Beyond the Snapshot 

How we long for you to see,
The futures grown with love, so free.
In settings big, in settings small,
We nurture, guide, and give our all.

How we wish you saw the joy,
Shaped by patience, love, and toil.
The endless hours, the years of play,
The care poured in, day after day.

But you arrive and only view,
A fleeting snapshot — an hour or two.
A single moment, a passing glance,
And yet from this, you cast your stance.

How we wish you understood,
The sleepless nights, the endless ‘shoulds’.
The shadow cast, the constant weight,
Of knowing one grade can seal our fate.

You’ll never see the whispered song,
The gentle hand when days feel long.
The battles fought, the fears made small,
The love that underpins it all.

This work is heart, it’s sweat, it’s tears,
It’s hope invested through the years.
And yet reduced, unfairly guessed,
By one short visit, one-day test.

Yes — hold us to account with care,
But meet us with respect that’s fair.
A system shaped to guide, not take,
To honour all that is at stake.

So, together we raise this hopeful plea:
There’s so much more than what you see.
See children thriving, futures bright,
Held in our hands, our hearts, our light.

©️ – Poem by The Young Ones Childminding 

*A poem for the Early Years and Education sector, on the unseen weight of inspection, for those who promote, protect and inspire play — written by Georgina Young (The Young Ones Childminding)