Key Person Policy

At Over The Rainbow Day Care, each child is allocated a key person.  This person is a named member of staff with responsibilities for a small group of children.  The key person contributes to ensuring the children in their group are safe, cared for, healthy and happy.  We believe that children who feel settled and happy are more confident to explore and as a result become more capable learners.  A key person's duties involve responding sensitively to children’s feelings and behaviours and meeting their emotional needs by giving reassurance for example when they are new and are settling in at our nursery. 

The key person supports physical needs too, helping with issues such as nappy changing and potty/toilet training. They are also a familiar figure who is accessible and available as a point of contact for parents/carers, who builds relationships with the child and their family.   

The role of the key person is:

•      To be responsible for maintaining records of the children allocated to them. This includes ensuring all the children’s forms are completed before the parent/carer leaves them for the first time while settling.

•      To be responsible for planning of activities for the children in their key group, taking into consideration all the information gathered regarding the child’s development and needs.

•      To be responsible for ensuring that the children allocated to them have their needs met.

•      To communicate these needs to other staff who will be caring for the child and in the case of severe allergies to the whole staff team.

•      To be responsible for communicating with the child’s parents/carers about any issues regarding the child’s needs.

•      To be responsible for the children that are allocated to them when they are on any outings.

•      To be responsible for maintaining a folder consisting of the child’s developmental records, art work, achievements, any photographs and reports on the child’s progress during their time in the setting.

•      To meet with parents/carers at regular intervals to review the development and service being provided to their child.

•      To be responsible for providing the main link between the nursery and the parents/carers.

•      To stay with a new key child whenever possible for the duration of their settling period and first full week in the new room.

•      To act as a role model for all children and communicate/respond to all adults and children as they wish the children to do so. 

All staff are trained for their key worker role and those staff that are new to the profession or are in training will be supervised and mentored in this role by qualified and experienced key workers. Arrangements are in place to balance out the number of children assigned to each key person, dependant on the child’s attendance and individual needs.

Key Policies are featured on our website. All other policies are available at any time from the nursery manager.

REVIEWED ON: January 2024

REVIEWED BY:  C.Cummins