Other

#StandUpForEarlyYears: 'So proud to have been working in the early years'

Keyworkers at Fun To Learn preschool on the Isle of Wight are now taking more children after lockdown weeks of sending families videos, dancing and storytime via Facebook, and raising money for the setting and local charities.
Fun to Learn - 'sweating for their setting'
Fun to Learn - 'sweating for their setting'

The team of five out of 21 staff also delivered craft packs to all the families to keep the children busy.

They have also gone live with a 'sweating for our setting' event, raising money for the setting and local charities - managing an hour and 20 minutes, and have recorded their own return to school rhapsody https://youtu.be/bscJS_LZYTA.

Samantha Stean says, 'We continue to support our children with their development in all areas, supporting them and keeping them safe, following all guidelines, and all the different expectations of the government which change on a daily basis, and dealing with a range of emotions throughout lockdown.

'As early years practitioners we are forgotten by the government. We go above and beyond for our families although the funding money for early years just isn’t there. We continue to work together and work deliver a high standard of care within our setting. Early years are never mentioned enough or supported enough, especially small privately owned nurseries, still trying to keep going with only the funding to cover everything. 

'Our boss has been amazing throughout the whole Covid-19 pandemic and we have felt safe and supported throughout! I feel proud to have worked in the early years during this time, and proud of my manager and colleagues.'

Join Nursery World's #StandUpForEarlyYears campaign. Use the hashtag and send us your stories at news.nw@markallengroup.com.