Settling In to life at NELC

Settling in visits

Each tamariki has access to our wonderful kaiako who are there to support your tamariki’s transition into the Centre and to communicate with whānau. If you want to know how your child is doing during the day there are ways to make contact, which we will go over during the first settling visit.

Your child will come to the Centre for some settling-in days before they start regularly attending. We will also introduce you to other parents and a member of the committee, who will let you know how the Centre works.
NELC has a two-week free settling in (visiting) period. Before you leave your child at the Centre, we require you to stay for a few hours on different days, interacting with your child and others, getting to know the routine and teachers who will be caring for your child.

The first time you leave your child at the Centre, where possible, we suggest that you leave your child for a short period of time. Then as your child becomes more comfortable and familiar with the Centre, you can build up the time until a full day is reached. If your child has a special item, please name it and bring it along. Something familiar can sometimes help your child settle.

It is also important to talk about the Centre at home in a positive way, talk about what your child is doing, who they will see and what you will also be doing. We take particular care about helping new children settle into the Centre – usually the parents find it harder than the children. Remember our Kaiako are there for you as well as your child.