Our Open Door Policy: Easing New Beginnings at Keen Kidz
Starting at a new Montessori or afterschool service can feel like a big transition, for children and parents alike. At Keen Kidz, we believe that the way we welcome children and families into our setting sets the tone for their entire experience with us.
That’s why we’ve developed an open door policy that prioritises settling children in gently, building trust, and creating a genuine sense of belonging from day one.
When you choose Keen Kidz as your Montessori school in Waterford or your afterschool service here in Waterford, you’re not just enrolling your child, you’re becoming part of our community. And we want that transition to feel warm, supported, and genuinely welcoming.
What Is Our Open Door Policy?
Our open door policy is more than just a phrase; it’s a commitment to working together with families during transitions. We recognise that every child settles differently. Some children arrive confidently, ready to jump into activities. Others need more time, and that’s completely okay. We follow each child’s lead.
Rather than rushing through formalised drop-offs, we actively encourage parents to spend time with us during the settling-in period. Whether it’s your child’s first day at our Montessori sessions or joining our afterschool care, we invite parents to stay with their child for as long as needed.
This might be 10 minutes for some children, or several days for others. There’s no pressure, no judgement, just patience and understanding from our staff.
This approach is backed by research showing that when parents are involved in early childhood settings and children feel confident and secure, they’re much more likely to thrive. We’re creating an environment built on partnership, trust, and genuine respect for each family’s unique needs.
More Reading: Parents & Families Partnership at Keen Kidz
Why Settling In Matters
The way children settle into a new environment can shape how they feel about education and care for years to come. Children who have a gentle, supported transition are more likely to:
- Feel confident and secure in new situations
- Develop strong relationships with their educators and peers
- Be more willing to explore and engage in learning
- Feel a genuine sense of belonging and acceptance
At Keen Kidz, we take this seriously. We’re not just running a service; we’re nurturing the emotional foundations that help children become confident, curious, resilient learners.
How Our Settling-In Process Works
Before Your Child Starts
We begin building relationships before your child even arrives. During your initial visits and conversations with our team, we learn about your child – their interests, their sensitivities, what makes them laugh, what worries them. This information helps us create a truly personalised experience.
The First Days
When your child starts with us, we encourage parents to:
Visit together – Come along to our setting, explore the space, meet the team
Stay for part of the session – Help your child become familiar with the environment and the people in it
Gradually transition – Over a few days or weeks, slowly reduce the time you stay until your child feels confident to settle independently
Share observations – Tell us how your child is feeling, what they enjoy, what they find challenging
There’s no rigid timeline. We follow your child’s pace, not a schedule.
Early Communication
We maintain regular, open communication during this settling period. You’ll receive feedback about how your child is settling, what they’re enjoying, and how we’re supporting any particular needs.
We’re here to answer questions, address concerns, and work together to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Children Have a Voice at Keen Kidz
A key part of our open door philosophy is recognising that children have important opinions and ideas. We don’t simply decide what children will do, we involve them in decisions about activities, routines, and what happens in our setting.
We work with what we call a “negotiable versus non-negotiable” approach. Some things are non-negotiable for safety, wellbeing, and learning – children need to be respectful, for example, and they need to participate in key activities.
But within those boundaries, children have real choice and agency.
Children might choose:
- Which activities to engage with during free time
- How they want to organise their day – when they want to eat.
- What interests they’d like us to build into our curriculum
How we solve problems together as a community
This isn’t about letting children do whatever they want. It’s about respecting their developing independence and decision-making skills. When children feel heard and valued, they develop confidence, creativity, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Partnership With Parents Is Everything
Our open door policy really comes alive through genuine partnership with parents. We see you as the expert on your child. You know your child better than anyone. Your insights about what works at home, what your child is interested in, and how they learn best are invaluable.
As research from Barnardos confirms:
“the more involved parents are in their children’s learning and development, the greater chance children have to succeed.”
This is why we place such emphasis on active, ongoing partnership with families, because it genuinely makes a difference to how children thrive.
We actively encourage parents to:
Share information – Tell us about your child’s interests, fears, favourite things
Stay in touch – Ask questions, share observations from home, give us feedback
Work together – Address any concerns collaboratively, finding solutions that work for your whole family
Be part of the community – Attend events, contribute ideas, get to know other families
We remember that parents are often balancing work, family life, and multiple demands. We aim to support families, not add to stress. Our open door policy means we’re flexible, understanding, and genuinely interested in what works best for you and your child.
Creating a Genuine Sense of Belonging
At the heart of our open door policy is a simple belief: every child deserves to feel welcome, valued, and like they truly belong. Children sense when they’re genuinely accepted. They pick up on whether adults respect them, listen to their ideas, and think they matter.
When children walk through our doors at Keen Kidz, we want them to feel:
Welcomed – By name, with genuine warmth, as though they matter
Secure – With familiar faces, predictable routines, and clear boundaries that feel safe
Valued – Their ideas count, their feelings matter, they have a voice
Understood – We know their interests, their learning style, their quirks—and we celebrate them
Part of something – A community where they belong, with friends and educators who care
This sense of belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s created through intentional choices like warm greetings, genuine interest, active listening, flexibility when needed, and a commitment to seeing each child as a unique individual.
What Parents Tell Us
The teachers at Keenkidz are brilliant, I have sent both my children here and have been so happy with the standard of care provided. The classroom is a little home from home where the children learn in a fun, supportive environment. – Claire Nolan
My daughter attends both breakfast club and afterschool at Keen Kidz and absolutely loves it. The staff are all so lovely and great to the children. She has made lovely friends and is always playing happily when we collect her. Her only ever complaint was that she didn’t want to be collected early any day because she wants to stay there! lovely environment for children and staffed very well. A big relief knowing how well looked after and happy she is to go there. – Tanya Power
Parents often share feedback about their experience of settling their children in with us. This genuine feedback from families demonstrates the impact of our open door policy in practice.
Starting With Keen Kidz
If you’re exploring Montessori Waterford or afterschool Waterford options for your child, we’d love to show you our approach in action. Visit us during our open hours, chat with our team, and get a feel for whether Keen Kidz is the right fit for your family.
There’s no pressure, no formal interviews or hoops to jump through. Just come and meet us, ask your questions, and see whether you feel comfortable with our philosophy and approach.
We genuinely believe that when parents and educators work together, when children feel heard and valued, when there’s open communication and mutual respect, children don’t just attend a service, they thrive. They become more confident, more curious, more willing to take on new challenges.
That’s what our open door policy is really about.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to learn more about how we settle children in or discuss your family’s specific needs, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us at hello@keenkidz.ie or call 051 821732 / 085 743 7701. We’re here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you decide if Keen Kidz is the right choice for your child and your family.
Because at Keen Kidz, every child, every day, matters – and that includes making sure their transition into our care is as smooth, warm, and supported as it can be.
We’re guided by research and best practice in early childhood education, including frameworks from Barnardos and Ireland’s Aistear and Síolta quality frameworks, to ensure our approach to partnership and settling is grounded in evidence and expertise.
