Personalised book for nursery settling in visits with your child

What happens in your child's Settling-In Visits

1. Your child arrives for a short first visit with their grown-up.
2. Your child notices the room, meets a nursery adult and chooses one activity.
3. On the next visit, your child practises a goodbye at the door.
4. Your child stays to play, have a snack and join part of the routine.
5. Your child comes home proud, ready for the next longer visit.

How the first page could read

Today, your child is going to see a new room. There are little chairs, a shelf of books and a table waiting for painting. Their grown-up comes too. “We will have a short look around,” says the nursery adult. Your child holds a familiar hand and steps inside.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

Settling-in visits can involve several short sessions, with new faces and a changing routine each time. This story gives your child a simple sequence to return to: arrive together, look around, try one thing, say goodbye, then come home. It makes room for watching before joining in, which can feel especially useful for children aged one to three. Their own photo, name and chosen details place them at the centre of the story without pretending every visit will be exactly the same. Read it before a visit, then use the pages afterwards to talk about what your child noticed, played with or would like to do next time.

Reading it together

• Read one or two spreads before each settling-in session, rather than finishing the whole book at once.
• Pause at the goodbye page and use the same short words you plan to say at the nursery door.
• After each visit, ask your child to point to a page that reminds them of something they saw or did.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour scenes give the nursery room and its everyday routines a gentle, recognisable feel. A sidekick idea: a small teddy tucked into your child's bag. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.