LEYF is the largest group of social enterprise nurseries in the UK, operating 40 nurseries and employing 1,000 staff members.
The group currently supports more than 4,300 children, with just under a third from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The award was presented by Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the first-ever children's commissioner for England, who is now Visiting Professor in Compassionate Care at Northampton University.
In his speech Sir Al said, 'By any yardstick, June’s work is truly outstanding. This award tonight is richly deserved.'
He added June's 'compassion for babies and their families, especially the most vulnerable, for people in communities, and for improving the life chances of young people through her apprenticeship programmes are all simply stunning, reflecting her compassion.
'If I had one wish to implement, it would be to clone June across the whole country and internationally.'
In a night of awards recognising the best among those that work across the early years education sector, RAFA Kidz Cranwell in Sleaford was named Nursery of the Year, while Acorn Early Years was awarded Nursery Group of the Year.
Congratulations to all our winners, those highly commended, and finalists. With thanks to our sponsors for their support.
The full list of award winners is below. More photos of the night to follow soon...
Lifetime Achievement
June O’Sullivan
Nursery of the Year
Sponsored by childcare.co.uk
Winner
RAFA Kidz Cranwell in Sleaford, Lincolnshire
With awards host Ben Faulks (aka CBeebies' Mr Bloom), far left, and presented by Jools Page, awards judge and senior lecturer for early years at the University of Brighton
Finalists
Broussa Day Nursery, Part of the Elmscot Group – Hale, Greater Manchester
Little Explorers Forest School – Derby
Poppies Pre-School – Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire
Nursery Group of the Year
Sponsored by Eden Training Solutions
Winner
Acorn Early Years – Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire
With Ben and award presenter Catherine Gaunt, Nursery World deputy editor (second left)
Highly Commended
RAFA KIDZ – Nationwide
Finalists
Bright Horizons –NationwideKido Schools – Greater London
Kids Planet– NationwideKindred Nurseries – Nationwide
Pre-School of the Year
Sponsored by Tigerlily
Winner
Woodville Pre-School, Storal Derbyshire
With Ben and sponsor Tigerlily trainer Omar Zayoun (right)
Highly Commended
Bybrook Pre-school – Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire
Finalists
The Old Forge Day Nursery – Findern, Derbyshire
The Wharf Nursery School – Godalming, Surrey
Early Years in School Award
Sponsored by istep Learning
Winner
Gateways School, Leeds, West Yorkshire
With Ben and award presented by iStep Learning's Operations Director, Ellen Brechin (right)
Finalist
Eldon Grove Academy – Hartlepool, Teesside
Childminding Business of the Year
Sponsored by childcare.co.uk
Winner
Shelford Childcare, Cambridge
With Ben and presented by Rebecca Martland, early years consultant and trainer and award judge (right)
Finalists
Bears Daycare – Bewdley, Worcestershire
The Playroom Marple – Stockport, Greater Manchester
Rachael’s Childcare – Staithes, North Yorkshire
Nursery Manager of the Year
Sponsored by Busy Bees
Winner
Victoria East – Smallville Nursery, Snodland, Kent
With Ben and award presented by Busy Bees' Group Chief Quality Officer Gill Jones
Highly Commended
Kate Campbell, Defence Children Services, ESBA Early Years – Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos, Cyprus
Finalists
Jane Noble, First Friends@ Wootey – Alton, Hampshire
Catherine Stones, Tiddlywinks Nursery Group – Higher Blackley, Greater ManchesterKirsten Ward, Willow Tree Nursery School – Clacton on Sea, Essex
Nursery Operations/ Area Manager
Sponsored by CC Nurseries
Winner
Laura Tingey – Acorn Early Years – Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire
With Ben and award presenter CC Nurseries' HR Manager, Lydia Amor (right)
Highly Commended
Rebecca Casserly, Nurtured Childcare – North of England
Finalists
Emma Bate, Storal – Nationwide
Charlotte Bateman, Little Barn Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex
Georgina Hempstead, The Old Station Nursery Group – Nationwide
Nursery Practitioner of the Year
Sponsored by Eduzone
Winner
Paul Carter, Kristaval Day Care Nursery Liverpool, Merseyside
With Ben, colleagues, and award presenter Eduzone's Head of Business Development, Helen Swann
Highly Commended
Mark Wallis, Elmscot Group – Hale, Greater Manchester
Finalists
Alison Eardley, Nurtured @ Chell – Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Claudia Scarsella, Cybertots at GWQ – Brentford, West London
Aoife Winchcombe, The Butterfly Pre-School – Clapham, South West London
Early Years Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Connect2Care
Joint Winner
Mollie Bowen, The Nursery in Belong, Chester
With Ben and award presenter Connect2Care's National Early Years Lead, Charlotte Armitage (right)
Joint winner
Mohamed Elmi, Bright Horizons Cedar House, Enfield, North London
With Ben and Connect2Care's National Early Years Lead, Charlotte Armitage
Finalists
Sarah Camp, Kamelia Kids Day Nursery and Beach School – Worthing, WestSussex Sophie Davies, Shenfield Day Nursery – Brentwood,Essex
Individual Childminder of the Year
Sponsored by childcare.co.uk
Winner
Kerri Fitzgibbon, Poppyfields, Teacher Led Early Years, Colchester, Essex
