Settling In

We are happy for parents/carers to stay with their child when they attend their first few sessions. Each child is different and we recognise that some children will need more support than others. Please be re-assured that pre-school staff would not hesitate to contact parents/carers if a child was really upset and not showing signs of settling in to a session.

Key Worker support

Each pre-school child is assigned a key worker within the team who will meet them on the first day and be a key point of contact throughout your child’s time at pre-school. We provide all parents with an ‘About Me’ booklet to complete with the help of their child. This provides their key worker and other members of staff with valuable information on your child’s likes, dislikes, hobbies, habits and personality as well as more basic family contact and medical information. There is plenty of opportunity to include photos and drawings and your child’s key worker will use this as a talking point with your child to get to know them better and to aid settling in.

Gradual Breaks

If you are staying for the first few pre-school sessions, there are quite good breaks throughout the session when your child could be encouraged to do things without you. For example, after arriving and playing for some time, the children go into the Quiet Room for ‘Show and Tell’. Later after further play they again go into the Quiet Room for a story. These breaks can be helpful when settling your child in as you can try and merge into the background and not go into the Quiet Room when the children do, enabling your child to get used to you not being there all the time.

Please be assured that our staff have a lot of experience in settling children and we find that the key is to introduce them gradually to the setting, whilst offering gentle reassurance and attention. We are happy to discuss all suggestions and advice with you.

The best way to decide if Ilkley Pre-School Playgroup is the right choice for you and your child is to visit during a session or come to one of our regular Open Days. If you would like to apply for a place or get information on availability, please call 07754 793644, or contact our Admissions Secretary, Alison Lucas, directly on tel: 01943 605517 or email admissions@ilkleypreschool.org.uk