Early childhood education is a critical period in a child's life that lays the foundation for their future academic and social success. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted young learners, posing new challenges for educators to assess children's academic and social skills. In this presentation, we will explore the importance of early childhood education and the significant impacts of the pandemic on young children's learning and development as well as sharing how we at Avenues have been dealing with these challenges. By the end of the presentation, participants will have a better understanding of the importance of these critical early years and the impact COVID had upon them. Crucially, they will also leave with practical ideas and strategies to implement in their particular setting.