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Original poster

AIBU - Nursery key worker changes

17 replies

AmyAW · 31/12/2023 10:29

FTM to a lovely but sensitive 12-month-old. She's due to start nursery (three days a week) in January but we've just found out her key worker only works part time, meaning she'll have one day each week with a different person.

Am I being unreasonable by asking the nursery for a key worker who is available across all three days?

No disrespect intended for part time working (I'm going back part time myself) but can see this affecting how my daughter settles...

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xyz111 · 31/12/2023 10:36

It wouldn't be practical that only the full time staff are key workers, whilst the part time people have no one. My DS key worker for part time and didn't affect him in the slightest as the other days, he knew who else he could go to.

MrsSamR · 31/12/2023 10:41

I think you're being a bit precious to be honest. All the staff at my daughter's nursery work 4 long days a week so there will always be a day that they are not in so it would be impossible to guarantee that every child's key worker would always be in when their child is. Particularly when allowing for staff sickness/maternity leave etc. My eldest DD's key worker went on maternity leave and she was fine. My youngest DD started at the beginning of November and doesn't have a key worker yet as they like to see who the children bond with before the assign them key workers. Relax. Your daughter will be fine.

SparkleyMud · 31/12/2023 10:44

I think it's very rare that they'd only be looked after by their key worked. So yabu. Even the full time staff will probs be working shifts because of the opening hours being quite long.

A key worker is the one that keeps on track of their progress etc via those mini little assessments and activities that they do. But it's not expected that the key worker is only person to look after them.

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Original poster
AmyAW · 31/12/2023 10:46

Okay thanks 😊 As she's my first, I've no idea what is reasonable so it's good to know other's experiences.

OP posts:
Pipsquiggle · 31/12/2023 10:50

YABU

Key workers cannot be physically there for their assigned DC 100% of the time.

It is good for the DC to have numerous staff they can turn to, should they need it

ImTiredBoss · 31/12/2023 10:51

Nursery worker here. Don't worry too much about it. All the children get looked after by all the staff in the room. I do observations for all the children and so do my colleagues. The keyworker system doesn't really mean much to be honest!

2chocolateoranges · 31/12/2023 10:53

It’s impractical to expect the key worker to be there every day your child is. I work afternoon shifts and all my children have a morning or 2 that I’m not there. We have 2 key workers to a group so the opposite shift keyworker will be on when I’m not and vice versa.

it’s not just the key worker who deals with your child however it is them that do the paperwork etc for them.

Emmacb82 · 31/12/2023 10:56

I think it’s actually much better for your little one to have a relationship with all the staff rather than focusing on one. It means that if that keyworker is off sick etc it won’t make much difference to your child if they’re not there. All staff work across all the children which is normal for most nurseries. Key worker just generally means that is the person that oversees your child and the one you would go to with any issues.

Caffeineislife · 31/12/2023 11:00

Don't worry, it's all a bit daunting first time round when you don't know what to expect. The reality is that the key worker is the person who does the paperwork/ keeping track/ any required meetings with parents and is the on paper contact for parents. Day to day all the staff work with all the children in the setting. The children form a bond with all the staff and likewise each staff member has a bond with every child. You may find they change key workers as they get to know your DC and their interests and personality.

At my DDs preschool they assign a key worker but it can change depending on bonds with staff or needs. For example there is one lady who works there who is really experienced with ASD so she is assigned kw for one of the children (I know the mum) who is in preliminary stages for an ASD assessment. Similarly there is a member of staff who is really highly trained with Speech and Language and makaton trained and she is key worker to some of the children who have very high sp and lang needs. My DD has taken a shine to one of the ladies who works there who isn't her key worker, she responds best to her and seeks her out. My DD can be very challenging behaviour wise at times and this lady seems to have the strategies that work best for her. After Christmas holidays they are having a few children move up to school nursery and my DD is moving to her as her new key worker.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 31/12/2023 11:02

Key workers aren't the only staff who will be looking after your child. All staff in the room will be looking after and interacting with your child

Original poster
AmyAW · 31/12/2023 11:07

Thanks everyone. Noone tells you this bit of parenting and how it all works. Perhaps they did when we booked the nursery place 16 months ago (!) but I honestly had no idea back then and its only now I've got so many questions and expectations.

I'll try and relax a bit. DD has her first settle session this week so my nerves are high.

OP posts:
Passingthethyme · 31/12/2023 11:09

I would, these early years are so important and your baby is so young. I'd only want my child to have the same primary carer for continuity and comfort

chompargh · 31/12/2023 11:10

Nah its fine. They'll have consistency from you

GrazingSheep · 31/12/2023 11:11

I'd only want my child to have the same primary carer for continuity and comfort

In that case a nursery would not be a good choice.

wishuponastar1988 · 31/12/2023 11:22

My baby has been going to nursery since she was 9 months old. Only 2 staff members in the baby room and she became extremely attached to her keyworker which made it very difficult as eventually she would scream and cry when she left her side. It was horrendous actually and when she moved rooms it made me really stressed. She moved to the toddler room at 12 months and has small group sessions with her keyworker but is cared for by any other worker in the room too. They told me at parents evening recently that although every child has a keyworker, they do like them to spend time with other members of staff to avoid what happened when she was in baby room happening again. It has worked really well for us as she now goes off happily with whichever member of staff is there at drop off and will seek them out during the day too.

ImTiredBoss · 31/12/2023 11:32

Passingthethyme · 31/12/2023 11:09

I would, these early years are so important and your baby is so young. I'd only want my child to have the same primary carer for continuity and comfort

You want a nanny then. This is an unrealistic expectation from a nursery where there are many other children.

ValuableLimeLesson · 31/12/2023 12:02

Yeah, at our nursery there's a 'buddy' system - the key workers all work four long days, and then the other day their 'buddy' takes over their kids for the day, so it's consistently the same two people as their main people. Both our DDs went in full time and settled fine - I'm sure your baby will be okay, too Smile

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