The Key Person Approach by Jennie Lindon

Author:Jennie Lindon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: relationship, children, well being, attachment, EYFS, families, key, key person, positive
ISBN: 9781907241680
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2013
Published: 2013-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Leading the key person approach

Childminders have to face and resolve many of the issues experienced by early years practitioners who work in group provision. However, additional issues arise in group provision, because the key person approach needs to be established as a consistent pattern of practice - sometimes over a large setting. To assess how the key person approach works in your setting see the questionnaire at the end of this book.

A system that works for children

The senior team in group provision have to establish an atmosphere that supports the key person approach. Managers have to know the statutory requirements of the EYFS but, of course, the rationale given to staff is not that ‘we have to do it’. The explanation, and continued support, for the importance of close relationships with children and families rests on the developmental knowledge described in the first section of this book. Reflection on how best to establish and maintain a key person approach leads a senior team to consider many aspects of how their provision is run. At any point as you read through this section, you might like to look at the questionnaire at the end of this book and consider where your setting stands on the system that backs up the key person approach.

Links to your practice

The rationale for any particular way of organising the key person approach has to rest on ensuring it works for the children. No early years provision, nor any member of the workforce, should choose their priorities by what seems easier, quicker or more efficient for adults. Practical issues or concerns have to be resolved with the children’s best interests at the centre of any decision.

The senior team of Randolph Beresford Early Years Centre support a large staff group in their daily practice and thoughtful review of that practice. They sum up their approach with, “The child first; everyone else afterwards”.

Both sole practitioners and teams can benefit from watchwords to guide choices when you have to balance the needs and preferences of adults as well as children’s wellbeing. You can still be flexible, but not to the point where young children slip down the list of priorities.

For example: Kennet Day Nursery

The senior team of Kennet have considered how best to place a key person approach at the centre of their practice. One decision was to make the role of key person central to the job description for all practitioners.

From the outset it is clear to applicants for posts at Kennet that in order to be the Key Person in the nursery for some children you will establish and maintain a high-quality relationship with these children and oversee their development in key areas: emotional, intellectual, social, physical and linguistic. You will establish and maintain good two-way communication with their parents/carers on all aspects of the child’s development and care, bridging the gap between nursery and home. You will support other staff with the care and development of their key children and families, acting as a buddy for other staff members and supporting with the planning and communication for the best outcomes for children.

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