Written by Jacqui Holford, Nursery Manager
First impressions count. How an early years setting welcomes you into their community sets the tone for your relationship with them. For every family at Loughborough Nursery, our priority is to make the settling in process as seamless and stress-free as possible. We do not underestimate the impact of building powerful parent partnerships and how ensuring a consistent approach between home and nursery supports the process of your child’s development.
For many parents, joining a nursery will be the first time that their child spends any significant time away from home, so it is important that the setting ‘gets it right.’ I fully understand that parents are entrusting us with their most precious gift and this is why it is so important to me that our commitment to working in partnership with parents shines through from your first experience with Loughborough Nursery.
While some children adapt quickly to a new setting, others may need a little extra support. The Loughborough Nursery journey begins with a series of bespoke settling in sessions that are designed to give our staff a more well-rounded understanding of your child. You’ll get to meet our experienced staff members and work together to complete an “All About Me” form which includes details such as your child’s favourite activities, family members, pets, cultural background, and dietary preferences. We also collect information about daily routines, such as sleeping and feeding, along with any relevant health or medical needs.
Our individual approach ensures that from day one, we are tuned in to the unique needs of each child in our care. It reassures parents that your child will be responded to quickly in the way that best suits them, not with a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
I strongly believe that technology will never be able to replicate the impact of human connection but, in a world categorised by rapidly developing technology, it is important that early years educators understand how it can strengthen parent partnerships. Regular communication with parents is a non-negotiable at Loughborough Nursery and we use a broad range of channels to ensure that parents are always kept informed and involved in their child’s nursery experience.
Our open-door outlook supports strong face-to-face connection with frequent parents’ evenings and daily home to nursery handovers with staff at drop-off times. This is supplemented with weekly newsletters sent via email and through use of ParentZone – an app that enables your child’s key person to send photo and written updates home at the click of a button.
As a manager, my door is always open. There is something powerful about the ability of a face-to-face chat to reassure parents and provide support as their child settles in. It is these partnerships that are the foundations for your child’s development with us.
I often talk about something called the ‘golden thread of care’ – the idea that, once established, the nursery and parent partnership is consistently strong during your child’s time with us. Our rooms are carefully designed to reflect your child’s stage of development, with experienced staff guiding them every step of the way. As your child progresses through each of these rooms, the natural and familiar style of our communication with you promotes a sense of security, confidence and wellbeing for both you and your child.
Every child’s journey through Loughborough Nursery is unique, but what stays constant is the care, support and encouragement they receive along the way, and this is never more effective than when it is underpinned by strong links between home and nursery.
