Kidz Corner - Settling in and Transition Policy

SETTLING IN, TRANSITION, AND TRANSITION TO SCHOOL POLICY AND PROCEDURES

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POLICY STATEMENT

The aim of this policy and procedure document is to ensure:

the settling in and transition process to the centre is as smooth as possible for both children, guardians, family and whānau
that the child and their family are supported during the time of settling in and transition (Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 Regulation 43 Curriculum standard: general (b), (2). Regulation 47 Governance, management and administration standard: general
a smooth and comfortable transition for children, parents, guardians and whānau from the Bears to Elephants (Criteria C4 and C12)
parents/guardians and whānau are informed about the schools in our community and the requirements for enrolment at the school of their choice
the move to school is a smooth transition for both the child concerned and their family/whānau. (Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Regulation 43 Curriculum standard: general (1), (i), (ii), (iii), (vi), (2) (Criteria C12 and C13)

PROCEDURES

Settling in to Kidz Corner

Kidz Corner Miramar's programme operates in two areas of the Centre – the Bears for children under 2 ½ and the Elephants for children 2 ½ to 5 years. Each section's programme caters for the well-being and learning and development of the children.
Once a family has accepted a place in the Centre three pre-arranged visits will be organised prior to the child’s starting date.
On the first visit to the centre parents will receive an enrolment pack.
New children attending the centre are invited to bring a familiar comforting object (e.g. cuddly, dummy or soft toy) from home to comfort and support the child, particularly at sleep time.
Teachers will respond in a warm and friendly manner to the emotional well-being of the child through talking, reading stories, singing and cuddling. Children will be given reassurance that their parents will return. Teachers will support children to become involved alongside the other children (Criteria C3).
Information gathered from parents, verbally, from the Me Sheet and Infant and Toddlers Information Sheet; will assist staff to become familiar with families, individual children and their routines. This information will also be used to develop children's profiles (Criteria C11).
Teachers will be available to discuss children's progress informally on a daily basis; or at a mutually pre-arranged time on a formal basis (Criteria C11).
Parents, guardians and whānau are asked to say goodbye to their child when leaving the Centre. Teachers will reassure children that their parents will return (Criteria C10).
Parents are welcome to telephone the Centre to see how their child is at any time (Criteria C12).

Transition from Bears to Elephants Section

Note: The teaching staff acknowledge that each child will transition differently and that the steps of the transition will be used only as a guideline and depend on the well-being of the child when visiting the over 2’s (Criteria C4 and C12).

Summary of procedures

A Transition Letter will be given to families prior to the transition process beginning.
The transition process is planned to take three weeks. Staff will ensure parents and caregivers are introduced to staff in the over 2’s and the routines and responsibilities of staff are explained.
During week one and two of the transition period the child will still be dropped off in the under 2’s, they will then be invited for visits to the over 2’s at an appropriate time. The over two’s teachers will introduce the visiting child to the other children at mat time and support them to be involved in activities and to become familiar with the routines such as mat time and lunch time.
In week three, on arrival, parents/caregivers will be encouraged to drop their child off in the over 2’s. A teacher from the over 2’s team will be available to support the parent/caregiver and child during the drop off time.
If parents have any concerns about a child’s transition they will be encouraged to discuss them with the Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor.

Detailed procedures

Transition times will be decided by the management team. The transition period will be for three weeks.
The transition will be discussed with the parents first, then staff will be notified once the parent has agreed.
An over two’s profile teacher will be allocated.
A transition letter will be given to the parent which will include the name of their child’s new profile teacher.
Prior to commencing the transition process the under two’s profile teacher will introduce the family to the over two’s profile teacher. The under two’s teacher will explain to the parent that they will share information about their child with the over two’s teacher.
The under two’s profile teacher will share their knowledge of the child with the over two’s profile teacher, this will include routines [e.g. eating, sleeping], strengths, interests and developing dispositions. Teachers will be responsible for initiating this discussion.
There will be a two week handover period for the profile book. Under two’s teachers will be responsible for ensuring the book is up to date, an evaluation is complete and ready to handover by the end of the second week of the transition period.
Over two’s teachers will not put anything on Educa or in the profile book until the profile has been completed. The over two’s teacher will explain to the parent that there will be a two week handover period and once this is complete stories from the over two’s will be posted.
As soon as the two week period is up a welcome page and any stories can be posted.
Main locker and nappy locker will be allocated prior to the start of the transition period.
On the first day of their transition parents will drop the child off and their lunchbox, backpack and nappies will be brought to the over two’s.
During the three weeks of the transition period the over two’s team will ensure a teacher [if possible the profile teacher] is available at drop-off time.
If the child is unsettled and needs to return to the under two’s for lunch it will be the over two’s teachers responsibility to return their lunchbox and a nappy to the under two’s. Children will be able to return to the under two’s during the first two weeks of the transition period.
The over two’s profile teacher will ensure that any information about the transition will be passed onto the parent when their child is picked up.

