A key person is a named practitioner with responsibilities for a small group of children in the nursery. The key person helps these children feel safe and cared for within the nursery. The role is an important one and an approach set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It involves the key person responding sensitively to childrens feelings and behaviours and meeting emotional needs by giving reassurance, such as when they are new to nursery, and supporting the childs well-being. The key person supports physical needs too, helping with issues like nappy changing, toileting and dressing. That person is a familiar figure who is accessible and available as a point of contact for parents and who builds relationships with the child and parents.

The key person creates records of their key childs development and shares this with parents and the child. Key persons ‘tune into’ childrens play and their conversations to really get to know the child. With this interaction children feel settled and happy and are more confident to explore and as a result become more capable learners.