Nursery World - Positive relationships: Key people - part 1

How early years work arrived at the concept and practice of the key person approach is explained in the first part of a new series by Anne O'Connor.

Each child in a group setting must be assigned a key person. In childminder settings the childminder is the key person. A key person has special responsibilities for working with a small number of children, giving them the reassurance to feel safe and cared for and building relationships with their parents.' So says Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, p15, 3.4.

All this sounds like good common sense, but what does it mean in practice? And how can settings make sure that their key persons approach is built on sound understanding of the importance of attachments and a real commitment to developing positive relationships with children and their families?

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