At The Little Nurseries Group, we understand that starting nursery is a big step – not just for children, but for parents too. Our approach goes beyond providing standard childcare; we focus on delivering a bespoke curriculum designed to support children’s holistic development – emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. Our in-house experts thoughtfully craft each aspect of the curriculum, blending creativity and purposeful learning that aligns with the EYFS framework.
At the heart of Little Nurseries is a belief in valuing individuality – of children, families, staff, and settings. We work in close partnership with parents, nurturing strong, trusting relationships so every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn and grow every day.
Helping Your Child Settle into Nursery Starting nursery is an exciting milestone, filled with new experiences and opportunities to learn. It’s completely normal for both you and your child to feel a mix of emotions during those first few weeks — excitement, pride, and maybe a few nerves. Don’t worry — it’s all part of the journey. Here are some of our top tips (and a little insight into how we support you) to help make the transition as smooth and positive as possible:
1. Take Advantage of Our Settling Sessions At Little Nurseries, we encourage at least three settling sessions before your child’s official start date.
These short visits help your little one get used to the environment, meet their key person, and start building confidence at their own pace.
During these sessions, we’ll also take the time to get to know you and your child — how they like to be comforted, what makes them smile, and how we can best support their individual needs.
2. Share Key Information with Us To help us understand your child better, we’ll give you two important forms:
- The Little “All About Me” – this gives us valuable insights into your child’s likes, dislikes, routines, health needs, and interests.
- The Little Learning and Development at Home – this helps us celebrate the milestones your child has already achieved with you, their first teachers, and identify the next steps in their learning journey.
These forms help us create a smooth transition for both you and your child, ensuring we provide truly personalised care from day one.
3. Supporting Babies and Children Who Can’t Yet Communicate How They Feel
We understand that babies and very young children can’t always tell us how they’re feeling — and that can sometimes make settling feel a little more emotional for parents. Our practitioners are trained to recognise even the smallest cues — from changes in body language and facial expressions to the sounds your baby makes — so we can respond quickly and sensitively to their needs.
Your baby will have a dedicated key person who builds a close, nurturing bond through consistent care, gentle routines, and lots of cuddles. We also work closely with you to follow your child’s familiar home routines for feeding, sleeping, and comfort, helping them feel secure and loved throughout the day.
We’ll keep you updated on how they’re getting on — through daily handovers, photos, and updates on our Famly app — so you always feel connected and reassured.
4. Supporting Children with SEND or Additional Needs
Every child at Little Nurseries is unique, and we’re proud to offer inclusive care that supports all children to thrive. If your child has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), our experienced team — including our SENCo — will work closely with you from the very start to understand your child’s strengths, needs, and preferences.
We’ll adapt routines, environments, and learning opportunities to make sure your child feels comfortable, confident, and supported. Open, ongoing communication between home and nursery is key — together, we’ll create an individual support plan tailored to your child, ensuring they can build trusting relationships, develop independence, and enjoy their early learning journey.
5. Keep Goodbyes Short and Sweet
When it’s time to say goodbye, a calm, confident farewell works wonders.
- Always say goodbye — don’t sneak away.
- Reassure your child that you’ll be back later.
- Keep your tone happy and positive.
Your child’s key person will be ready with cuddles and reassurance to help them settle into their day.
6. Stay Connected with Us
We know it can be hard to leave your little one, especially in the early days. Please feel free to call the nursery to check how they’re getting on, or send us a message through the Famly app. We’re always happy to reassure you with a quick update or a friendly photo. Our partnership with parents is at the heart of what we do — we want you to feel as confident and comfortable as your child does.
7. Keep Routines Consistent Children feel safe when their days are predictable.
Keeping to similar meal, sleep, and bedtime routines at home helps make the transition to nursery much easier.
8. Celebrate Their New Adventures
We love sharing updates, photos, and little stories about your child’s day through our Famly app — it’s a lovely way to stay connected and share in their achievements. Talking about what they’ve done at nursery helps build excitement and strengthens the link between home and nursery.
Remember: You’re Not Alone Every child’s settling journey is unique, and our experienced team is here to support you every step of the way. With love, patience, and teamwork between home and nursery, your child will soon feel secure, happy, and ready to explore all that nursery life has to offer.
At Little Nurseries, our goal is simple – we want every child to feel happy, safe, and confident, and to settle seamlessly into their nursery journey.
