Dd backs away from teacher and TA’s

[Cantstopcoughingffs]

Dd, 4.5 has been going part time to pre school since September. Every morning we have a big fuss about her getting ready in time, she sometimes cries at drop off, but if she doesn’t, when she sees the TA’s or teacher, she sort of backs away and hides behind me.
She’s ok when I pick her up but seems almost robotic in her approach with them-hard to explain..she doesn’t have a normal warmth with them (they hug her etc) but it’s definitely not like she’d approach her grandma & grandad, who we only see a few times a year (we live abroad) She looks a bit scared in her eyes…at home she’s a v outdoing girl, not shy at all and v confident.
She just always says she doesn’t want to go as she misses me.
Does this sound normal?

I think some children just take longer to settle in at preschool/school. My daughter who is late summer birthday started school at just 4 and was fine to begin with. After the first half term I think she had got used to being at home again during that week and used to cry for a while because she didn't want to go.

I think it's fine if your daughter doesn't want to hug her teachers, not all children want to do that.

It is probably more to do with leaving you than it is them or school in general. My DD (5 - in yr 1) enjoys school and likes her teachers, but will often get clingy in the morning or say she doesn't want to go, because she would rather be at home with me and DH. I agree that it's normal not to want to hug everyone (my DD doesn't like hugging people outside of her immediate family or her best friends - nor do I actually!).

Having said that, I would try to have some gentle conversations with her when she's relaxed e.g. at the weekend or in the holidays about how she feels about school and her teachers.