Key persons are the lynchpins of any early years setting, as they shoulder the responsibility for creating the family atmosphere in which children can thrive. Effective delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage, with its emphasis on meeting the needs of the individual child, will depend largely on key persons fulfilling this role (see box below). 'The main purpose of a key person system is to create a "family" atmosphere,' says Jo Lea, manager of Charlie Caterpillars...