Information for Parents
Starting day care is a big moment for the whole family. Here is some of the practical information parents often want to know before their child starts.
Settling in gently
There is no one-size-fits-all way to settle a child into day care. Some children are ready to wave goodbye quickly, while others need more time to build trust and confidence.
Before your child starts, we will talk about their routines, comforters, sleep, food, interests, communication and anything else that helps us understand them. Where possible, settling visits can help children become familiar with the environment before their first full session.
We encourage honest conversations. If mornings are tricky, sleep has changed or something at home may affect your child’s day, tell us. Small details can make a big difference.
Helpful things to tell us
- Allergies, dietary needs and medical information
- Sleep routines and comfort items
- Toileting or nappy routines
- Words, signs or communication preferences
- Likes, dislikes, fears and favourite activities
- Who is authorised to collect your child
Safeguarding comes first
Every child has the right to feel safe, respected and protected.
Little Caterpillars maintains safeguarding procedures for responding to concerns about a child’s welfare, allegations involving adults, safer recruitment, information sharing and appropriate recording. Parents and carers can ask to see our full safeguarding policy at any time.
Our setting also maintains procedures for accidents, medication, health and safety, emergency arrangements, collection of children, behaviour support and other areas relevant to safe childcare.
Families are welcome to ask about any of our procedures and request copies of the policies that support their child’s care.
Our key policies
Parents have clear access to the policies that affect their child’s care, and full copies are available on request.
Safeguarding & Child Protection
How concerns are recognised, reported, recorded and referred.
Health & Safety
Risk management, safe premises, hygiene, emergencies and accident procedures.
Medication & Illness
Consent, records, medicines, infectious illness and when children should remain at home.
Complaints
How parents can raise concerns and how complaints are handled and recorded.
Equal Opportunities & Inclusion
Our commitment to fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory practice.
Behaviour & Wellbeing
Positive, age-appropriate support for emotions, relationships and behaviour.
Food, Allergies & Mealtimes
Safe food practices, dietary needs, allergies and positive mealtime experiences.
Data Protection & Photography
How personal information and images are collected, used, stored and shared.
Privacy & cookies
Website privacy
This website is designed to collect as little personal information as possible. If you send an enquiry, the details you provide are used to respond to your enquiry and manage any follow-up you request.
Personal information is handled with care and only used for childcare enquiries, communication and service-related administration.
Childcare records can contain sensitive information and are handled in line with UK data protection requirements and the setting’s operational procedures.
Cookies
This website does not use advertising or analytics cookies. It does load fonts from Google Fonts, which means your browser may connect to Google’s servers to retrieve font files.
If you would like more information about how personal information is handled, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
We aim to keep our website simple, friendly and respectful of your privacy.
Have a question about your child?
Tell us what matters to your family and we can talk it through with you.
Get in Touch