At The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School, we believe that all adults working with children across the setting should build positive relationships with all children.  All adults should be able to talk to parents and other family members at any hand-over points.  

Our Key Person Policy ensures that there is always a member of staff with your child who knows your child's specific learning and development needs.  We allocate three members of staff to support your child through their learning and development within our setting.  This means that there is someone on the rota that is your key person.  

We inform families about which Key Person is working with their child during their settling in period and at any meetings with our staff.  Family meetings take place each term and we guide you through any specialist work, formal and informal support, and key areas the Key People are developing.

Our approach to 'Key People'

In order to ensure that every child in the Nursery School is given the appropriate level of care and attention, key people are appointed to each child. A key person is a named member of staff assigned to an individual child to support their development and to act as the first point of contact for that child's family.

Monitoring the approach of the 'Key People'

Educators, supported by the Manager, will oversee the key person responsibilities of the staff in each learning space. The Manager will monitor children’s records of development and learning under the EYFS and ensure they are updated regularly and to an appropriate standard. 

The leaders are responsible for ensuring fair and even distribution of key person responsibilities and will monitor at regular intervals each key person’s assigned children.  It is important that both child and adults form an effective learning bond to achieve the best outcomes.

Principles and practice of the 'Key People'

Our Key Person Framework, defines the staff roles and responsibilities. By sharing with and gathering information from families relating to individual children, staff will be able to develop a full and accurate picture of each child’s level of skill, knowledge and understanding, and their interests. This will enable staff to closely match provision to each child’s individual needs. 

The guiding principles by which the key person policy will be managed are: 

• Build a trusting relationship with the child and their parent/carer.
• Ensure the happiness and welfare of the child within a stimulating and safe environment. 
• Ensure a smooth settling in procedure for all key children at all stages of their Nursery School journey and transition into school.
• Collect all relevant information about a key child’s specific needs from the parent/carer. Information should be recorded in the child’s profile and built into their next steps. Management should be informed of any issues/requirements related to the child.
• Plan and provide a range of stimulating and age appropriate activities for key children to assist with their learning and progression.
• Continually assess key children and relate the assessment to EYFS planning. 
• Value linguistic and cultural diversity and provide opportunities for children to develop and use their home language and cultures in their learning.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• The key person will help to ensure their key children feel safe, secure and confident, if they are to develop to their full potential. Their parents/carers need a trusted person who they can talk to about their child’s individual needs. 
• When a child settles into a the setting, the assigned key person will perform a baseline assessment of that child, which will be used to underpin weekly learning plans and next steps.
• The key person is responsible for a group of children, but as a member of a room the key person is also responsible for all the children in their care. 
• Where a child is attending other childcare settings at the same time, the key person will share information with those settings.
• To complete a ‘2 Year Check’ in the term after the child turns  two years old. Arrange a meeting with the parent to discuss the child’s progress and/or any developmental concerns the check brings to the key person notice. Discuss development concerns with parents and contact appropriate professionals with parents’ consent.
• To ensure that parents/carers are kept informed of the child’s day to day experiences.
• Where a child is transitioning from one room to another, key persons from each room will liaise together to ensure information is passed on correctly. 

Early Years Framework Requirements: Key Person

1.16.  Each child must be assigned a key person (also a safeguarding and welfare requirement - see paragraph 3.27). Providers must inform parents and/or carers of the name of the key person, and explain their role, when a child starts attending a setting. The key person must help ensure that every child’s learning and care is tailored to meet their individual needs. The key person must seek to engage and support parents and/or carers in guiding their child’s development at home. They should also help families engage with more specialist support if appropriate.

3.27. Each child must be assigned a key person. Their role is to help ensure that every child’s care is tailored to meet their individual needs (in accordance with paragraph 1.16), to help the child become familiar with the setting, offer a settled relationship for the child and build a relationship with their parents.

3.77.  A daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of each child's key person.

Dated: 12 September 2024 Review date: December 2025