Childminder- settling in session expectations

[flowers789]

Hi,

Could you share what you did with settling in sessions post Covid.

Childminder I have visited has said since Covid, they only do door for drop offs for settling in. And no stay and plays. She tells me this as I'm stood in her house with the mindee kids. And proceeds to say that Covid is still going around and ofstead support this?!

There has been 0 Covid restrictions for about 2 years now. Not even in hospitals have I seen any mask wearing..

Am I missing something here ? I don't want to hand my baby over at the door, will be a shock if he is completely unfamiliar with the person of setting surely.

Well she can set her own rules in her own setting. However I agree with you, a more gentle settling in process makes it easier for you, your child and her.

When I have a new family start, we have the initial meeting where I meet them and their child. Once they sign up I have another meeting with them so we can go over details, get to know each other and little one can meet me again and have a play. Generally I’ll also meet them at the park for a walk or similar.

The settling in sessions however, I do a hand over at the door as that helps little one see what it will be like on a usual day and I ask parents to leave them with me for 2 or 3 hours. It’s a short enough period that it’s not overwhelming for lo and parents are close incase we need to pull back a little. I don’t have parents there for the settling in sessions as find it important that lo begins get used to how the usual day will be and starts to feel confident with just me there. I do find that settling in sessions with parents in attendance can almost drag things out a little. Lo settles with parents there and then has to almost start again when we go onto them leaving.

I’ve been doing this for years, well before Covid, and find it works really well

Also, just to add. I try and do some settling in sessions whilst other children, who the lo will spend time with, are there. Having an adult in attendance who they don’t know changes the dynamic and I find the other children aren’t just ‘themselves’ as such.

I do exactly the same as Chillichick. Initial meet indoors with parents and baby. Then when they want to sign up they come again to go over details and get to see baby again. Possible meet at park so baby sees face again and knows parent knows me. Then all settling sessions start as we mean to go on. They drop off at the door and I keep them updated through the session.

I still know of some childminders who are still very covid aware. I guess that's a personal decision and you either go with it or you find someone who isn't worried about covid. Unless you think she's saying it as an excuse?

A lot of minders changed to door stop drop offs during covid and the number or them who were talking about keeping the quick drop off and pick ups after covid was massive.

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm just uncomfortable with my baby not having seen the person or their house for months. Then I just turn up and hand them over.

Ideally I'd like to stay for say hour max, let baby wonder off. Take them home. A day or two later door drop off. That way it's not completely strange.

Hmm I dont think Covid is a thing in this scenario, just an excuse. They use this excuse whilst I'm stood in their house with kids. They go baby groups and outings etc.

I've been doing settling in sessions as pre covid for some time now. Back to 1st session with mum usually stsy8ng don't I paperwork, maybe go for a 20.mins walk if all ok. Then an hour & 2 hr sessions with door stop drop off as this is what would normally happen. It really varies though from childminder.
I've also had a few wee ones need a much longer period for settling in with shorter sessions before mum.starts back to work but I know most don't offer this.

I think what you would like is completely fair enough. I wonder if she would meet you for a walk at a park or for a coffee somewhere a couple times before you start settling. Totally reasonable to want your little one to recognise the person they're being left with. Hope you can work something out. As if childcare isn't stressful enough

To be honest, it sounds like what you would like to happen is similar to how me and @pleasestoprainingplease do things which is totally understandable.

I can tell you that Ofsted do not support this kind of thing at all. My Ofsted inspector told me that there is a huge problem with settings not allowing parents in since covid and that it goes completely against working in partnership and best thing for the child.

This would put me off. I think though that it is fairly typical.

The covid excuse is just that - an excuse.