2 September 2024

As we step into September, the atmosphere at Scallywags Nursery is filled with a sense of new beginnings and exciting changes. This month, our Policy of the Month focuses on Transitions, a theme that resonates deeply as we warmly welcome new children into our forest school setting and bid a heartfelt farewell to our preschoolers embarking on their next big adventure at school.

At Scallywags Nursery, we understand that transitions—whether it’s starting nursery, moving between rooms, or heading off to “big school”—are significant milestones in a child’s early years. They bring a mix of excitement, curiosity, and, sometimes, a bit of apprehension. Our commitment is to make these transitions as smooth, supportive, and positive as possible, ensuring every child feels secure, confident, and ready for what comes next.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆: 𝗔 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

For many children and their families, starting nursery is a significant first step. We know that this can be both exciting and daunting. To ease this transition, we have developed a thoughtful and nurturing approach:

• Home Visits: We believe that familiarity breeds comfort. That’s why we offer optional home visits, where a child’s key person, accompanied by the Nursery Manager or a Senior team member, visits the child in their own environment. This visit helps us to build an early bond and gather vital information about the child’s interests, medical history, and preferences. While home visits are not mandatory, they provide a wonderful opportunity for children to meet their key person in a familiar setting.
• Settling-In Sessions: Our structured settling-in process is designed to gradually introduce children to the nursery environment. Starting with a one-hour session where the parent stays, progressing to two hours without the parent, and finally, a four-hour session including play, lunch, and rest time. These sessions are crucial for helping children adjust to new surroundings, routines, and peers at their own pace. Additional sessions can be arranged if needed, ensuring every child feels safe and secure before they start their full nursery journey.

𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀: 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽-𝗯𝘆-𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵

As children grow and develop, they may move from one room to another within our nursery. Each room represents a new stage of learning and exploration, and our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible:

• Handover Meetings and Transition Visits: A well-coordinated handover meeting between the current and new key person is essential. This allows us to communicate a child’s unique needs, preferences, and developmental progress. Following this, children participate in short transition visits to their new room, accompanied by their current key person to help them adjust.
• Group Moves and Parent Communication: Whenever possible, we encourage moving groups of friends together to maintain existing friendships, which provides emotional support and familiarity. We keep parents informed about these transition visits through our “Nursery In a Box” system and verbal handovers, ensuring they are involved and aware of their child’s progress.
• Gradual Transitions and Additional Support: The move to a new room is gradual and carefully monitored. If additional support is needed, this will be collaboratively discussed with the key person, parent, manager, and new room leader to develop a tailored plan that best supports the child’s needs.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

For our preschoolers transitioning to school, we want their experience to be as smooth and exciting as possible. This involves not only practical preparations but also emotional readiness:

• Familiarisation Activities and School Visits: We create opportunities for children to become familiar with their new school environment through role play, school uniforms, photographs, and planned visits. These activities help children visualise their new setting and feel more comfortable with the changes ahead.
• School Teacher Visits and Peer Buddies: We invite teachers from the local schools to visit the children at our nursery, allowing children to meet them in a familiar environment. Additionally, we pair children with peers who will be attending the same school, providing a sense of companionship and support.
• Comprehensive Reports and School Boards: We provide detailed final assessments for each child to their new school to ensure continuity of care and early learning. We also have a “School Board” displaying the children’s school logos and photos, which helps them see where they are going and who they will be with.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲: 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

We recognise that changes at home, such as moving or welcoming a new sibling, can significantly impact a child’s sense of stability. We encourage parents to communicate these changes to us so we can provide the right support:

• Engaging Activities and Social Stories: Our key persons are skilled at using role play, stories, and discussions to help children express their feelings and understand the changes happening around them. For children who might need more focused support, we create social stories tailored to their experiences.
• Parent Packs: To support transitions at home, we provide parent packs filled with useful information and activities to help navigate these changes smoothly.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 (𝗦𝗘𝗡)

For children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), we provide extra support during transitions. Our Person-Centred Planning (PCP) meetings are tailored to the individual needs of each child, involving families and educators in developing a transition plan that supports continuous growth and learning.

𝗔 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱

At Scallywags Nursery, our goal is to create a nurturing and supportive environment where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to embrace new experiences. Whether it’s the first day at nursery, a move to a new room, or the big leap to school, we are here to guide every step of the way.

We wish our preschoolers the best of luck on their next adventures and warmly welcome all new children and families to our Scallywags community. Together, we’ll make these transitions memorable, positive, and full of growth!

Transition Blog written by Demi Eastment