16/03/2026
They counted on us then……
Six years ago today the country fell quiet.
Doors closed, streets emptied, and families retreated indoors.
But nurseries were told to stay open.
Only the children of key workers could attend. The rooms felt different then—fewer coats on pegs, fewer voices at circle time. We had no idea how we would remain sustainable with so little income, or what the weeks ahead would ask of us.
And still, the staff stepped forward.
They came to work when the world was being told to stay home. They stood on the front line in a way few people expected from early years professionals, doing our part for the community that relies on us every day.
We cared for the children of NHS workers and other key workers while the rest of the country kept its distance.
But there was no distance here.
We held small hands.
We wiped noses.
We comforted tears.
We gave the hugs that children need.
While many stayed apart, our work remained hands-on, full of warmth, patience and care.
For the children who could not attend, we opened our doors in different ways—through online sessions, stories shared through screens, songs and smiles sent into living rooms to keep connections alive.
Slowly, people began to see something that had always been true.
Early years educators were not just carers.
We were key workers.
We enabled parents to keep working.
We supported families under unimaginable pressure.
In our quiet but constant way, we helped the country keep moving.
During a time of crisis, the PVI early years sector stood strong for our communities, for our families, and for the children who needed us most.
Wendy Hartley
