Settling in: Welcome to Footsteps

September is always an exciting time at Footsteps. We welcome new faces through our doors, familiar children return after the summer, and everyone begins to find their feet in new rooms, routines and friendships.

For some children, starting nursery or pre-school is a huge adventure they can’t wait to begin. For others, saying goodbye at the door can feel a little more daunting. Both are completely normal, which is why we put so much time and care into helping every child settle at their own pace.

Who are they? 

One of our favourite September themes is “All About Me”. Through stories, conversations, pictures, creative activities and play, we encourage children to tell us about the people, pets, places and things that are important to them. It helps children celebrate what makes them unique, while giving our team a valuable opportunity to discover more about each individual child.

Does your child love dinosaurs? Are they happiest digging in the mud, building towers, dressing up, painting or funding comfort with a story? These little pieces of information help us build connections and create learning opportunities around the things that genuinely capture their interest.

Big Feelings Are Welcome Too

Starting somewhere new can bring lots of different emotions; excitement, curiosity, uncertainty, happiness and sometimes sadness when it’s time to say goodbye.

We give children the space and reassurance to explore those feelings. Our experienced practitioners understand that behaviour is a form of communication, and ongoing staff training helps our teams recognise what children may be trying to tell us, even when they don’t yet have the words to explain it themselves.

Creating secure, trusting relationships with familiar adults is an important part of settling in. We want children to know there is always someone nearby to offer encouragement, comfort, a listening ear or simply a lap to sit in or hand to hold.

Creating That Home-from-Home Feeling

We work hard to make our settings feel welcoming, relaxed and familiar so it is somewhere children can quickly begin to feel that they belong.

Rather than expecting every child to settle in exactly the same way, we get to know the individual. Some children want to get stuck straight into an activity, while others prefer to watch for a while before joining in. Some thrive in a busy group and others initially feel happier playing alongside one or two friends.

There’s no single “right” way to settle.

Making Friends Through Play

Friendships are a huge part of nursery and pre-school life, so throughout September we create plenty of opportunities for children to get to know one another.

Group stories, singing, messy play, construction, imaginative games and shared activities encourage children to communicate, cooperate and have fun together. Children begin learning important social skills such as taking turns, sharing ideas, listening to others and resolving those inevitable little disagreements.

Often, friendships happen naturally when two children discover a shared interest and that’s another reason child-led learning is so important.

Learning at Footsteps doesn’t stop at the classroom door.

Children have opportunities to explore both inside and outside, giving them different environments in which to build confidence, discover interests and develop new skills.

One child might spend ages investigating natural materials outdoors, while another becomes completely absorbed in a role-play game inside. There might be digging, building, painting, water play, stories, counting, climbing, cooking or creating – often all in the same day!

Our team observe what sparks children’s curiosity and use those interests as a starting point for further learning. When children are genuinely interested in something, learning becomes part of the fun rather than something separate from it.

Finding Their Place at Footsteps

The first few weeks of a new nursery or pre-school year aren’t about rushing children into a routine. They’re about relationships, reassurance and belonging.

It’s about discovering the activities that make a child’s eyes light up. Helping them learn the names of their new friends. Knowing which familiar adult they’ll seek out when they need reassurance. Celebrating the first time they confidently wave goodbye at the door and recognising all the little milestones that happen along the way.

Before long, a once unfamiliar setting becomes somewhere they recognise as their own. And that’s what we want Footsteps to be: a home-from-home where children feel safe enough to be themselves, confident enough to explore and excited to discover what each new day might bring.

A huge welcome to all our new children and families – we are so excited you have joined the Footsteps family!