What about people who work in Early Years?

[MyLifeNow20]

Not one mention of them tonight and how well they are doing!
Im an early years practitioner and going back next tuesday. We have sneazing coughing children who we cuddle and hug and pick up.
There was no praise for us in the speech tonight, we just carry on!
Sorry to rant!

You're so right. They have no idea about the real world. Thanks for taking care of little ones . It's challenging in normal times.

Ha, that was meant to be the flowers, but may be more apt

We are always forgotten about.

I’m so sorry, OP. This is really wrong.

It got mentioned in Parliament earlier this afternoon. Think it was a Labour MP who thanked Early Years.

Just looked it up... yes it was Kate Green, Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, at 4.23pm this afternoon.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-12-30/debates/36E24157-5982-4F59-8458-FF156457C8BD/EducationReturnInJanuary

"Before I begin, I put on record my thanks, and the thanks of the whole Labour party, to every leader, teacher and lecturer and the support staff, early years professionals and social workers who have moved mountains to keep children and young people safe and educated in the face of enormous odds."

Early Years workers have all my thanks and respect!!

Always forgotten in EYFS :(

I know. I’m so grateful as a parent though.

I'm sorry the government seem to have forgotten early years. I am endlessly grateful to my DSs' nursery, they have been amazing throughout all of this. I'm an anaesthetist so it's a pretty stressful time right now and it's such a relief to just not have to worry about my boys while I'm at work.

I was thinking this I am so grateful for early years staff

It is absolutely shit that early years workers are never mentioned.

We are bottom of the pile as always. It’s taken a year for them to even acknowledge we carried on too still hugging the little ones, holding their hands and wiping their noses, getting coughed/sneezed on directly in the face. Not a stitch of PPE for us.
Love my job, love the little ones who need us but so frustrated how we’ve been treated/ignored throughout this!

I think we have largely been overlooked. Most people don't really understand what we do, we're just there quietly getting on with supporting families and enabling parents to work.

I love the job but really don't want a coughing baby who had Calpol at 7am and spikes a temperature when it wears off! By that time I've been cuddling said baby for hours without a mask!

EYFS staff you deserve the recognition! Thanks for all that you do.

We are always overlooked whenever anyone is talking about education. Listening to them talking today I guessed we would be lumped in with the primary schools and still stay open. On looking at the guidance we got two sentences stating we were to carry on as normal. Gee thanks for the support. At least Neil Leitch from the Early Years Alliance has sent something back saying how pissed off he is that we are the forgotten ones.

Oh well, best get ready for Monday and welcome the children back with open arms ready for them to cough and sneeze on us. It's not their fault as they are still little but hey ho, no masks needed. I just hope that my parents have abided to the rules and haven't broken them to make up for the fact that I have only seen my sister twice this year (disabled and extremely vulnerable) and will now go back to chucking the shopping at my mum.

Bottom of the pile as always wether its praise, earnings or protection from pandemics.

I’m so sorry you are all always overlooked. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you. Thank you so so so much. Without a caring lovely nursery this year I wouldn’t have survived.

I am so thankful my ds and children have brave staff at pre school and school to keep it all relatively normal. I was taken back on my ds's first week back to pre school when the manager gave him a big welcome and hug, but it really made me thankful that she was putting him first and welcoming him with open arms, quite literally.
I am so cross at the government for their lack of sense of duty to all people facing the risks, for those who can't work from home and for not doing everything they can for them.

Thank you OP for keeping things normal for our little ones, especially the under 5s who have no or little understanding. It makes me sad when my son asks if he can see his Grandma at the window, but I am so thankful that pre school is normal and the staff are brave to keep on going to work like they do

“ but hey ho, no masks needed”

In fairness it isn’t considered safe for under-3yos to wear face coverings for other reasons. I know that doesn’t help you feel any safer, but it’s considered a greater risk to them personally to have them wear them because of the dangers of strangulation and choking. Parents and staff wear masks at drop off and collection (all outdoors) at my child’s nursery, and staff wear masks inside if they want to. I know it isn’t easy looking after small ones in a mask though - after all, I have to do it myself quite frequently - and certainly not all day. I hugely appreciate the work of the staff at my son’s nursery. They have done an amazing job under these incredibly stressful circumstances.

Coming onto add my thanks to all early years professionals. As a working mum I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without you. The care and dedication you give to our children prepares them for school- it’s not just childcare.

I’ve used a nursery in the past with my older child, but have relied on my childminder during this pandemic for my younger child who has been absolutely brilliant. We respect and care for her like extended family. We don’t take any risks because we don’t want to put her at risk of Covid. Luckily she only has one other family who she also trusts in the same way.

I also find it very sad that she didn’t get a mention today for all she does to keep things normal and fun for the little ones in these difficult times

Nursery I work at have said although not ideal if want to wear a mask you can. No one does in the rooms but if moving through rooms to go to the kitchen..in the kitchen..greeting parents we do all wear. Though parents don't so sorta protect them and not us but hey ho.

Definitely been a little bit forgotten though so nice when get a mention even if brief

Thank you nursery workers, without you I would not be able to go to work. Please know that even though the government may overlook your hard work, us parents don’t and massively appreciate your support, care and dedication to our children. As a nurse work is very stressful so knowing my children are taken good care of whilst I’m working is one less thing to worry about. Without you there would be a significant amount of the already understaffed NHS workforce that would not be able to work.

Teacher in Scottish version of EYFS. No masks, no social distancing and constantly praying that they’ve got the science right and younger children do not spread COVID in the same way...

My ds2 went back to nursery in June after struggling at home with us working and homeschooling ds1. His nursery have been nothing short of incredible. They give him love, care and he adores going so so much. I regularly send in cakes and chocolates as a thank you.

Please can I encourage people who are so grateful to their nursery and EYFS settings to tell them.

Yes never mentioned when most are working minimum wage as well.
Same as SEN they barely get a mention either.
Shows how out of touch they are with education.
Your doing an amazing job and you don’t need Gav to tell you that.