The children's nursery in Harborough that has stayed open to support key workers

A children’s nursery in Market Harborough has stayed open to support critical workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Little Angels Day Nursery in Angel Row, tucked in behind Harborough High Street, has bucked the trend by remaining active throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

And it’s also open to children who don’t usually attend the nursery if at least one of their parents is a key worker.

In response to government advice Little Angels has adapted its rooms and ways of working with children to provide the safest environment possible.

Youngsters are now being brought together in a family group rather than being separated by age as is the norm.

Owner Bridget Crane said: “Obviously social distancing is pretty much impossible to achieve with very young children.

“Our main priority is to ensure that we are providing a safe, happy and fun environment and maintaining the sense of familiarity and routine which is so important for children of this age.

“We’ve been carrying on as normal and engaging the children in our usual range of creative and messy play activities, general exploration and play and lots of stories and singing.”

She added: “With the recent fine weather, the children have also been able to go outside as much as possible and make use of our great outdoor play space.

“We’ve even been joining in with the daily ‘PE with Joe Wicks’ for children – which also leaves some of us adults out of breath!”

With a total capacity of 68 children and a team of 23 staff including owner Bridget, the nursery is now averaging between five and 10 children attending every day.

Meals and snacks, which are cooked on the premises, are still being provided so all the youngsters get a hot meal during the day.

Bridget said staff are following strict routines around hygiene and cleanliness, washing their hands regularly throughout the day and ensuring that the children do the same.

Rigorous cleaning of premises and equipment takes place daily.

And changes have been made to the usual way of working with parents no longer allowed inside the nursery, collecting their little ones at the door to reduce any risk of infection.

“We are used to the importance of ensuring good hygiene.

“So many of the measures are things we would normally do, but we have increased some practices to ensure we are creating the safest environment possible,” added Bridget.

“We decided against wearing PPE equipment as we felt this would be frightening for the children and go against our aim of ensuring a sense of normality.”

She also praised her charges’ remarkable resilience.

“The children have just been amazing.

“They have adapted so well to the new routine and it is lovely to see all age groups playing happily together – even the children who don’t usually attend Little Angels seem to have found their feet very quickly,” said Bridget.

“I think I speak for all of our team when I say how pleased we are to be able to do something to help support our critical key workers at this time by providing a safe place where their children can play, have fun and socialise.”

During the lockdown the town centre nursery is open from 7.30am-6pm Monday to Thursday.

Any key worker who would like to enquire about a temporary or permanent place at Little Angels Day Nursery should call 01858 469708 or email [email protected]