Settling In at Nursery: How to Build Trust and Create a Confident Start

“It’s just holding the child at the centre at all times and the parent as well… and really, really love your families and your children.”

– Laura, Nursery Manager

In this episode of Atelier Talks, we’re looking into the reality of children starting nursery; what settling really looks and feels like, for children, for families, and for practitioners. We talk through our full settling roadmap at Atelier, the value of home visits and first sessions to the “honeymoon period” and how to recognise when a child (or parent) needs to slow down. We reflect on what it means to “hold the family in context,” how to build deep trust between the child and their key person, and how your nursery team can create a seamless, emotionally intelligent process that lays the foundation for long-term success.

In this episode:

• Why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all settling
• The difference between attachment, separation and distress (and how to manage them)
• What a full Atelier settling process looks like (including home visits and roadmaps)
• How to prepare staff and rotas for September transitions
• What to say when parents push for a faster start
• Supporting children through the “honeymoon period” and post-settle wobbles
• Real strategies from the floor: what key people do to build strong, secure attachments
• How to spot when to go slower, and when to step in as a leader

Standing on the shoulders of giants

The magic of Atelier draws on foundational thinking from a range of influential Early Years theorists and educators. If you’d like to find out more about the voices that shape our deeply relational, child-centred practice here at Atelier, those mentioned in today’s episode are as follows:

• Peter Elfer – for his thinking on the Key Person approach and the “stretching elastic” between child and caregiver
• Elinor Goldschmied – for her emphasis on emotional care, intimacy and routine as opportunities for connection
• Jools Page – for her research on Professional Love and what it means to truly nurture in practice
• Reggio Children – for influencing our thinking on responsive environments and thoughtful transitions

Find out more:

Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk

Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd

Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website

Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.

Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast

Produced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creative

Keywords: nursery transitions, EYFS settling process, key person approach, separation anxiety nursery, attachment theory early years, home visits, child-led settling, triangulation of trust, early years transitions, emotional security, slow settling, nursery manager strategies, Reggio-inspired settling, professional love in nursery settings