---
title: "Assign staff to a room"
description: "Set a teacher's home room, the room their app opens on when they aren't on the schedule that day."
type: guide
updated: 2026-10-09
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/owners/staff/assign-to-a-room
roles: ["super_admin", "center_admin"]
platforms: [web]
---
A teacher's **home room** is their usual room. Their app opens on it on days they aren't on the schedule, and it counts them toward that room's staff and ratio when nothing else places them. It does not lock them in: the room pills at the top of the staff dashboard list every room at their center. There are two ways to set it.

## Option 1: From the room card

1. Go to **Organization → Rooms**.
2. On the room's card, click **Assign staff**.
3. In the **Assign staff to room** panel, search for the person and click their row to assign them. Each row shows their current home room, so you can see who you're moving.

This sets that room as the staff member's home room.

## Option 2: From the staff member

1. Go to **Staff & Time → Staff** and click the pencil (**Edit**) on the person's card.
2. In **Edit Staff Member**, set **Primary Room** (this is the same home-room setting).
3. Click **Save Changes**.

You can also set it when you first add someone: the **Add Staff** form has a **Home Room** field. See [Invite your team](/getting-started/invite-your-team).

<Callout kind="info" title="Home room = Primary Room">
The field is called "Home Room" when you add a staff member and "Primary Room" on the edit form. They're the same thing: the room this person starts in by default.
</Callout>

## Covering another room

Home room is the default. To schedule someone to cover a different room for a shift, use [Staff & Time → Schedule](/owners/staff/staff-scheduling), which is about shifts rather than the default assignment.

## Troubleshooting

**The teacher's app still opens on the old room.** Ask them to close the app fully and reopen it. If they're on the schedule today, the app opens on their scheduled room instead, which is expected.

**A teacher says they can't see a child.** Home room doesn't decide that. They can tap any room pill at the top of their dashboard. Check that the child is enrolled at the teacher's center.

**The Home Room / Primary Room dropdown is greyed out.** Pick their center first. If the center has no rooms yet, choose **+ New room…** in the dropdown to create one on the spot.