Monkey Puzzle Stoke Newington recognises that each child, parent, and nursery relationship is unique, and we use our experience to support everyone in making that transition into nursery life as smooth as possible.
Your child will be invited to 3 FREE settling in sessions within the nursery that will be organised as follows:
Settling in sessions
We advise settling in sessions to take place with a morning and afternoon session as this enables your child to experience all of the activities and mealtimes that go on throughout the day.
These sessions are free and flexible to suit. Usually booked in for the week before the start date keeping the experience fresh in your child’s mind, your key person will fill in a report each step of the way which will help us and yourselves to track your child’s settling in and plan future support and development.
Strong relationships – Your Key Person
Upon joining our nursery, your child is paired with a dedicated Key Person, creating a warm connection that extends beyond the walls of our Stoke Newington facility. This individual assumes the responsibility of ensuring your child’s care and education are seamlessly woven into the nursery experience. Regular communication aims to facilitate smooth transitions between the familiarity of home life and the enriching environment at Monkey Puzzle. In addition to a primary Key Person, a secondary person is assigned, ensuring consistent care in the event of any absences.
At Stoke Newington your child’s Key person will:
- Be assigned to your child on their first day of nursery, getting to know the child and family well in order to form strong relationships to support emotional needs.
- Ensure they have all of the information about your child and share this with other staff so that your child’s individual needs are cared for throughout each and every day.
- Carry out assessments and plan for your child’s development, ensuring they are always challenged and supported to reach their full potential.
- Produce weekly observations and quarterly reports and share them with you to ensure you are kept up to date with all of the information about your child and their development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Settling In and Joining our Nursery
Getting ready for Monkey Puzzle Stoke Newington is an exciting step! Here’s what you’ll need to pack for your child:
Change of Clothes:
- Pack an extra set of clothes, just in case there’s a spill or a little mess during playtime.
Indoor Shoes:
- Bring comfy shoes your child can easily put on for indoor play.
Outdoor Gear (for all seasons):
- Make sure to include a warm coat, hat, gloves, and waterproof boots. Label everything with your child’s name.
Comfort Item:
- If your child has a favourite blanket or toy, feel free to include it for some extra comfort.
Completed Forms:
- Fill out any forms the nursery gives you, including important info about your child.
Yes, we have a locked Buggy Store, where you can leave your pushchair whilst your child is at Nursery. It is advised that you bring a small, foldable one for easy of storage.
Your settling in sessions are completely free of charge. During your settling in sessions, we will send you a link to set a direct debit form, which will provide us the required details for your ongoing payments. We will take monthly payments from your account in advance on the first of the month. We will also explain how the childcare voucher payments work, should you be in a voucher scheme.
This is a very normal reaction but will differ from child to child. Some become distressed upon separation but will calm down and continue to play once you have left. Some will say goodbye to you quite happily but will become upset after you have gone. Whatever their reaction, our team are very experienced in engaging, calming and reassuring children to make them feel comfortable and happy. No child will ever be left alone when distressed and we will call you to return if they cannot be calmed. We want the settling in process to be a positive experience for each child and parents.
Yes of course! We welcome you both to the Nursery. You can come together or take it in turns to bring your child. If you have a nanny or somebody else who will be regularly dropping off or picking up your child, it would be useful for them to come at some point during the settling in process so that the team can meet them also.
You only need to bring yourselves and your child, along with any comforters they may need. At some point during your settling in period, you will also need to bring your child’s birth certificate for us to copy.
At Monkey Puzzle, we understand starting nursery can be a big change for both kids and parents. That’s why we’re here to support you! If you have any questions or need help, our team is ready to assist. We know it can be a bit tougher for parents, and we’re here to make the transition as smooth as possible. Welcome to Monkey Puzzle Stoke Newington!
