Your Child's Key Person

A Key Person has special responsibility for a particular child. The Key Person will work with the child and
his/her parents/carers to ensure the child’s care and educational needs.

If a child is nervous or worried about attending the Preschool the Key Person (in consultation with the
Manager) may arrange with parents to visit the child at home. The Key Person’s aim is to ensure the child is
happy and feels secure at Preschool and to observe, encourage and extend the child’s learning experiences.

Ideally the Key Person should stay with the child throughout his/her time at Preschool. However, because of
the type of sessional care offered at Horsted Keynes it is not always possible to retain the same Key Person. The
child is allocated to a member of the team who attends most of the child’s sessions.

We allocate a Key Person before the child starts and we provide a back-up Key Person, so the child and the parents have a key contact in the absence of the child’s Key Person. We also promote the role of the Key Person as the child’s primary carer in our setting, and as the basis for establishing relationships with other staff and children.

Main duties of a Key Person

To provide for the emotional needs of the child, to comfort and reassure.
To assist with the induction of the family and for settling the child into our setting.
To care for the child.
To contribute to and ensure that our provision considers each child’s race, culture, religion, language, and family values.
To liaise with parents / carers.
To complete relevant forms with parents, including consent forms.
To Explain our policies and procedures to parents when requested with particular focus on policies such as safeguarding and our responsibilities under the Prevent Duty.
To observe the child’s progress and with parent’s/carers permission, keep records of their child’s interests and development.
To meet the parents / carers each term and at other times when required.
To be available to speak to the parents / carers at the beginning and end of sessions.
To liaise with the other settings on the progress and the welfare of the child.
If necessary to liaise with the allocated member of staff who is responsible for Child Protection.
To liaise with the parents / carers and Special Education Needs Co-ordinators if there is any concern such as language, hearing, or other areas.
The Key Person will ensure parents / carers are always contacted about any concerns involving their child.
The Key Person will respect confidentiality.

The Key Person is always aware of being a member of the team of staff and will work with, care for, look after and be responsible for other children attending sessions in addition to his/her key children.

If you have any queries or concerns about our Key Person scheme, please either speak to the Manager/Deputy Manager or read our Key Person policy.