Pre-School Settling in

At Rotherfield Pre-School, we are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure every child settles into our setting feeling happy, safe and secure. Our caring and experienced team provides a warm, welcoming environment where children can build trusting relationships and develop confidence from the very beginning.

We understand that every child is unique and that each family has different needs. That's why we take an individual approach to the settling-in process, ensuring children receive the support and reassurance they need while giving parents confidence that their child is happy, cared for and thriving.

Each child is allocated a dedicated Key Person, based on the sessions they attend. Your child's Key Person will be your main point of contact and will build a close relationship with both you and your child, supporting their emotional wellbeing, learning and development throughout their time with us.

Before your child starts, we invite families to attend one of our Stay and Play sessions. These visits give children the opportunity to explore the setting, meet our practitioners and begin to feel familiar with their new surroundings. Parents can also complete any remaining enrolment paperwork and ask any questions they may have before their child's first day.

On their first session, children are gently introduced to the pre-school environment, our team and their new friends. We know that every child settles at their own pace. Some children quickly feel at home, while others may need a little more time and reassurance. Our experienced practitioners carefully observe each child's interests, personality and stage of development, adapting our approach to meet their individual needs.

Throughout the settling-in period, we maintain regular communication with parents and carers, keeping you informed about your child's progress. If we feel your child would benefit from additional settling sessions, we will discuss this with you to ensure the transition remains positive and stress-free.

As part of the enrolment process, parents are asked to complete an 'About Me' form. This valuable information helps us understand your child's interests, routines, personality and individual needs before they begin. Within the first six weeks, your child's Key Person combines this information with their own observations to complete an initial assessment of your child's development and identify the next steps in their learning journey.

We use the Famly app to keep families connected with life at Rotherfield Pre-School. Through the app, you can view your child's learning journey, receive observations and updates, communicate with staff, and stay informed about pre-school news, events and important announcements. We believe that strong communication between home and pre-school plays a vital role in supporting every child's happiness, wellbeing and development.