Starting at nursery for the first time can be daunting for families, especially children. To make this transition smoother, our Cummings Park nursery team is trialling a new approach where managers and practitioners visit the family home and conduct the first official ‘settling in session’ from the family home.
This home visit initiative will allow our team to establish closer relationships. By meeting children in their own familiar environment we will be able to create an immediate sense of comfort and trust. Children can interact with their future caregivers with their family and in a familiar and safe environment.
According to our Early Learning and Childcare Coordinator, Amy Simpson,
“We hope that these home visits will give our team valuable insight into each child’s personality, interests, and daily routines. They can see what interests the child, observe family dynamics and understand the home environment. This knowledge will help the team to understand the child and tailor their approach from day one. We will be trialling this with our Cummings Park Nursery initially but we hope to roll it out to all FCSS settings.”
Starting nursery can be unnerving for both children and parents. When children have already met their practitioners at home, walking into the nursery becomes less overwhelming. Parents also feel more confident leaving their child with people they’ve welcomed into their home and built a connection with.
The home visit creates a bridge between home and nursery life. Practitioners can discuss the child’s routine, favourite activities, and any concerns parents might have helping them to create a detailed and comprehensive Personal Care Plan with the family. They can also explain what to expect at nursery and answer questions in a relaxed, informal setting.
This initiative reflects our commitment to putting People First. By taking the time to visit homes, we show families that we value getting to know them personally. This personal approach sets the foundation for strong partnerships between families and our nursery team.
Starting nursery doesn’t have to begin with walking through our doors—sometimes the best beginnings happen right at home.
