Settling in at nursery: how our two-week settling period works

Settling in is the part of starting nursery that parents think about most, and it is the part we take most seriously. At The Manor House every child has a two-week settling period before their first full day, so that by the time they start properly, the rooms, the routine and the adults are already familiar.

Here is what those two weeks look like, step by step.

Two familiar faces

Every child at The Manor House has a primary and a secondary key person. Having two means there is always someone your child knows on every day they attend, even when one of them is on holiday. Their job is to get to know your child, and you, really well.

Session one: an hour together

The first session is an hour, and you stay. While your child plays and gets used to the room and the garden, we sit with you to go through the paperwork and start your child's All About Me. This is where you tell us the things only you know: what comforts them, how they like to fall asleep, what they love, what worries them.

It is a relaxed hour. Your child can stay close to you or wander off to explore, whichever they choose.

Session two: an hour on their own

The second session is an hour without you. Your child spends the time playing with their key person close by, and you come back to collect them at the end of the hour. We will tell you how it went: what they played with, who they spent time with and how they managed.

An hour is long enough to be a real step, and short enough to end on a good note.

The rest of the fortnight: staying longer

Over the rest of the two weeks, sessions get longer, so your child has the chance to eat and sleep with us. These are the parts of the day that feel least like home, so we take them gently.

• Meals are eaten together in The Pod, our food room, which makes them sociable and calm.
• Sleep follows the routine you already have at home. Tell us when your child usually naps and how they like to settle, and we keep to it as closely as the day allows.

If your child needs more time, we add more sessions and work out the timings with you. Every child settles at their own pace, and the plan bends to fit them.

The first six weeks

Settling does not stop on the first full day. Over the first six weeks, your child's key people focus on building a close relationship with them and with you. You will get regular updates through the Famly app, and there is always time for a proper chat at drop-off and collection. Their All About Me keeps growing as we learn more about them.

Six weeks after your child starts, we sit down with you to look back at how they have settled and what they are enjoying. After that, there is a weekly newsfeed of what the children have been up to, and a progress review every six months.

How you can help at home

A few small things make a real difference:

• Talk about nursery in a matter-of-fact, positive way in the days before. Short and simple works best.
• Use the same simple routine at drop-off once your child is staying on their own. Familiar steps help children feel secure.
• Bring their comforter. Something from home can be a big help in the first weeks.
• Keep evenings calm. New experiences are tiring, and many children are extra sleepy in the first fortnight.
• Tell us about changes at home, like a new sibling or a house move, so we can support them.

What to pack

In your child's bag each day, please pack labelled spare clothes, including pants and socks, their comforter, and any specific cream we don't already provide. An all-in-one waterproof and wellies can stay at nursery or come in each day, whichever suits you.

We provide nappies, biodegradable wipes, factor 50+ children's suncream, bibs and bedding.

We are here for you too

Settling in is a big step for the whole family. If something is on your mind during the settling weeks, tell us at drop-off or collection, and we will talk it through.

If you would like to see where your child would spend those first sessions, book a show-around and meet the team who would be settling them in.