When I look back at my earliest years – the person I remember most is a wonderful teacher called Lynne Harris. She worked at the Trafalgar Place Nursery in a community centre in the heart of Portsmouth. My abiding memory is how kind she was to me. When I broke my arm, which meant I couldn't go on a much-anticipated trip to Chessington World of Adventures, Lynne and the rest of the nursery were so supportive and caring, which helped me come to terms with my disappointment.
It's that kindness from adults other than your parents that gives young children security and confidence in the wider world, setting them up for school and ultimately for adult life. It is why early educators are so important, and why I want more families to have access to good quality early education and childcare.
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