Keyworker!

[Geneva1995]

So my 11 month old has just started nursery and did really well during her settling in sessions. However, I was a bit disappointed with her kehworker. I know I’m probably gonna sound like a complete bitch, but her keyworker is an older lady who seems to lack enthusiasm and personality. There are lots of lovely bubbly girls in the baby room who seem super chatty etc. There was no flowing conversation during her settling in session and she didn’t ask 1 question about my baby, I was just rambling on! I gave her the benefit of the doubt and was just happy she was settling in during her first week. I get barley any updates on the app they use where as my friend who’s at the same nursery gets lots of great updates with her baby doing great activities and fun things!! I got one today of my little girl at the other side of the room holding an empty shampoo bottle? I also get nothing when I pick up either, just ‘she’s been fine, ate well, slept well’ and I can see other parents having a proper conversation with the other girls.

Am I being unreasonable if I ask for a new key worker? 😫

Have you heard what the other parents proper conversation entails?! It may well be the weather or weekend plans!!

Tell the key worker the kind of information you would like in the handover. So what activities they did that day, what your dd enjoyed/ didn’t enjoy etc. Ask questions about what is planned for the next day.

@missyB1 Yeah I will try. I just get the impression she doesn’t want to speak to me

@redbrickhouseonthecorner I’ve ear wigged into a few convos about their child yeah! But even if it’s about their weekend plans / the weather, it gives the impression they have a good relationship :)

Do your child has now probably bonded with her key worker, I wouldn’t ask to change. When you go for pick ups, ask for the information you are looking for. Ask for more information on the apps. It’s a two way relationship with you and the nursery, and you need to make it clear what you want to get from them.

@AllFourOfThem I’m not sure whether they have bonded or not as I can’t see it yet and just unsure on how much fine she spends with her. It’s not even so much I’m bothered about seeing things on the app etc I just want to make sure my baby is given the opportunity to do activities etc (which I’m sure she is). I will definitely speak to her and get some reassurance! X

Speak up then and ask about the activities and what is planned. Eventually your keyworker should predict what you will be asking and start telling you. But, this is your precious child, so if things still don’t feel right, it’s understandable to ask for another key worker.

Very often all of the staff care for the children. I am always doing obs on other people's key children. They key worker system is used for safeguarding, paperwork and next steps purposes. Nursery staff will work as a team and your child will have access to all of the staff in the room. I am a slightly older member of the team. There is a 20 year age gap between the oldest and the youngest members of our team. Every single person brings something of value to the team. Older members often have more experience younger member often bond better with parents. I have parents who probably think I am old and lacking value at the age of 37 and I pick up on this vibe. I feel really awkward and struggle to approach them. We also use an app and we have a system where we can store drafts of observations but I am so busy playing with the children I don't get time to write them up that day. Learning journies are not mandatory neither are photos, so long as the child is making progress and a key worker can explain to parents/ofsted how they are tracking and progressing a child it can be written on scrap paper. There are only 2 mandatory assessments one is the 2.5 year check and then again at the end of reception year. Ofsted are encouraging setting to cut down on paperwork and value staff spending quality time with children over staff spending hours on paperwork. I could tell anyone where each and everyone of my key children are, what they like and how they learn best. That knowledge is not always reflected in my paperwork. Unlike schools most staff have to do paper work in their own time or have the odd snatched hour here or there. We don't get planning time like teachers.

@fandabydosey thanks for your comment, I appreciate it. I do fully understand that and I am sticking with the same key worker as we’ve had a chat about things. In this current nursery, observations are put on every day linked to the EYFS which is what they offer as part of the price (£74 a day), which is why I was bothered my child’s didn’t seem to be great and just wanted to ensure she was actually doing things at nursery and not just wandering round. It’s a big nursery with 37 children a day in their baby room so I don’t want to think she was getting forgotten. I think this was just nerves :) I would much rather they spend time with my child than too busy sat doing paper work!