss. Tell him/her that you are going and then go. In the first week, the child will only stay for a short time until he/she is happy and secure.

If a child does not settle-in after a period of time, it may be that he/she is not ready for this step and may need more time to prepare.

Children cannot play or learn if they are anxious and unhappy. Our settling-in procedures aim to help parents to help their children to feel comfortable in the group and to benefit from what it has to offer and be confident that their parents will return at the end of the session.