We want all our children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents/carers, to recognise our staff as a source of authority, help, and friendship and to be able to share, with their parents/carers, the learning experience enjoyed at Deerhurst.

We also want parents/carers to feel welcome and involved from the start.

In order to achieve this; we aim to create a partnership with parents/carers by:

• creating opportunities for the exchange of information using a range of resources for example; a copy of Deerhurst’s prospectus, a shared approach to our registration forms, and policies and procedures
• ensuring plenty of opportunities for parents/carers to inform Deerhurst about their children’s current achievements and interests
• encouraging all parents and carers to visit Deerhurst with their children before an admission is planned, and then to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences
• reassuring parents/carers whose children seem to be taking a long time settling in – all children are individuals and this will vary.

Children cannot learn or play successfully if they are anxious and unhappy.

Our settling-in procedures aim to help parents/carers to feel comfortable at Deerhurst, to ensure that children can benefit from what we have to offer, and feel confident that their parent or carer will return at the end of the session/day.