Key worker
The role of the key worker is a vital one, they are the link between the child at preschool and their life outside of it. The relationship between staff, child and family is one of mutual support to promote the wellbeing and development of the child. Children thrive when their needs are met by special people that they know, trust and respect.
Key workers work alongside parents and carers to ensure that there is continuity of care for the child supporting their emotional well-being. They should have a deep understanding of the child; how they learn, their interests and their knowledge, this allows the key worker to be able to assess the child’s development and know which next steps they need to take to support them in their learning.
Our setting has high expectations of our staff, they should be confident and friendly to parents and children, show excellent professionalism and knowledge in their field as well as supporting the ethos of the preschool.
All staff are expected to get to know all children and their families so that if a key worker is absent, another staff member can step up to support the child and their family.
Children are allocated a key worker as soon as possible; this person will work with the family to support the child. They are the first contact for anything relating to the child and family. Parents will be given a key worker card that explains what they can expect from their key worker and how to contact them.
Role of the key worker
Children learn by observing and being with others; the key worker is an important role model for the child who they can relate to and rely on
Children can concentrate and learn more effectively if not under stress or pressure so having a key worker who is attentive and knows the child well will support children’s personal, social and emotional development
The key worker observes the child to identify how they learn through their play, their next aspect of development, what their interests are, whether there is any cause for concern or need for extra support
Key workers should teach the child and challenge their learning, not just teaching the next step but pushing past that and helping to create a cognitive ‘learning map’ for the child i.e. teach broadly so that the child begins to understand how one thing relates to another broadly and without limit
The key worker will be expected to liaise with parents and on occasion other professionals on the progress of the children in their care in a professional and sensitive manner
The key worker should discuss with a manager if they have any concerns about a child’s development
They should work to support the family in everything from potty training to difficulty sleeping seeking assistance from the management team if needed
The key worker is responsible for the monitoring of their group of children, this means keeping appropriate and good quality records of each child’s progress completing all forms appropriately and in good time
They will plan and run group times that meet the needs of the children in the group, offering adequate differentiation
Key workers provide intimate care for those children who need support
They will sit with children at mealtimes supporting them in developing ‘table manners’ and social skills
They support children in transitions whether this be from key worker to key worker, space to space, setting to setting or setting to school
Each key worker will inspire children to take an interest in the world around them and encourage them to be confident, resilient and independent learners who take responsibility for their own actions and care for the world around them
Responsibilities include:
Settling in children alongside parents and carers and reporting back to parents on the first 3 sessions
Keeping a Learning Journey for each child to include observations and photographs
Talk to parents to complete a ‘Tell us about’ form - termly
Complete Summary forms – termly
Send Summary forms to shared settings and liaise with them to share information on the child – termly (as required)
Complete Two-year checks and feedback to parents
Liaise with health visitor and parent for the 2 year review
Referral forms to outside agencies (as required)
Transition forms to schools
Key workers are given regular non-contact time to keep Learning Journeys up to date.
Managers give regular support to key workers to assist in the completion of paperwork but it is ultimately the key worker’s responsibility to ensure their paperwork is completed efficiently and on time.
No Learning Journey paperwork can be taken home if it has any personal information on it.
Key worker cameras, provided by preschool, should remain on site at all times, and it is their responsibility to print photos at preschool.
We are a very busy setting and so staff have to be creative in finding their time with the children, this is the skill all key workers need: to be able to find the little moments.
Feb 24