Early Years education - more important than ever The past 16 months have been challenging for us all, and that includes young children and their families. The struggle of juggling childcare, home-schooling and work has thrown a spotlight on the importance of education and having well-qualified professionals in place to deliver it. It has been a particularly difficult time for families with pre-school children who were used to socialising and learning through play in nursery or with a childminder. How COVID-19 has impacted the perceptions and experiences of parents and carers of the under-fives was one of the areas explored by The Duchess of Cambridge in the biggest ever UK study on the early years. (