AIM OF THE HOME VISIT
- To build up a warm caring relationship with the child and parent/carer before the child starts nursery
- To meet the child in their natural environment and to establish a friendship to ease the settling in period.
- To ensure that the child has met staff on familiar territory. This can help the children feel more confident about making the transition from home to nursery.
- To encourage parents to share with us as much information as possible about their child. This information will help us to get to know the child’s needs and to plan an appropriate settling in programme. To get a picture of what a child likes to do at home.
- To share information about the nursery and what happens there.
- To allow parents/carers to share things in private and without interruption.
PROCEDURE
- Staff should attend home visits in pairs for their own security. They must leave a mobile phone number with the manager. One of the staff must be the key worker for the child being visited.
- Home visits will not be done uninvited. Staff will have arranged a date and time well in advance of the visit. Parents/carers do not have to have a home visit if they do not wish it. They will be offered the option when they enrol their child.
- During the visit one adult focuses primarily on the child if this is appropriate and the other adult gathers information about the child from the parent/carer
- It is important that this does not become merely a question and answer session. The most important thing is to build up a relationship with the family.
- It’s important that the parent/carer has the time and opportunity to ask anything they want to.
APPENDIX 1
What do we want to know and what do we want to tell parents.
- Introduction of key worker to child/parent/carer. Parent /carer should be aware that the key worker is the first person they should approach if they have any queries about their child.
- Family history
What was the child like as a baby?
Relationship with siblings
Any traumatic times such as, moving house, hospitalisation etc, any pre- school experience
If the child has attended another pre-school group ask the parent to talk about the experience, how they settled, hours of attendance, any worries.
- Child’s health
Are there any health worries which may affect the child at nursery?
Any specific dietary needs, allergies etc explaining our healthy eating policy
- Physical Development
Has the child had a chance to play in a garden?
Language, how does the child communicate either in English or another language? If English is not the first language how much is understood and spoken and what is the first language.
- Play
What does the child enjoy playing with? Any special interests the child has.
- Social Development
Who does the child have a close relationship with? How much contact has the child had with adults/children. How does the child respond to new adults and children?
- Emotional Development
Is there anything which particularly worries the child?
Are there situations which might upset the child? What does the child do when angry. What is the best way of comforting the child? Does the child have a special toy or comfort object.
- Settling in
How does the parent feel the child will settle. Who will be staying with the child? Who will be collecting the child? Take the time to explain again how the settling in will work when at nursery.
Agreed: Nursery Managers and staff team