HETTY Preschool

Starting Preschool

Starting Preschool at HETTY

Starting preschool is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel like a big change for both children and their families. At HETTY Preschool, we take time to get to know each child and support them to settle at their own pace.

Every child is different. Some children enter confidently on their first day, while others need more time, reassurance and support. There is no single “right” way to settle, and we will work closely with you to make the transition as positive as possible.

Before Your Child Starts

Before your child’s first session, you will be asked to complete our registration and consent forms. It is important that all information is accurate and returned promptly so that we can plan safely for your child.

Please tell us about:

  • your child’s interests, strengths and favourite activities
  • their usual routines and comfort needs
  • their communication, including words, signs or gestures they use
  • any current or previous involvement with Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), including reports, targets, recommended strategies and contact details
  • toileting or nappy-changing requirements
  • eating habits, dietary requirements, allergies or intolerances
  • medical conditions and medication
  • sleep needs
  • sensory preferences or things they may find difficult
  • any additional needs or support already in place
  • important family circumstances or recent changes
  • anything that may help us understand and care for your child

Please provide current contact details and more than one emergency contact wherever possible. You must inform us promptly if any information changes.

If your child has an allergy, medical condition, SEND or another identified need, we may arrange a meeting before they start. This helps us ensure that appropriate plans, training, reasonable adjustments and support are in place from the beginning.

Visits and Settling In

Where possible, children and parents will be offered opportunities to visit HETTY before the child starts. Visits help children become familiar with:

  • the environment
  • members of staff
  • other children
  • daily routines
  • the different areas and activities available

They also allow families to ask questions and share important information.

We will agree an approach to settling in that reflects your child’s individual needs. Some children may benefit from shorter introductory visits or a gradual increase in session length.

Your Child’s Key Person

Every child is allocated a Key Person. The Key Person develops a warm and secure relationship with your child and acts as an important link between HETTY and home.

Your child’s Key Person will:

  • help them feel safe, known and welcomed
  • learn about their interests, routines and individual needs
  • support their emotional wellbeing and development
  • observe and respond to their learning
  • share information with you
  • listen to your questions and concerns
  • work with you and other professionals when additional support is needed

All staff will get to know and care for your child, but their Key Person will be your main point of contact.

The First Day

Please arrive at the agreed time and allow enough time for a calm handover. Tell staff how your child is feeling and share any information that may affect their day, such as poor sleep, changes at home or an unsettled morning.

A short, warm and confident goodbye is often most helpful. Let your child know that you are leaving and that you will return. Leaving without saying goodbye can make separation more difficult on future occasions.

It is completely normal for some children to become upset when their parent or carer leaves. Staff will provide comfort, reassurance and a familiar activity. We will contact you if your child remains distressed or if we feel a different settling-in approach would be helpful.

Please feel free to talk to us about how you are feeling too. Starting preschool is a transition for the whole family.

What to Bring

Please provide suitable items for your child’s session, as advised by HETTY. These may include:

  • a named bag
  • clearly labelled spare clothes, including socks
  • nappies, wipes and any agreed personal-care products
  • weather-appropriate clothing
  • a named coat
  • a sun hat when required
  • a clearly named lunch box if your child is having a packed lunch
  • any agreed comfort item

Children regularly take part in painting, messy play, water play and outdoor activities, so please choose comfortable clothing that allows them to play freely.

Clearly label all clothing and belongings with your child’s name.

Food and Medication

Food, sweets and snacks must never be left loose or unsupervised in a child’s bag, as another child may have a serious or potentially life-threatening allergy.

If your child is bringing a packed lunch, it must be in a clearly named lunch box and handed directly to a member of staff on arrival.

Any additional food required for an agreed medical or dietary reason must be discussed with staff in advance and handed directly to a member of staff.

Medication must also never be left in a child’s bag, coat or other belongings. It must be handed directly to a member of staff in its original, clearly labelled container. The appropriate consent or medication form must be completed before medication can be administered.

Toileting and Personal Care

Children do not need to be toilet trained before starting HETTY. We support toileting and personal care sensitively, respectfully and in partnership with families.

Please tell us about the words, signs and routines your child uses at home. Consistent approaches between home and preschool can help children feel secure and develop independence when they are ready.

If your child is toilet training, please provide several complete changes of clearly labelled clothing. Accidents are a normal part of learning and will always be handled calmly and without shame.

Collection Arrangements

Children will only be released to an authorised adult.

Please ensure that:

  • collection information is accurate and kept up to date
  • staff are told in advance if somebody different will collect your child
  • any agreed password or identification procedure is followed
  • you contact HETTY if you are unexpectedly delayed

We will not release a child if we are unsure that the person collecting them has been authorised. This is an important part of keeping every child safe.

Evidence Me

HETTY uses Evidence Me to share selected observations and special moments from your child’s learning.

You should receive an activation link by email. Please check your junk or spam folder if it does not arrive and speak to a member of staff if you need the invitation to be resent.

Parents can view shared observations, add comments and submit photographs or information about learning and achievements from home. Sharing these moments helps us understand your child’s interests and build connections between home and HETTY.

Attendance and Absence

Regular attendance helps children build secure relationships, become familiar with routines and benefit fully from their preschool experiences.

If your child will be absent, please contact HETTY as soon as possible and explain the reason. We are required to monitor children’s attendance and follow up unexplained or unexpected absences as part of our safeguarding responsibilities.

Please tell us if your child has an infectious illness or has received medical advice that may affect when they can return.

Helping Your Child Prepare

Before your child starts, you can help by:

  • talking positively about HETTY
  • looking at photographs of the setting and staff
  • reading stories about starting preschool
  • practising short separations with a trusted aduld
  • encouraging your child to communicate their needs
  • allowing them to practise simple self-care skills
  • establishing predictable sleep and morning routines
  • reassuring them that you will return after their session

Avoid placing pressure on your child or promising that they will not feel worried. Instead, acknowledge their feelings and reassure them that trusted adults will help them.

Working Together

Parents and carers know their children best. Please share questions, concerns and important information with us, however small they may seem.

We can also offer advice or help families find further support with matters such as:

  • separation anxiety
  • behaviour and emotional regulation
  • sleep
  • eating
  • toileting
  • speech and communication
  • sensory needs
  • other aspects of your child’s development or family life

By working together from the beginning, we can help your child feel safe, valued and excited to become part of the HETTY community.