How do I register my child?

There are many ways in which you can do this: You can fill out the registration form online and a member of the team will contact you to arrange a viewing, you can contact us on 0790 999 1595 or by email to book an appointment to view. During your viewing, a senior member of our team will show you around the setting, answer any questions you may have and provide you with a prospectus and waiting list form. No spaces are confirmed until the waiting list form has been completed and returned to us along with the deposit.

How will Tiddlywinks help my child settle?

The Viewing - Your child is very welcome to attend when you are viewing the setting and most parents feel this is a good opportunity to see what their child thinks.

Staring Prep - You will be provided with a pack of relevant form to complete at home and return. We will arrange for you a meeting so that you can be introduced to your child’s key person. This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask any questions, for the key person to get to know your child through you, as you know our child best and a chance to discuss any concerns you many have.

Visiting Session - Once the space has been confirmed your child is invited to attend a visiting session the term before they are due to start. The visiting sesson is arranged for a day on which your child will be attending once they have started. when concluding this session a plan can be discussed to help your child’s first day run as smoothly as possible.

First Day – We stagger the intake dates to enable all children to have best possible chance to settle with the help of their key person.

Daily Routine – Each morning the parents bring their child into the room rather than leaving them at the door and our staff are always on hand to offer support to help the child feel comfortable.

What happens if my child does not settle?

The Tiddlywinks team work as hard as they can with parent to help their child settle. Each child is an individual and so a plan can be discussed between you and the key person to agree what the best course of action would be.

How old does my child need to be to attend?

We take children from the age of two to five years old. Our main intake and when we have most availability is in September however if we do have spaces available during the year which we will contact and offer places to those on the waiting list (age priority).

Does my child have to be potty trained before starting?

No! No setting should discriminate against children who have not yet reached that stage in development. Most children do find it easier to settle once they are toilet trained as then they can concentrate on their new surrounding but it will only happen when they are ready. When you do start we will support you by mirroring what you are doing at home having a different routine at home so that children experience continuity. When toilet training, some parents prefer to send their child in with their own change of clothes bag but we do have our own spare clothes for unforeseen accidents.

How many days should my child start on?

There is no rule for the number of sessions your child should use. We suggest that a 2 year old starts on two morning a week as when they only attend one sessions a week it makes it seem a really long time before that attend again, making settling in much harder. Tiddlywinks offer a range of different length sessions that can be viewed below for you to choose from subject to availability.

Do siblings have automatic entry?

No we are unable to predict if you would like a space for a sibling and what sessions you would like for them and so we would ask you to register in the same way however as you are known to the setting you can request a waiting list form from us directly without making a viewing appointment.

When can I increase my child’s sessions?

You are able to request an increase in sessions whenever convenient to you subject to availability. Our main intake is September however if spaces are available during the year they will be offered on a first come first served bases giving priority to excising children over new starters. Most parents request to increase ready for the term after your child is three as they become entitled to the government funding which the setting arranges on your behalf.

Does Tiddlywinks have a parents evening?

We host parent consultation meeting and we do have many other procedures in place for parents to have feedback and communication with the setting. Your child’s key person and senior members of the team are available to approach at the beginning and end of each session. If you have particular items you would like to discuss in more detail, a meeting can be arranged. We have an open door policy, which allows parents to stay for the sessions allowing them to see their child in a different environment and gives them a chance to discuss anything they need to. We have an email address, contact numbers andd a communication app for parents to use. We send out a newsletter to all the parents half termly to update them on general information as well as information on our website. 

Do the children go on visits?

Yes, however, no children are taken off site without parents signed permission. The butterflies (our older children) regularly attend the local library to find books linked to our themes. They go with two members of the team and volunteer parents keeping to the outing ratio. We rarely take the whole group out of the setting as we need so many volunteers but it is occasionally possible. When doing this we always walk holding hands and never use public transport or private vehicles meaning we only ever visit local areas. It is much easier to get visitors to come to use and so we regularly have the police, paramedics, fire brigade, librarian and pets to the setting.

Does Tiddlywinks have a uniform?

Tiddlywinks does have logo t-shirts, polo shirts, fleeces and sweatshirts available in Graduates in Orpington, these however are not compulsory. For health and safety reasons we require the following: Children should come to pre-school in comfortable clothing, taking into consideration the weather, what they will be doing during a normal day for example sensible and comfortable shoes that are strapped to the child's feet) for running and climbing, manageable clothing for easy toilet use or being changed etc. Long hair must be tied back and jewellery much not be worn (except a maximum of one small stud in each ear). We ask that all clothing and belongings are named to assist with easier identification.

If you still have further questions not answered above please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to help in any way possible