You can arrive at anytime to Rainbow, but the best time is always between 7:30 and 8:30 am – this is because our activities, circle times and morning meetings start after this time, and our staff are more engaged with the day. During 7:30 to 8:30 our staff are specifically on-hand for settling and welcoming!

We encourage all parents to drop off between 7:30 and 8:30am. This is the time when the staff in each classroom have dedicated time to welcome the children, and the daily schedule allows staff the time for settling and adjustment during this period. Between 8:30 and 9am is when adult led activities begin, and staff are less available to welcome children.

Between 7:30 and 8:30am we have three doors in use, through which you can enter the gan. The Pandas and Crocodiles classrooms have their own dedicated entrances at the back of the building; parents should enter through the black gates at the side of the building and knock on the back door of the classroom; a team member will come to the door and welcome your child into the classroom.

The other classes will enter through the main door. Two, sometimes three staff are on ‘door duty’ in the mornings from Frogs, Armadillos or Leopards. The duty staff will welcome the children at the front gate, register them and take them up to their classroom. Where a Frogs practitioner is not stationed on the gate in the morning, they will come down as Frogs arrive to support a smooth transition into gan, and to exchange information around food and sleep.

After 8:30 the side gates are locked, and parents can no longer access the backdoors of Pandas and Crocodiles. This is because from 8:30 the children start to play in the garden.

The two staff on duty on the main door, continue through until 9am and welcome children from all classes. Apart from Frogs, it will be unlikely during this time that we can send for your child’s keyworker or another person from their class as the team will be busy, starting morning meeting and leading activities. Therefore we recommend arriving between 7:30 and 8:30.

If you arrive after 9am, you will need to call the classroom phone to alert the team that you have arrived. They will do their best to come to the door as quickly as possible, but this might take time, as they could be engaged in nappy changing, or direct teaching or involved in adult led activities. As soon as someone is free, they will come to the front door to welcome your child in. The handoff needs to be quick, so that they can get back to the classroom. We ask that you do not call ahead of arrival at the gan, so that the staff do not arrive at the front door before you are there, but rather you call once you are already outside.

Children are not permitted to enter the gan during their classes allocated sleeping time. You should check the classroom schedule to see when this is for your group, but as a guide most classes sleep between 12 and 2pm.

There are a few things that can really help your child make coming into gan in the
mornings a positive experience. Please try to follow these rules, we promise it will help!

1. Be positive – on your way to gan, talk about what a great day your child will have, and the things they will play with, remind them of the names of the other children and staff Describe to them what will happen when you arrive… “When we get to gan, I’ll help you take off your shoes, and then we will have a big hug, and then I will say goodbye and go to work, and Safta will pick you up at 4:30”

2. Finish any food before you enter – you know that we don’t allow cookies, croissants or any other food to come in with your children. It can make settling in the morning extra difficult if we have to take away cookies before your children can play. If you have food with you, take a few minutes before you ring the bell to sit with your child, and finish their snack before entering the gan.

3. Let your child walk! Please do not carry your child to the door, or inside the gan (unless they don’t yet walk!!). It is so much harder for children to separate from the arms of their parents, than to separate if they are walking by themselves and just holding your hand. Put your child down (or don’t carry them in the first place!) well before you reach the gate of the gan, so they acclimatise to not being held and comforted in your arms before they have to separate from you. It will make things easier for them (and you).

4. Avoid the long kiss goodbye – Short goodbyes are the best, even if your child is upset. The longer the goodbye lasts, the longer the tears last after you have left. Fact! When its time to go, remind your child how much you love them, big kiss and hug, and then leave immediately, avoid hanging around and please please please don’t come back into the gan after you have left!