If a child is failing to settle, I will offer a home visit and watch how they play and interact with parents and siblings at home. This can give me a powerful insight into how they might be supported when they first arrive. For example, some families always have the television on in the background or listen to the radio and the child might be missing this noise and will settle much better if they watch a short programme first.
There is no quick fix for children who are struggling to settle in and we may need to work closely together for quite a while to support the transition. However, children will normally settle eventually if they are given lots of support and if everyone is patient and allows them to express the emotions they need to share.
If a child is continuing to fail to settle, I will be honest with parents. We can either extend the settling-in period or, if I am very concerned about the child’s wellbeing, I might suggest to parents that their child might be better in a different setting and give notice.
This is not an ‘easy option’ but it can sometimes be the best outcome for the child.
Working with parents is key and the more information you can give me on your child the better they will settle.