The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a comprehensive framework that sets the standards for early year’s development, learning and welfare from birth to five years of age. Along with the new EYFS framework focusing on children’s education, it has stated that key workers are the newest thing helping children in their daily care, activities and learning. This allows a consistent and same care from the same person as it is said to give a sense of security and belongingness for the child especially those who are in their respective homes or with their parents or primary care givers.
In a new environment, a child needs to adjust well. It is vital that they feel safe and secure although in a new setting, with different people. It is as well their parent’s utmost importance to see to it that their child feels comfortable and secure in the environment where they left the child. This is wherein a key worker’s role enters. He or she needs to establish a good relationship with the child. For children, there is a great possibility that when they bond well always with one key worker, they become attached and comfortable with that person. This is the time the key worker gets to know the child well, the child’s activities or routines from their parents or primary care givers.
The roles and responsibilities of the key worker include providing the child with their meals, changing their diapers, as well as continuously do their daily routine and activities so the child feels secure and comfortable. They as well provide the activities the child does wherein the child is able to learn new skills, as well as advance their leaning based on what was observed while their were on their nursery.
This scenario is very common especially with parents who are both working and are busy with their career that they couldn’t fine enough time to take care of the child or children. A lot of parents may feel uncomfortable seeing their child being taken care by other persons. However, with the help of the nursery nurse, the key worker, and cooperation of the parents, this system has been established as effective and beneficial for all the persons involved.