Agree with Chevvron, always seemed good practice to pull a little and unload the nosewheel and let it fly off when it reaches the right airspeed.
Nose gear failures are relatively common on most training types compared to main gear, anything that reduces nose gear loading won't do any harm.
Don't worry about how the controls affect the handling, once the instructor hands over to you, you will be making small movements and getting the feel of the plane. Nothing happens in a hurry and you'll find that it's a lot easier than you think.
Above all, enjoy!