Nursery World - The key person approach: Firmly attached

The 'key person' approach to nursery care needs greater recognition, says Peter Elfer, as he explains its importance for very young children

Last December, Elinor Goldschmied celebrated her 90th birthday. Elinor has had a pioneering influence on work with babies and toddlers. Many readers will be familiar with her publications. People Under Three, written with Sonia Jackson, documents the details of good nursery practice and is now something of a classic. Communication Between Babies in their First Year, produced with Dorothy Selleck, places before us the stunning possibilities of babies' own interactive communications. Children's heuristic play is illustrated in video material produced with Anita Hughes. At the heart of these works lie what I think are Elinor Goldschmied's two pioneering contributions, the 'treasure basket' and the key person approach.

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