Key workers - essential or not?

[katewilson13]

I have just visited a nursery that I am thinking of putting my DS in in a couple of months. I liked it (as did my DH) - my only concern was that they didn't run a key worker system. Am I worrying over nothing? Their reasons were that it meant that they could cover staff sickness more easily. Any thoughts or comments much appreciated.

[Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree]

Mine have key workers but it doesn't make any difference as far as i can see. Probably just another daft thing the gov have brought in for birth to three (that is soon changing to birth to five). It all just seems like they do things for the sake of doing them to me.

Anyway, don't see the point. All the nursery ladies know my boys as well as the key worker does.

[LittleSarah]

In my nursery it makes a difference, whether positive or negative I know not but I know that dd talks about her key worker - Miss x - more than anyone else.

[edam]

Yes, ds had a very strong relationship with his key workers at nursery (changed when he went up a room). I think they need one person who is 'special' however lovely the others are.

[DeckthehallswithboughsofhollyL]

I would say yes, key workers are important in nurseries. I have four key children and although I know them extremely well, and work with their parents, I also do the same for the other children I work with. It's just that I am responsible for liasing with their parents, discussing their development and learning on parent's evenings. I also try (although staffing issues make it difficult) to spend 'quality' time with my key children, sometimes just having cuddles, or reading a story, or talking, it doesn't have to be a case of me teaching them and them learning.

Research also suggests that children benefit greatly from key workers.

[katewilson13]

Deckthehallswithboughsofholly: many thanks that is incredibly useful - and you have written exactly what I was worried about. I'm going to look at a couple of other nurseries so may well post again with other worries! Edam: agree with your sentiments exactly. Thank you all for answering.

[Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree]

It's a very small nursery mine go to - it's not a day nursery, it's just a morning sessional nursery with about 20 kids in at a time and 7 seven staff in total (not in all at once) - it's very laid back, no parents' evenings or anything like that, so maybe that's why it's not such a big issue for us.

[Mistymoo]

Is this an English thing - we don't have key workers here as far as I know.

[JollyOldSaintNikkielas]

My dds playschool had key workers , it was only small 15-20 kids/7-8 staff .With dd1 I didn't really have much to do with her keyworker but with dd2 it was X I liased with over her SALT and IEPs etc

[mumeeee]

Yes keyworkers are important. I the nursery I used to work at I had a small group of children I was keyworker to which meant I was the first person the parents went to if they needed any information or wanted to give information on their child. I also wrote the childrens progress reports at the end of each term as well as keeping an eye on thier progress therough the year. An early years inspector would expect nurseries to use some sort of keyworker system