Policy and Procedure No.16
Key Person
‘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, to help the child become familiar with the setting, offer a settled relationship for the child and build a relationship with their parents and/or carers. They should also help families engage with more specialist support if appropriate.’ – Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, paragraph 3.34.
A key person is the most effective way of ensuring that children and families develop a strong relationship with a significant adult in an early years and child care setting.
A key person has a particular responsibility for reassuring the child and helping them feel secure and cared for. This includes helping the child be familiar with their surroundings and feel confident, safe and emotionally secure.
This is achieved by:
- A key person will be allocated prior to your child starting pre-school. Several factors are taken into consideration e.g. days they attend; personalities; current/previous siblings and knowledge of families.
- When your child attends their first session their key person will introduce themselves to you.
- We aim for pairings of key person to key child to remain for the period of the child’s stay at pre-school.
- If you have any worries or concerns please feel free to discuss these with your child’s key person. Please remember that all staff are available to talk to at any time.
- Your child’s key person is responsible for taking varying methods of observations on your child). These observations shall be recorded on their on-line ‘Tapestry’ journal.
Guidance used in this policy and procedure:
‘Statutory Framework and the Early Years Foundation Stage’ – November 2024.
Signed: Clara Hall- Chairperson
Signed: Tegan Kidman- Lead Practitioner/Manager.
Reviewed: 28th January 2026.
Review: 28th January 2027.