Assigning Keyworkers Options

[Biker]

We have been reviewing our settling in procedures and currently we assign keyworkers before a child starts with us.This means we can let parents know who their child's keyworker will be. Parent and children spend one to one time with the keyworker at their settle visit and this works well and seems to help begin to build a partnership between them.However it seems over the first few sessions some children will be drawn to one of the other members staff which is fine and obviously we dont expect keyworkers and children to spend all the time together but if a child bonds with another member of staff then we are happy to swap keyworkers but it always seems a shame for the parents !

How does everyone else do this? Do you assign keyworkers straight away or wait and find out more about the child first.

Sorry to ramble on but help please!

[fizzy]

we too assign keyworkers for when the child starts, but switch them around depending on who they bond and relate well to. some do get moved others stay with the one we choose for them. we find this works well for all concerned, the parents dont mind us swapping as its in the best intrest of the child.

[Steve]

Hi Biker -
Just chipping in to say you're not rambling on - the question is perfectly clear!

And to welcome you to the Forum.

Now I'll let cleverer people take over...

[Inge]

we too swap if we feel the child would benefit... parents are happy if explained to them

Inge

[Wolfie]

Sounds like a very sensible approach to me!

[belle06]

Hi
can not add anything to the excellent replies already given just wanted to say Hi and welcome

[hali]

hello and welcome from me - we swap too

[Rea]

Hi biker, welcome
I used to swop too

[Biker]

[font="Comic Sans MS"][/font]
Thanks for the warm welcome! Also for sharing your practice.It is good to know what everyone else find works!

[dublinbay]

Hello and welcome to the forum Biker.
Rambling is not prohibited on this site - you are joining the best of us!

Our keyworker children are assigned when their sessions are sorted out.
I only work Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday a.m. sessions so my key children would have to be in those sessions too.

[Sue R]

Hi biker!
When I used to run a pre-school we assignecd initially, but swapped if necessary later. Parents were fine with this, as they got to know all the team quite quickly. Now I'm in a Day Nursery, keyworkers are assigned when children begin, but any changes are largely academic to the parents, as they tend to have contact with the whole nursery team on a regular basis.

So I suppose what I'm saying is - whatever suits!

See, I can ramble too!!

[Andreamay]

hiya
same applys with us some staff are only in certain sessions so it does need to align with them and when children or staff change sessions unfortunatly they have to change key worker.
i am in the process of organising some training on key worker system for the eyfs, and to meet one of my professional targets at uni.
as also commented on parents have contact with 99% of the staff all the time and there is always either myself or my deputy in a session. The problem I have with assigning children before hand is out of the 9 staff there will always be the ones who refrain from building relationships with the new children and certainly from dealing with crying or more difficult ones!!! So it tends to be the stronger supervisors or sessional supervisors who deal with them.our key workers at present tend to be responsible for obs,photos and updating the childs profile,often prompted by me or dep.and we read profile afterwards and devise a playplan (mainly because we will see the child more than the staff anyhow) i need to get accross that they need to take responsiblity for all their key childs learning and wellbeing inline with the new eyfs. Another concern i have is the idea (from my understanding of it)that the key worker is the main communication with the parent of the child,Im sorry and majority are qualified but I cant trust some of my staff to be talking to parents and some staff wouldnt want to!We all have our strenghs and weaknesses and yes I know it is all about personal professional dev but some staff been with us years prob retire in the next 5 years or so but dont want the myther of more training and would probably want more money if they were expected to talk to parents other than our annual open evening!!! Sorry very long and hijacked post but it is all relevent and I would be interested what others think

[Mrsb]

Now I'm going to be the odd one out here! I don't assign keyworkers until the child has started.....basically because I wait and see who the child bonds with most. This is usually about 2 weeks into them starting, mean while the parent/carer can talk to any member of staff.

Still must add though...even after this process we still change key workers if we feel it's best for the child.
Guess it's just a case of what suits your setting best.
mrsb

[Smiles]

Hi ,
I assign keypersons during the first few weeks of the child starting as I find this works beter for our team. We are a sessional preschool and I find assingning keypersons to children a nightmare. Staff work a variety of days with one lady and myself working 4/5 days. Unless I restrict the children days one staff member always ends up with lots of children. Have keyperson groups isnt always easy. Has any one any suggestions for me?

smiles

[Andreamay]

Also do you find it isnt just the child ?(although ofcourse they are most important)
If the new framework is saying that the keyworker is the main link between the parent and the child parents tend to be drawn to certain staff better than others,for instance very shy parents need a certain type of relationship and so do pushy ones who would walk all over some of my staff.The problem i have is all my staff would need to go on training on how to deal with parents.I dont mean it to sound as if the staff dont talk to parents of course they do and we are all a friendly bunch but any concerns or issues with the child would come via me or my deputy.