Top Tips to help your child settle at nursery

• Be brave yourself - your confidence will help your child take that first step.
• Try to avoid having a busy morning prior to nursery. Let your child have a relaxed and not too stimulating morning. We want them to look forward to coming.
• When you arrive help your child to take off his coat and show him his special peg. If possible, take him to the toilet.
• If your child clings to you and becomes distressed, we would prefer that you hand him to one of your child's key workers. He will be distracted and comforted and settle much more quickly if you are out of sight. You may wish to wait in the hall or prefer to go home. If your child does not settle after ten minutes we will call you. Alternatively you can call us at any time to check how your child is getting on.

• Comfort objects such as blankets, teddies, dummies, etc. are very helpful and should be brought in. Your child will soon discard them as his confidence grows.
• Items to show the teachers such as a cut-picture, flower, shell, etc. can give a child a sense of purpose and help them make that initial step.
• Of those children that cry on arriving at school, the vast majority are upset at the actual process of "Saying goodbye to mummy". It is often a similar situation at bedtime when they don't want mummy to leave the room. Therefore, the shorter the time taken to say goodbye, then the shorter is the period of upset. This is why we generally advise you to "make a quick getaway".
• Rest assured that your child will not be kept at nursery if he is genuinely upset or frightened. He needs to feel he can trust us, and, seeing us phone up mummy can help. However, we are very experienced in knowing the difference between a sad, frightened cry and a cross or tired one.

Mount Carmel staff are extremely experienced and we have an excellent reputation of settling children in record time. The emotional security of every child is of the utmost importance, particularly in their first term. Please feel free to ask the staff for advice and support when it is needed.