Cookies Early Learning Centre

Our Settling In Policy

Principles

“Settling-in is an interim stage in the transition between home and the outside world.  Children’s whole future attitude to new experiences could be affected by how this situation is managed.  Due care and attention must be paid to a child’s need for time to settle into any setting”. (Child Care (Pre-school Services) (no 2) Regulations 2016 and Child Care (Pre-school Services (No 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 Part II, 5 Health, Welfare and Development of the Child) (Síolta Standard 9: Health and Welfare, Síolta Standard 13: Transitions) (National Standard 1: Information, National Standard 3: Working in Partnership with Parents or Guardians, National Standard 6: Evaluation, National Standard 8: Care, Play and Learning, National Standard 9: Nurture and Well-Being)

Statement of Intent

At Cookies we aim to ensure children feel safe and secure in the absence of their parents/carers.

Policy and Procedure

Cookies will therefore endeavour to make the settling-in process a positive experience for children and will work closely in partnership with parents/carers to ensure this is achieved.

We recognise that in some cases there may be particular difficulties experienced by children, parents/carers, and staff during the settling-in period and we are prepared to explore and consider various ways of settling children into Cookies. All children are individuals and we plan to meet their individual needs and resolve any difficulties quickly and smoothly.

In order to accomplish this we will ensure that: 

Pre- Admission              

• Management invites the child and parents/guardians to visit Cookies   at an agreed time.
• Cookies offers phased/staggered settling-in
• Prior to enrolment exchange of information will take place between parents and staff.  In order to meet the needs of each child parents/guardians will be asked to fill out the Registration form.  Parents/guardians are encouraged to provide staff with information on their child’s likes/dislikes, interests, achievements etc.

Fees

• Our fees will be individual to each family, due to different funding options available for different parents including but not limited to NCS, ECCE and CCSP. There are also Sponsor claims from Tusla and other job related schemes for parents.
• We require a specific deposit amount to hold a place and this will be returned to you upon starting. If you choose not to take your place, we will require at least 4 weeks notice prior to start date of cancellation of place. If your start date has not yet been confirmed- the agreed month of starting will be taken as the timeframe and the month's notice prior to this will be required for notice of cancellation of a place. 
• Our fees are paid monthly and they can be paid either by Direct Debit or by cash at the service at the beginning of each month to a member of the management team and a receipt will be issued to you. 
• Fees will be published each September after they have been submitted to the HIVE in line with NCS requirements. 
• Our fees are required to be paid on the first of every month unless otherwise has been agreed with the owner or manager of the branch your child is attending. 

First Day

• Each child will be appointed a key worker.

• The parent will be assured of the value of their presence to the child in this process.

• Parents will be made aware of the necessity of interacting with their child and the other people in the service in order to reassure the child of the safety of the new surroundings.
• Children must be collected on time and promptly from their session at the agreed time.

Ongoing Matters 

• Parents must never leave Cookies without saying goodbye to their child.

• Our Early Years Practitioners will provide support and encouragement to parents/guardians during the settling-in period should the transition be difficult. They will phone parents/guardians to reassure them, if necessary.

• Our staff may need to assist parents/guardians through this separation process as an extended goodbye can be distressful for children.

• The ‘settling in’ process has no time limits and may need to be repeated if a child becomes unsettled.

• When children are beginning to settle without their parents/guardians, they should be supported in observing, experimenting and discovering for themselves without any attempt to make them participate in activities.

• Opportunities will be made available for parents/guardians and practitioners to exchange information on the child’s progress at this stage.

• Parents/guardians and their children are encouraged to get to know the key people involved in their child’s life. 

• Children who are still clearly distressed having followed the above procedure may need to have their attendance at Cookies deferred for a trial period.

Working With Parents

At Cookies we: 

• Encourage families to share their knowledge of their child with the practitioners and staff reciprocate by sharing the knowledge of the children in general with parents so that there is a mutual growth and understanding in ways that benefit the child.
• Strive to develop positive relationships with families that are based on mutual trust and open communication. Engage in shared decision making.
• Acknowledge families existing strengths and competence as a basis for supporting them in the task of nurturing their child.
• Acknowledge the uniqueness of each family and the significance of its culture, customs, language and beliefs.
• Maintain confidentiality and respect the right of the family to privacy.
• Consider situations from each family’s perspective, especially if differences or tensions arise.
• Assist each family to develop a sense of belonging to the centre’s services, in which their child participates.
• Acknowledge that each family is affected by the community context in which it operates.