What children love about nursery is the friendship, care and routines,” says Jemma Maslen. “When they’d been locked down for weeks, to go back and play with their friends was the best thing ever.”
As Jemma is talking to Direction, it’s December and England has just emerged from another national lockdown.
Jemma heads up Elim’s network of 19 Ofsted-approved English nurseries, which is in the top 25 of all childcare providers in England by size. We asked her about the impact of the past year upon them and the families they serve.
The pandemic forced all but three nurseries to close at some point during 2020, Jemma explains. But she is excited that 2021 offers fresh opportunities as the UK attempts to adopt a ‘new normal’.
One huge strength to build on that was evident during lockdown is the positive impact Elim nurseries have on their communities.
“We have one nursery, Little Treasures at Westcliff-on-Sea, and they’re famous in their area for working well with children with additional needs. They’ve built up a reputation of being really good at looking after and educating the children, and caring for the families too.
“When the local authority becomes aware of a child with additional needs that need to be met through childcare, our nursery is the first place they ring.”
This service proved vital when the UK went into lockdown last March. Little Treasures stayed open to accommodate the children of key workers.
Other nurseries did likewise, Jemma adds.
Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Direction Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Direction Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
‘Imagine Everyone On This Planet Is Your Equal'
David Beasley, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN World Food Programme, reveals the words his work is founded on
God Sets The Example Of Adoption...
Many people have ruled themselves out for fostering or adoption when the system would rule them in, explains Krish Kandiah
The Work Of Missionaries In Lockdown
When lockdown brought Ian and Katie Moore’s mission work in Macedonia to a halt, they used the time to seek a refined vision for reaching their local area. They told Chris Rolfe their story
How Nurse Helped Acid Attack Model Find Faith
Katie Piper explains how a life-changing incident changed her life in more ways than she expected as she recovered in hospital
Big Challenges Issued At Online Conference
Elim’s first online theological conference examines how our understanding of the ‘End Times’ shapes our view of mission
Lockdown in London deepened my faith
Living alone in London may not have been what he dreamed about, but Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic says it has driven him closer to God
The Really Good News about new initiative!
Elim’s new online mission programme could be the biggest evangelistic outreach we’ve ever done, says national evangelist Mark Greenwood. As we gear up for Easter, he gives the lowdown on the campaign
It's the gospel of liberation, not renovation
When Jesus was 30 he went to the prison of sin, and knocked on the door. Satan opened that little window and said, “What do you want?” Jesus told him: “I have come to set the captives free!” A sermon by the late Reinhard Bonnke
The mystery of Skull Hill
Skull Hill is a rocky hill rising just outside the north wall of Jerusa-lem, not far from the Damascus Gate. It was given that name because of the striking resemblance to a human skull appearing on the weather-beaten formation of its southern face.
A decade of mission
With an Easter evangelism programme, the Elim Leaders Summit and a renewed call to mission, General Superintendent Chris Cartwright outlines Elim’s plans for 2021 and beyond