Key Person Policy

Key Person Policy

At Raising Explorers Nursery, we are committed to fostering secure, responsive, and personalised relationships for every child. To achieve this, each child is assigned a dedicated Key Person, in line with the EYFS requirement that:

“Each child must be assigned a key person… 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.”

What the Key Person Does

Your child’s Key Person is central to helping them feel safe, secure, and confident in our setting. They:
  • Support your child to settle in and become familiar with the nursery environment
  • Build strong relationships with your child and your family
  • Ensure your child’s emotional and physical needs are met, including feeding, changing, rest, and comfort
  • Observe and assess your child’s development regularly to plan activities tailored to their needs
  • Maintain your child’s development file, which parents/carers can access at any time
  • Provide a second Key Person to cover absences such as holidays or illness

Settling-In Process

  • Before starting, your child will be invited for settling-in visits to begin building a bond with their Key Person and the team
  • During these visits, the Key Person will discuss your child’s routines, likes, dislikes, and comfort needs
  • Parents/carers can request additional visits if required, ensuring a smooth transition

Key Person Responsibilities

Key Persons at Raising Explorers Nursery will:

  • Help children feel safe, secure, and confident in the nursery
  • Build strong relationships with families
  • Meet the individual needs of each child
  • Communicate regularly with parents/carers about your child’s welfare
  • Observe and record children’s development, including assessments and updates to development files
  • Encourage children to develop independence
  • Support transitions between rooms and other settings
  • Create a welcoming environment

How Parents/Carers Can Help

Parents and carers are an essential part of the Key Person system. You can support your child by:

  • Sharing your child’s interests and experiences with practitioners
  • Contributing to your child’s development file
  • Working in partnership with the Key Person to support your child’s learning and well-being