Transition Timetable

Prior to transition

	Management decide date of transition.
	Helen will discuss with under two’s family.
	Over two’s profile teacher will be allocated.
	Transition letter handed to parent with name of new profile teacher included.
	Under two’s teacher will introduce family to over two’s profile teacher.
	A main locker and nappy locker will be allocated. If a locker is not immediately available this will be explained to the parent and they will be shown an alternative locker.
	Over two’s teacher will show the family around the over two’s showing them where the nappies go, where the child’s locker will be.

Beginning of three week transition period

	Over two’s team will ensure a teacher (if possible profile teacher) will be there for the handover each morning. Walking them through nappy locker, lunchbox and main locker routine.
	If the child is unsettled and needs to return to the under two’s for lunch the over two’s teacher will take responsibility for returning their lunchbox and a nappy to the under two’s.
	Beginning of two week handover period for the profile book. Nothing will be posted on Educa during this time from the over two’s.
	End of week two – profile teacher will explain to family that the child will not be returning to the under two’s.
	Week three – a welcome page and any stories can be posted on Educa by over two’s profile teacher.
	At the end of each day the profile teacher, if not available, will ensure the new family are given feedback about their child’s day.
	End of week three the profile teacher will talk with family, asking if they have any questions or are unsure about anything. Teacher will let them know that their child will no longer be visiting under two’s.

If for some reason the transition is not going well it is important that the above is revisited by the teaching teams and that at all times the child’s well-being takes priority over this procedure.

Transition to School

Kidz Corner kaiako will work towards preparing children and their families/Whānau for a smooth transition between Kidz Corner and their chosen school.
We will include in our programme:

A combination of structured activities and free play, where children are given the lead and kaiako provide resources and opportunities for them to extend their skills and thinking.
Routines and opportunities that encourage children’s independence and self-management, developing positive attitudes towards self-help/self-care skills such as eating, dressing and toileting, as well as managing their personal safety.
Opportunities will include …
- Develop early literacy and numeracy concepts through:
  - Reading to the children and exposing them to a wide range of books, both fiction and non-fiction.
  - Discussing stories to develop early reading skills such as which way up a book goes, which way it is read, who and what the Author is, and comprehension skills such as how to predict the text from the pictures, being able to predict and know the story.
  - Encouraging children to make up their own stories, changing the words of favourite books or using their imaginations to come up with their own.
  - Pre-writing skills, e.g. children will be encouraged to develop their fine motor skills by correctly using (holding) paintbrushes, pencils and felt pens, as well as tools such as scissors. Alongside these fine motor skills are gross motor skills that are developed through construction activities such as puzzles or lego as well as through ball play or outside activities.
  - Becoming familiar with numbers and their uses in a wide range of activities in the centre, including through measurement and counting.
  - Learning other maths concepts such as shape, patterns, sorting and locating.
- Become confident communicators with their peers in small and large groups, with their kaiako and other children, being encouraged to share ideas and listen to others.
- Develop strong social skills, including respect for themselves and others, and empathy for those around them, as well as being able to name their emotions.
- Develop problem solving and decision making skills.

Kidz Corner will provide families of children who have recently turned four years old with a “Starting School” pack (see Appendix) that details local schools in the area; when and how to enrol their child; information about school readiness and the New Zealand Curriculum.
A School information board in the hallway has enrolment information and contact details for the local schools, as well as picture books that show children the layout of the school.
Kaiako will encourage parents and whānau to visit their prospective schools to talk to the Principal and teachers. Parents are required to enrol their child at their chosen school, and discuss with the school their policy on enrolment and visits prior to starting.

Kaiako and a small group of children will visit the New Entrant class or play group of local schools when possible, and parents are welcome to come along on these trips. Kaiako will discuss these trips with parents prior to going, so the parent has the chance to make arrangements to attend.

Families are encouraged to access the free B4 School Check with the Plunket team (phone 04 212 4553 or 04 212 4556 for an appointment).
Prior to a child turning five, kaiako will prepare a “Transition to School Book” for the child which details their learning while at Kidz Corner, and matches it up to the key competencies of the New Zealand Primary Curriculum. This goes with the child on their school visit to act as a source of information for the new entrant teacher, as is an evaluation of the child’s learning, and also as a transitional document for the child between centre and school.
We encourage parents/whānau to celebrate their child’s journey at Kidz Corner with a leaving party. The child is invited to decorate a feather for the kahu kiwi, which they can choose to wear at their leaving mat time, to emphasise the significance of the child moving on to school. Children are given a bible as a leaving present from the centre, marking our Christian values. A leaver’s leaf (a red leaf with the child’s name, photo and school they are attending) is placed on our whānau tree by the child at their leaving mat time as a way of marking their transition to school, and building a connection between the school and centre for the children remaining at Kidz Corner.
We do not hold any information about individual children that can be passed onto schools, apart from what is written into the Transition to School book that is passed into the Parents/Whānau to give to the school. If there are any issues that either a kaiako or parent wishes to discuss with the school then permission will be sort from the child’s parents. This will be done with the intention of using the positive relationships between the whānau, early childhood centre and school to ensure the child and whānau with a smooth transition to school.
For priority learners Kidz Corner will ensure that at least 12 months prior to the child starting school a collaborative process will be set in place with all those involved in the child’s care to ensure that a smooth transition to school occurs.