Children thrive when they feel loved, safe and secure. At home, this is provided by a child’s family. When children begin nursery, this is often the first time that they have separated from their parents or carers. This can be a daunting experience for both children and families, therefore it is important that they have a supportive and reliable person within the setting, with whom they can develop a trusted relationship. This adult is known as a ‘key person’.

Although children will work with many adults within the nursery, their key person is the one who supports them to feel emotionally secure, confident, cared for and understood. Children spend time with their key person and other children in their family group each day. This provides them with opportunities to develop special friendships and relationships, alongside a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Key people are responsible for communications with families and carers and are the first point of contact. We pride ourselves on the relationships that we develop and the understanding we have of each child, made possible through the time spent getting to know about children’s motivations, interests, likes and dislikes.

Across the time children spend in nursery, key people will share information with families about their child’s development, progress and learning. This can be on a daily basis, but also at arranged times across the year. We aim to work in partnership with parents to ensure children receive the best support and experiences.

Good communication is important to enure children are happy and content. Key people are available for families to speak to on a daily basis. Time is set aside at the beginning and end of nursery sessions, and parents can also ring and speak to staff. If families have any concerns or questions, their child’s key person is the best one to speak to first.