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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think one key worker shouldn't be responsible for nine under-2s?

21 replies

TheMotherofBears · 10/07/2018 17:10

Background: DC has started at nursery and his key worker is also the key worker for eight other babies. The nursery is compliant with the law about ratios as they have support staff etc but nine seems like loads of babies! I understood the key worker bond to be special (as with my other DCs it was) so I'm concerned this is too many. AIBU?

OP posts:
Mindchilder · 10/07/2018 17:13

Totally normal, that's what happens when there are lots of part time children.

TeenTimesTwo · 10/07/2018 17:14

Could it be that

  • some babies are due to move on to the next room soon?
  • other staff are too inexperienced to be 'key workers'?
Sallycinnamon17 · 10/07/2018 17:16

Totally normal! Not all of those 9 children will be in nursery on the same day. Your child is also not in the sole care of the key worker, he will also be looked after by every member of staff in the room, the key worker is just someone he can bond with and who takes care of the paperwork side of things. The ratio for under 2’s is 3 children to one member of staff, the room will be well staffed to this ratio.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 10/07/2018 17:26

I agree with the others that it seems unlikely all those children will be in on the same day. DS only went to nursery two days a week, so his key worker could have had a couple of kids on his days then a few more on the other days DS wasn't there. Could get to 9 very easily whilst still having lots of attention from his key worker on his days.

Allyg1185 · 10/07/2018 17:31

Completly normal. Not all of the keyworkers kids will b in at the same time. I've worked in nurseries my whole life and when I was in preschool i had 15 key kids. Aloy of them are part time/ only do certain days/ only morning sessions / only pm sessions etc

BackforGood · 10/07/2018 17:49

Agree, as long as the ratios are right (1:3) then they can be keyworker for as many children as needed. I am presuming they have quite a lot of children only dong PT hours?

kaytee87 · 10/07/2018 17:58

As long as ratios are fine then there's no issue, they will all be in on different days.

Original poster
TheMotherofBears · 10/07/2018 21:26

That's the thing, from what I can see most of them ARE in at the same time. As PP said they have other less experienced staff making up numbers for the ratios. Baby room is huge! Over 20 babies with only a few qualified key workers. I'm guessing from your responses this is normal, but it's still not sitting right with me. I guess IABU!

OP posts:
comedycentral · 10/07/2018 21:30

You know that they all care for the babies/children and the key worker is literally the person who does handover where possible, their paper works and helps them to meet their objectives or goals? It doesn't mean they physically care for them 1:1.

LML83 · 10/07/2018 21:31

I think it would make me cautious about the nursery. But if I was happy in every other way it wouldn't bother me.

There are many ways this could be perfectly acceptable. Perhaps if you discuss the role of key worker and how they manage 9 you will feel reassured. If not it might be worth looking at other nurseries.

Mindchilder · 10/07/2018 21:46

The key person is not going to be caring for all those babies at the same time, think of it as more overseeing their development and being point of contact with the parents.

In a very large setting like that you just won't get the same personal relationship you get in a 6 or 9 baby room.

PandaPieForTea · 10/07/2018 21:50

If you aren’t happy then it might be worth looking for a new nursery. I’ve used nurseries for both of my DDs, but I think I wouldn’t be comfortable with over 20 babies in at one time (if that is what you mean). DD1’s nursery had 12 maximum in her room as a baby, but expanded later. I was pleased not to have needed to use the expanded nursery for DD2.

CasperGutman · 10/07/2018 21:53

Find a good, reliable childminder if you can. I recommend it highly. We've never looked back!

BackforGood · 10/07/2018 21:56

they have other less experienced staff making up numbers for the ratios. Baby room is huge! Over 20 babies with only a few qualified key workers

There isn't a "qualification" to be a key worker. I think you might be confusing titles / names / roles. The Nursery have to have staff qualified in childcare. This is usually NVQs but could be BTECs, or, if you have considerably older staff might still be NNEB, but they have to be qualified for the ratios. They might have apprentices assisting, but they aren't part of the ratio.
A 'keyworker' as has been said above, is just the named person for family to have a particular person to pass news / change / info back and forth, they don't have a different, or further qualification.

WheresTheEvidence · 10/07/2018 22:01

I am an early years practitioner. I am a nany but also work in nurseries.

A child is assigned a key person when they start/move into a room. Generally it will be whoever has the least children. The keyworker is then in charge of writing observations and dping assesments/paper work but thats more or less it. While we ensure special 1on1 time with our children everyone in the room cares for every child in the room. What do you imagine happens to a child when its keyworker is on a later shift/is on lunch/is on holiday/is sweeping up tea etc? As preschool lead I have 2 members of staff and 19 children across a week I take on the magority of the children (I have 8) some days I have 15 children in which means 7 of my 8 are in but that doesnt mean that I dont interact/care for/educate the 8 that arent mine.

cmlover · 10/07/2018 22:04

the key worker is there to do paper work on your child and who will track their development, they will be cared for by all members of staff so doesn't matter if all 9 babies are in on one day as long as they are looked after it's fine.

you can't push a bond on children, some of my key children habe stronger bonds with other staff members and I have stronger bonds with there's.. it's the children that choose Grin

honeyishrunkthekid · 10/07/2018 22:10

You find the extra time and staff then.
Kids at nursery don't all do full time and do a variety of days.
What are you particularly worried about with one key worker and 9 kids.
That's actually very reasonable amount.
Yabu

Mindchilder · 10/07/2018 22:10

BackforGood - apprentices and unqualified staff count in the 1:3 adult:baby ratio. There needs to be one level 3 practitioner and then half the other staff in the room must be qualified.
Some settings only make qualified/experienced staff key persons.

honeyishrunkthekid · 10/07/2018 22:12

Also, legally half the staff have to be qualified and half unqualified/studying towards.

Babies under 2 is a ratio of 1:2 staff and aged 2-3 is 1:4 staff and aged 3-4 is 1:8
With a qualified teacher in the room, the ratio can vary a bit.

BackforGood · 10/07/2018 22:45

EYFS Statutory Framework Pp21 - 23 give you the information you need OP.

WheresTheEvidence · 10/07/2018 22:52

Under 2s is 1:3

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