When your child starts with us they will be allocated a “key worker”.
We aim to make the setting a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families. We want children to feel safe, stimulated, and happy in the setting and to feel secure and comfortable with staff.
The main purpose of a key worker system is to create a "family" atmosphere by providing secure relationships in which children can thrive.The EYFS highlights the job of the key worker as a link sharing information with parents and carers about the child's life at home.
We work very hard for children and their keyworkers to have a warm relationship and the children spend time in their key groups morning and afternoon– the key worker will pay special regard to your child and work with you, and the rest of the staff, to ensure that their individual needs are met.
We use an online system called “Tapestry” which is an online learning journal for the children. We encourage Tapestry to be a 2 way tool so that parents can share things that their child has done with us as well as us sending them observations and pictures of what their child has done at pre-school.
Staffing
We are a dedicated team of childcare professionals here at White Rock Pre-school and it is our aim to make every child within our care feel unique and special. We offer a friendly atmosphere and are approachable at any time. We have a consistent team of staff working with the children and they are effectively deployed to meet the needs of the children. As well as having qualifications in early years care and education, our staff are committed to on-going professional development, accessing a wide variety of training courses to extend their skills and knowledge and to keep up to date with changes in the early years sector.
The appropriate staffing ratios as laid down by Ofsted will be adhered to at all times. At least one member of staff at each session will hold a current First Aid certificate.
Key Workers
A keyworker is a named member of staff who has the responsibility for monitoring your child’s development in the seven areas of learning outcomes as defined by the EYFS.
Each key worker has a special responsibility for their group of children and will ensure that the needs of each individual child are recognised within the pre-school.
They will be happy to share with you the developmental sheets that are completed on a regular basis and will work with you if your child needs any extra assistance in reaching the desirable learning outcomes.
Their main duties are:
- To assist the child to settle into pre-school.
- Talk with the parents/carers about their child and to engage and support parents/ carers in guiding their child’s development at home.
- Keep an extra special eye open to see how your child is settling.
- Assisting the child to integrate into pre-school if necessary.
- To meet your child’s emotional and developmental needs.
- To observe, keep records and monitor the child’s progress.
- To be responsible for their key child’s learning diary and “My progress and Development” document.
- To work in conjunction with parents in a statutory and professional manner.
- To share information about their individual children’s needs to be incorporated into the planning of the pre-school curriculum.
Ofsted
Please see our most recent Ofsted report.