Why This Course Matters
Strong, trusting relationships are at the heart of high-quality Early Years practice, and the key person plays a central role in creating those relationships.
Children who feel safe, secure and understood are more likely to explore their environment, develop confidence, build positive relationships with others and engage in meaningful learning. A consistent, caring key person provides the emotional security children need to thrive during these important early years.
The role also extends beyond supporting children. Key persons work closely with parents and carers, helping to build positive partnerships, share information, celebrate achievements and identify concerns at an early stage. Their observations and professional judgement contribute to planning, safeguarding, inclusion and ensuring every child receives the support they need.
However, being an effective key person requires more than good intentions. Practitioners need the confidence to build meaningful relationships, respond sensitively to children’s needs, communicate professionally with families and understand their responsibilities within the wider Early Years team.
This course has been developed to strengthen those skills through practical, real-life learning that reflects the challenges practitioners face every day. Whether you are new to the role or looking to refresh your knowledge, the course will help you provide consistent, child-centred care that supports positive outcomes for children and their families.
What You Will Learn
By completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the purpose, responsibilities and importance of the key person role in Early Years settings.
- Build positive, trusting relationships that help children feel safe, secure and valued.
- Support children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience through everyday interactions.
- Help children settle into the setting and develop a strong sense of belonging.
- Recognise and respond to each child’s individual needs, interests and stage of development.
- Work effectively in partnership with parents and carers to provide consistent support for children.
- Use observations and professional judgement to plan for learning and identify when additional support may be needed.
- Support children through important transitions, including starting nursery, moving rooms and preparing for school.
- Reflect on your own practice and identify ways to continually develop as an Early Years practitioner.
- Apply practical strategies that can be used immediately to strengthen your role as a key person and improve outcomes for children and families.
Designed for Early Years Professionals
This course is suitable for anyone working in Early Learning and Childcare settings who wants to develop their understanding of observation, assessment, and planning and how these processes support children’s learning and development.
It is particularly relevant for:
• Early Years practitioners
• Nursery and preschool staff
• Childminders
• Playworkers
• Teaching assistants
• Early Years students and trainees
• Room leaders and managers
The course is designed to support both new and experienced practitioners by providing practical, real-world guidance that can be applied in everyday Early Years practice.
No prior training is required to complete this course.
Interactive and Practical Learning
✔ Short lesson videos with clear, practical guidance
✔ Interactive activities, including matching exercises, drag-and-drop activities, fill-in-the-blanks, highlighting tasks, and knowledge checks
✔ Realistic Early Years examples to support understanding and application
✔ Reflection activities linked to everyday practice
✔ Downloadable resources, including observation templates, assessment guides, planning tools, and reflective practice resources
✔ Final 10-question assessment (80% pass mark)
✔ Instant CPD certificate on successful completion
The course is fully online, mobile-friendly, and self-paced, allowing you to complete your training at a time that suits you.
Throughout the course, the focus remains on practical, relationship-based approaches that can be applied immediately within Early Years settings to help practitioners build secure attachments, support children’s emotional wellbeing, strengthen partnerships with parents and carers, and fulfil the key person role with confidence.
Accreditation and CPD
This course is CPD accredited by The CPD Group and has been awarded 2 CPD Credits.
Upon successful completion of the course and final assessment, learners will receive a CPD certificate that can be used as evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
This course can be used to support:
✔ CPD portfolios
✔ Staff training and development records
✔ Care Inspectorate inspections
✔ Ofsted inspections
✔ Professional development reviews and appraisals
The course includes a final 10-question assessment with an 80% pass mark. Once passed, your certificate will be available for immediate download.
CPD Credit Value: 2 Credits
Approximate Duration: 60–90 Minutes
Build Strong Relationships. Make a Lasting Difference.
The key person plays one of the most important roles in a child’s Early Years experience. By building secure, trusting relationships and working closely with families, you can help children feel safe, confident and ready to learn.
Enrol today and strengthen your knowledge, practical skills and professional confidence in fulfilling the key person role. Learn how to support children’s emotional wellbeing, build positive partnerships with parents and carers, recognise individual needs and create an environment where every child feels valued and included.
Develop the skills needed to provide consistent, child-centred care that supports positive outcomes for children, families and your Early Years setting.
