Keyworkers - how important are they...

[scoobydoo33]

....and how often have yours changed for your children and how were you informed? I've been told that keyworkers are in place more for the parents comfort as the children are looked after by all the carers within the baby room....is this your understanding as well?

I don't know if my son has one! He's 13 months and has been in nursery (3 days a week) for about a month. I know who the room supervisor is and there are a couple of people that he particularly likes and who give me the update at the end of the day, but they all seem to look after him. I'm happy with that. If I have any questions/concerns I talk to whoever is around and if I wasn't happy with their response I'd talk to the room supervisor.

Yes, the keyworker is basically just the one in charge of keeping an eye on the child's progress and maintaining records. In terms of interaction they get equal interaction from all the carers. I wouldn't want the keyworker to change too often because I do think the parent-keyworker relationship is an important one. DS had a new keyworker in every room in nursery (those times we were told about his new keyworker as part of the standard moving-up-a-room procedure/settling in and I think a couple of other times it changed because someone moved rooms or left (those times the old keyworker introduced us to the new keyworker if we didn't already know them).

I worked in two nurseries that used something called the key person approach which is where the key worker is in charge of all aspects of their group of children's care. It was tricky to manage but the argument was that there was then a great bond between staff and parents and the children of course. I'd be happier with the same key person/worker within reason because they would then know your child well. But in nurseries the staff turnover can be quite high so sometimes change is unavoidable. It does depend on how big the nursery is as in a room with not so many children they would probably have a good relationship with all staff.

Thank you very much for your responses. Really helpful. I've been told that DS's keyworker is moving rooms, he's only been to nursery for a month and I just feel slightly unsettled by it and he cried for the first time when I left him. You go through all the settling in sessions with one person and then they pretty much say that it's not of much importance any way and that he's looked after by all! I do understand this, but I think it would be beneficial if it was made clearer to parents that they are settling the child in to the environment, rather than with one particular person. Being introduced to new keyworker at next visit so hopefully DS and I will both bond!

I would feel the same scoobydoo and maybe its worth just mentioning? Nurseries have different approaches to the keyworker idea so some take it more literally than others but I agree they could have been clearer at the start as it sounds like they reassured you about him getting to know his keyworker etc so its understandable you feel a bit strange about it.

They probably don't make a habit of moving staff about and it sounds like they were fairly reassuring in saying he is settled into the environment so good luck with your new keyworker. If they are operating a system where all staff care for all the children then your DS will probably have attachments with other staff too.

Thank you used2bthin, I am toying with talking to the Manager, but I don't want to be labeled the 'mother that moans!'. I might just ask how often staff move from room to room and whether we have just been unlucky to get caught up so soon. I know DS has bonded with one other girl in the room, but I think with nursery care, it is important that the parent is completely happy to leave the child and confident that they have done all they can to ease the child in with regards new people and new place. When this changes, and so quickly from starting date, you feel a bit back to square one! - even though DS will no doubt carry on happy as Larry!

It is really important that you are happy with where you leave him and although it doesn't sound like you are unhappy with their care, I think a chat with the manager may be helpful to you and to them ,they may need to rethink how they explain the whole keyworker thing to parents. I don't think they will label you a moaner if you ask questions about it, its perfectly reasonable to question anything that affects your son while he is there.