We believe that relationships are the most important thing for us all; child – child, adult – adult, adult – child. How we all relate and communicate with each other is crucial. Everyone needs to feel valued, surrounded by people who care.
Children thrive from a base of loving and secure relationships. This is normally provided by a child’s parents but it can also be provided by a key person. A key person is a named member of staff with responsibilities for a small group of children who helps those children in the group to feel safe and cared for. The role is an important one; it involves the key person in responding sensitively to children’s feelings and behaviours and meeting emotional needs by giving reassurance. The key person supports physical needs too, helping with issues like nappy changing, toileting and dressing. That person is a familiar figure who is accessible and available as a point of contact for parents and one who builds relationships with the child and parents or carers.
Records of development and care are created and shared by the key person, parents and the child. Small groups foster close bonds between the child and the key person in a way that large groups cannot easily do. These groups allow the key person to better ‘tune into’ children’s play and their conversations to really get to know the children in the group well. Children feel settled and happy and are more confident to explore and as a result become more capable learners.
There will always be either the Head of Nursery School, Day-care Manager or Curriculum Lead in nursery every day, who are available to discuss issues or concerns, but we hope our families feel comfortable to communicate and build a close relationship with their key person.
See the Learning Development policy (Key Person Section) for further information.