• £5

Starting Nursery or Reception

Starting nursery or reception is a big transition both for your child, and for you. This guide gives you an 8-min video walkthrough plus printable tools: a countdown checklist, conversation starters, drop-off script cards, and signs to watch for. Practical, psychologist-backed support to help you both feel ready, not rattled.

Starting Nursery or Reception: A Guide for Parents

Practical, psychotherapist-backed support to help your child (and you) walk in on day one feeling ready, not rattled.


Description:

Starting nursery or reception is one of the biggest transitions your child has faced so far and if you're feeling a little wobbly about it too, that's completely normal.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the weeks before the big day and beyond, from making the unfamiliar feel familiar, to handling the goodbye at the gate, to knowing what's normal (and what's not) in the weeks that follow.

You'll get a clear, practical framework instead of vague reassurance. The specific things that actually help, explained simply, so you can pick what fits your family and start there.

What's included:

  • Video walkthrough (approx. 8 minutes) - Zara talks you through the full transition, from preparation to the first weeks after starting

  • Countdown Checklist - a step-by-step printable for the weeks leading up to day one

  • Conversation Starters - ways to talk with your child about nursery or reception without it feeling like a big, scary topic

  • Script Cards - exactly what to say (and what to avoid) at drop-off and in nervous moments

  • Signs to Watch For - a simple guide to normal transition wobbles versus signs worth paying closer attention to

Who this is for:

Parents and carers of children starting nursery or reception this year, whether that's their very first setting or a move to a new one.

Why this guide:

Zara is a qualified child psychotherapist who has spent years supporting families through exactly this transition. This guide draws directly on her clinical experience, translated into practical steps you can use straight away with no jargon and no guesswork.

Starting Nursery or Reception Guide.mp4

Downloads

Starting Nursery or Reception Countdown Checklist.pdf
What to Say at Drop Off Script Card.pdf
20 Conversation Starters.pdf
Guide Summary.pdf
Audio Track- Starting Nursery or Reception Guide.mp3
Transcript - Starting Nursery or Reception Guide.docx