Home visits are an essential part of the settling process at Rainbow, and every new child receives a home visit from their team leader or key worker. Our aim is that all staff are trained able to do home visits. In order to be approved to carry out home visits you must:

1. Complete the Moodle Course
2. Complete the multiple choice and short answer quizzes in the Moodle course
3. Have an accompanied visit with a senior practitioner, team leader or manager
4. Complete the Reflection  Assignment (see link below)
5. The person who accompanied you will also need to complete their review of how you did (see link below)

Assignment for staff to complete during accompanied home visit

Feedback from senior following an accompanied visit – this MUST be completed before the staff member can carry out home visits alone

Other things you may need:

Link to the Moodle Course (You will need your login to Moodle to access this)

Home Visit Checklist

Settling in guidelines:

• The practitioner who carried out the home visit should conduct settling in.

  8-9 am is the best time to come in. However, it is NOT advisable to have multiple children settling in the same group at the same time. So sometimes, it may be necessary to also have a 9:30 (or later… AFTER snack) start.

  Where there are multiple setters on the same day – impress on the parent – the importance to be on time!

  Suggested schedule:

  1st day –

  • Home visit  1-2 hours

  2nd day –

  • 1 hour accompanied by a parent.
  • Only 1 Parent should come.
  • If the child is really independent ask parent to leave for 10 minutes max

  3rd day-

  • 1 hour alone
  • Parent must play for 15 minutes begining and end

  4th day- (short morning)

  • 8/9am-12pm
  • Include lunch

  5th day- (short day)

  • 8/9am-3pm
  • Include Sleep

  Things needed on first day at gan

  • Spare clothes- 2 sets inc socks and weather appropriate
  • Approx 15 nappies
  • 1 pack of wipes
  • Changing mat- muslin/tetra/disposable
  • Nappy cream if needed
  • Sun cream if needed
  • 1 sheet and blanket (weather appropriate)

  Guidelines for parent behaviour at settling

  • Listen to staff advice and requests!
  • When it is time to say goodbye, give a kiss and say goodbye. Do not wait for a reaction. AND… no sneaking off! Say goodbye – even if they cry!
  • All children are different- Settling can take up to 1 month.
  • Children will be EXTRA tired when starting gan – Liken it to an adult starting a new job. (More stimulating, a lot to take in etc)
  • Stick to the agreed times!
  • Sit on the floor and stay still – no need to follow the child around. Be available to comfort and reassure, but not direct their play
  • Feel comfortable to communicate with other children in the space… It’s their Gan and YOU are a visitor!
  • Do not use phones or other communication devices whilst in the gan
  • Leave bags etc on the hooks provided, no handbags or other luggage items in the children’s play space