Arrival and Collection at the Nursery

Arrival at the nursery

This should be a clear, concise transition for children from home to school. The arrival routine is marked by the ritual of parent and child taking out each child’s personal doll, and greeting a teacher. Current information should be given to the teacher and then assistance given, if necessary, (by parent / parent and teacher) for the child to become directly involved with an activity or peer group. Parent should leave promptly to reduce possibility of separation distress.

Collection from the nursery

This is the opportunity for parents and children to enjoy activities and time together at the nursery. Parents are encouraged to leave outdoor clothes, bags and the stress of the day in the cloakroom; read the day’s nursery information on the notice board, check their post box then join their children in free play. Through active participation parents will be able to formulate a suitable moment and method to conclude children’s activities for the day, assist in clearing up and complete the day with the ritual of farewell to a teacher and putting away of the personal doll. On days when an immediate departure is necessary, children should be aware of this expectation and will be reminded / prepared for this event during the day by staff.

Important factors at transition times

1. Routine

Young children need the security of a regular transition routine. This routine will be specific for individual children.

2. Clarity and consistency

Each child must know what is expected of him/ her at collection time, and conform to this.

3. Exchange of information

Accurate information from parents upon arrival, and from staff upon departure forms the foundation of home / school co-operation. Collection, medication and contact information are vital.

4. Active adult involvement

Participation in activities by a collecting adult, is a nursery ideal which provides insight and reinforcement of the home / school interaction.

5. Release of responsibility

The nursery has the ultimate responsibility for children whilst they remain on nursery premises (even if parents are present). The nursery requires parents to support and follow nursery routines with all children, whilst on the nursery premises. This is a security and safety measure.

Clarification and further information for parents on arrival and collection at the Nursery

1. Routine

The transition times between home and school – and vice versa – are naturally difficult for many children. Separations from a parent, or later from the intimacy of peer activities are situations which call for consistent, secure routines.

Humpty Dumpty aims to provide the framework in which parents – as the child’s foremost authority – can develop the transition routine which best suits their individual child / children. Each child is an individual and needs a policy which suits both him/her and the parent at that specific time.

2. Clarity and consistency

The key words to transition times (as many others) are clarity and consistency. The child must know what is expected of him/her and be expected to follow those norms.

Many of the problems we have seen at collection have been when a child does not know if he /she is expected to leave immediately, when the child is asked to decide, when a parent does not follow through with leaving decisions etc. This child is put into a position of insecurity.

Suggestions to parents whose child / children have been experiencing difficulty with departure have been;

1) To follow a regular pattern at collection time i.e. the same time each day.

2) Regulation of how long the transition takes (often best to be short).

3) Collection directly after tea, which is a natural break in the day’s activities.

Once the collection routine is flowing smoothly again the child will have the security and confidence to allow flexibility.

3. Exchange of information

Parents are required to read the white board on arrival at the nursery – both morning and afternoon. This provides current, and often vital, information about the nursery. Upon arrival parents are also required to note collection information on the block. Nursery staff rely on this information and look at the block many times during the day to reassure or confirm children’s deliberations about collection. Incorrect information undermines the child’s confidence in teachers and their sense of security concerning departure. Should collection information change during the day we request that parents notify the nursery of this by telephone. A child who needs to be ready for a parent to collect in a hurry, or is leaving to attend a special appointment can benefit greatly if mentally prepared for this by nursery staff, during the day.

Other information that may need to be exchanged upon arrival              includes

1) Medical conditions. Eg. if medication is necessary during the day or has been given at home. Parents will be asked to sign a medication form each day that medicines are to be administered by staff. Medicines must be handed over to a member of staff by the arriving parent.

2) Temporary change in emergency telephone numbers. It is vital that the nursery has an emergency telephone number at all times, temporary changes in this being noted on the block.

We recommend that children who are having difficulty with morning separation arrive at the nursery in good time. The atmosphere is much calmer, fewer activities are underway, teachers have more time for individual attention. Close to 9’o’clock everyone is getting ready for meeting, the day has been in full swing for an hour for many children. Our teaching methods are grounded upon active teacher involvement with childen’s activities. Thus at 9’o’clock the majority of staff will be actively involved with groups of children. One teacher is always available to receive children and exchange information with parents as they arrive.

Upon collection parents are asked to check their post box and white board as they enter the nursery. Each child is encouraged to come and say a clear goodbye as they leave   and then complete the nursery ritual with their doll. Following a farewell from parent or collecting adult, staff will then strike the child’s name from the attendance block. Any parent desiring a more specific departure ritual for their child (eg. to shake hands with a teacher upon joining and leaving the group) may arrange this with staff. Such rituals will be individual, as they may be inappropriate and stressful for other children.

It is only possible for teachers to prepare children, or take an active part in collection routines if they are informed of parents’ needs, or wishes. Teachers are fully involved with those children remaining at the nursery in the afternoon, and need clear, concise information if a parent requires assistance. ’Signals’, as opposed to information, are not always clear. If a parent needs help then we hope that they always feel able to ask for it, and receive a helpful response from staff.

4. Active adult involvement

A nursery ideal has always been that parents join in their child’s play in the afternoon at the nursery. Five minutes active involvement with the child and friends can reward a parent with a great insight into their child’s relationships and give awareness as to that day’s activities.

Such a transition also allows parents to realise that

- “Now it is time to go” can be a catastrophe if consideration is not given to the child’s play situation.

A parent involved in a game will be able to say “When (eg.) you have finished cooking tea we need to put the dolls to bed until tomorrow” or ”When you have had one more turn with ..... then it will be time to clear up”.

Allowing time to play with the child before departure requires parents to arrive at the nursery at least five minutes before closure clearing up procedures begin.

Parents are asked to be actively involved with their child and the departure routines. There may only be one teacher working in the final half hour of the day, and thus parental support and consideration is essential.

5. Release of responsibility.

Directives from the Education Authorities state that the nursery has the ultimate responsibility for children whilst they remain on nursery premises (even if parents are present). In keeping with this directive, the nursery continues to encourage parents to join their children at collection time but, requires parents to support and follow nursery routines with all children, whilst on the nursery premises. This is a security and safety measure. 

Children attending the nursery part-time (with a parent taking parental leave) may attend the nursery for a maximum of six hours per day, currently nine to three. The above principles also apply to part time families, and active adult involvement will still be encouraged, before three o' clock.

If the nursery group is outside at part time family collection, parents are asked to make a formal (verbal) departure, which releases the nursery from responsibility for the child. The family may remain to play in the same area as the remaining nursery children.

Arrival and collection routines may present specific, practical difficulties for adults supervising the arrival or collection of more than one child. Staff is aware of this situation and sensitive to the possible need for additional assistance.

Revised and approved by staff and Board November 2009.