Admissions
Please come for a visit and see a session in full flow. Cathy, our intakes officer, is always happy to hear from you, so if you would like to come and see what we do, add your child’s name to our waiting list or arrange a start date please either e-mail or call Cathy.
Your child can attend the Centre once they have reached the age of 2 years old. They do not have to be potty trained, we will consult with you and offer support through this process.
Once a firm booking is made a keyperson will be allocated to your child. The role of the keyperson is to oversee your child’s welfare throughout the session and to develop a close relationship with the family. The keyperson will normally be available to greet you on arrival and to exchange information.
During the settling in period children may wish to bring in a special toy or comforter. Once the child has gained confidence we prefer that children do not bring their own toys to the centre as this can cause issues over sharing and care of the toys. Similarly, although a child may need to use a dummy during the settling in period we do not encourage these in the longer term as they can delay communication with other children and adults.
The following can help your child with the settling in process:
- leave a comforter, with their name or initials on it.
- leave something, perhaps a piece of clothing or a handkerchief that smells of you, or a special letter or photo that they can take out and look at if they are missing you.
- favorite CD’s or tapes to share with the other children.
- look at the photographs of the staff members, on the parents board, with your child and use the staff names when talking with them.
- talk to your child about their time at the centre. What did they enjoy most? This can be used to encourage them into the Centre on their next session.
- make sure you complete the ‘All About Me’ questionnaire. This is really useful so we know your child’s likes and dislikes, and we can talk to them about other family members and their home lives.
- let us know keywords in your child’s own language i.e. Mummy, daddy, toilet, drink or back soon.
- always let your child know when you are about to leave, give them a hug, and assure them that you will return later. Leave directly and try to avoid a protracted departure, as this can make children unsure about the parting routine.