Kindred Hykeham Nursery and Pre-School

We take a warm, flexible and child-centred approach to settling in, ensuring that every child feels safe, secure and ready to begin their nursery journey with confidence.

Four Weeks Before Start Date: We begin the settling-in process approximately four weeks before your child's start date. The first session is a one-hour welcome meeting where parents or carers stay with their child. During this time, we complete our 'All About Me' book together, helping us learn about your child's routines, interests, likes and dislikes, as well as any additional support they may need.

Follow-Up Sessions: We then schedule at least three additional settling-in sessions for your child to attend independently. These sessions gradually increase in length, typically starting at around 1.5 hours and building up to 3 hours, allowing your child to become familiar with their new environment, key person and daily routines at a comfortable pace.

Experiencing Mealtimes: As part of the settling-in process, children will usually experience either lunch or tea with us, helping them become confident with nursery mealtimes before they begin their full sessions.

A Personalised Approach: Every child settles differently, and we tailor our approach to meet their individual needs. If your child requires additional time or support to feel comfortable, we are always happy to arrange extra settling-in sessions to ensure they have the best possible start with us.

Our nursery has the benefits of a large setting with the warmth and familiarity of a close-knit family environment. We are proud of our strong reputation within the local community and the long-lasting relationships we build with our families.

Our long standing experienced team takes the time to get to know not only each child, but their parents and carers too. We understand that every family is unique, and we work closely together to ensure children feel happy, secure and supported from the very beginning.

Many families tell us that our nursery feels like an extension of home rather than a traditional nursery. Although we have a large team and extensive facilities, every child is truly known as an individual. We celebrate each child's personality, interests and achievements, creating a nurturing environment where children feel valued, confident and able to thrive.

We have strong relationships with local schools and work closely with them to support a smooth transition to Reception. Once school places are confirmed, we arrange transition meetings and share information with schools.

Reception teachers regularly visit the nursery to meet the children, and our on-site SENCO works closely with school SENCOs where needed. Having been part of the community for over 20 years, local schools know our team well and often tell us that children arrive well prepared.

We focus on developing independence and school-readiness skills, including toileting, dressing themselves, recognising their name, eating with a knife and fork, drinking from an open cup and managing their belongings. Our priority is ensuring children are confident, independent and ready to learn.

Most local schools also offer transition visits before September, giving children the opportunity to meet their teacher and become familiar with their new environment.

We use the Satchel app to keep parents updated throughout the day, sharing information about their child's activities, meals, sleep and learning experiences. Regular updates help families stay connected and reassured while their child is at nursery.

We also enjoy bringing families together through special events throughout the year, including our Nativity performances and summer graduation celebrations for children moving on to school.

Children have free-flow access to the outdoor area for much of the day, allowing them to choose whether to play and learn indoors or outdoors. We encourage outdoor play in all weather conditions and make the most of our outdoor spaces whenever possible.

On days when the weather is particularly poor, children still go outside at least twice a day to enjoy fresh air and active play.