Ben and award presenter PACEY's Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges
Highly Commended
Charlotte Ford, Little Strawbs Childminding – Carterton, Oxfordshire
Finalists
Claire Hassall, Claire’s Childcare – Hygge In the Early Years Accredited Setting – Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Vikkie Murray, Little Acorns Childminding – Banbury, Oxfordshire
Caitlin Smith, The Flower Cottage – Dudley, West Midlands
Trainer of the Year
Winner
Helen Field, Central Bedfordshire Council
With Ben and presenter Dr Sue Allingham, award judge and Director of Early Years Out of the Box
Highly Commended
AHN Education & Training, Apples and Honey Nightingale CIC – Greater London
Finalists
Ali McClure, Ali McClure Education and Parenting – Guildford, Surrey
Edwina Revel and Georgia Leech, Early Start Nutrition – East London
Outstanding Contribution
Sponsored by Wizard Staff Solutions
Winner
Jackie Warren
Growing Places Community Childcare Centres – Hampshire
With Ben and Wizard Staff Solutions' managing director, Faye Walters
Highly Commended
Charlotte Bateman, Little Barn
Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex
Finalists
Alison J Hawkins, Wester Coates Nursery School – Edinburgh
Fiona McQueen, Bright Horizons Treehouse – Aberdeen
Early Childhood Graduate of the Year
Sponsored by the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network
Winner
Dearbhàil Maguire
Liverpool Hope University
With Ben and award judge and ECSDN Co-Chair Dr Tanya Richardson
Finalist
Lisa Bickford
University of Plymouth
Health and Wellbeing Award
Sponsored by The Old Station Nursery
Winner
Holly Bank Nursery – Portland Nurseries Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
With Ben and award presenter The Old Station Nursery's Chief Operations Officer, Claire Sephton
Finalists
Blue Giraffe Childcare – Droitwich, Worcestershire
Farm Day Nurseries – Nationwide
Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside
Kerrie’s Cherubs – Blyth, Northumberland
Eco-Friendly Early Years Award
Sponsored by Hope
Winner
Young Friends Kindergarten – Hove, East Sussex
With Ben and award presenter Hope's Key Account Manager, Judy Whitehead
Finalists
Adventure Farm Day Nursery – Burton On Trent, Derbyshire
Bright Horizons at 24 St Swithin – Aberdeen
Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside
Working with Parents
Winner
Smallville Nursery – Snodland, Kent
With Ben and award judge and early years trainer and consultant Sue Asquith (centre)
Finalists
50 Things to Do Before You’re Five, St Edmund’s Nursery Schooland Children’s Centre – Bradford, West Yorkshire
Atelier Nursery – Bath,Somerset and Chippenham, Wiltshire
Finkley Weeke Nursery and Pre- School – Winchester, Hampshire
Nottingham Hub, National Literacy Trust – Nottingham
Working with Babies and Twos Award
Winner
Atelier Nursery – Chippenham, Wiltshire
With Ben and judge Jools Page (right)
Highly Commended
Growing Places Community Childcare Centres – Hampshire
Enabling Environments Award
Sponsored by YPO
Winner
Little Barn Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex
With Ben and presented by YPO's Business Development Manager – UK, Paul Gallagher
Highly Commended
Treehouse Nursery School – Wanstead, East London
Finalists
Atelier Nursery – Bath, Somerset
esSENtial Early Years – Birkenhead, Merseyside
Growing Places @ Little Acorns – Wickham, Hampshire
Business Development Award
Winner
Precious Times Day Nursery, West Midlands
With Ben and judge and CEO of Acorn Early Years, Zoe Raven
Highly Commended
U1R Thanet Nursery – Ramsgate, Kent
Finalists
Canopy Children’s Nurseries – Nationwide
Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs – Nationwide
Wild at Heart – Driffield, East Yorkshire
Team Development Award
Winner
esSENtial Early Years – Birkenhead, Merseyside
With Ben and judge and EYFS Advisor, Essex County Council's Linda Keats
(Collected by Nursery World Deputy Editor on winner's behalf)
Highly Commended
Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside
Young Friends Kindergarten – Hove, East Sussex
Nursery Food Award
Winner
The Old Forge Day Nursery – Findern, Derbyshire
With Ben and award judge and director of Red Hen Day Nursery Jane Harrison (far right)
Finalists
Atelier Nursery – Chippenham, Wiltshire
Harpole Day Nursery, Part of The Old Station Nursery Group – Harpole, Northamptonshire
Willow Tree Day Nursery, Part of the Elmscot Group – Sale, Greater Manchester
Woodlands Day Nursery,Part of the Elmscot Group – Timperley, Greater Manchester
Inclusive Practice Award
Sponsored by Nasen
Winner
Doris Venner Pre-School – Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
With Ben and Nasen's Sales Executive, Alistair Gilbert (far right)
Highly Commended
The Indigo Childcare Group – Glasgow
Finalists
Dingley’sPromise – Nationwide
esSENtialEarlyYears – Birkenhead, Merseyside
NELI Preschool, OxEd and Assessment
Wonderbloom Nursery – Woking, Surrey
Community Support Award
Joint Winner
Young Fathers Programme – Shifting Your Mindset Nottingham
Ben with presenter John Warren, director of Toddleworld Nursery Group, and award judge
Joint Winner
The Early Years Community – Osmaston Day Nursery Derby
Finalists
Community Initiative, Bright Horizons Bracknell Day Nursery and Pre-School – Bracknell, Berkshire
Ready Generations Charity – Liverpool, Merseyside
Online and Social Media Award
Winner
Polka Dot Farm in Billericay, Essex
With Ben and award presenter Ravi Chandiramani, managing director of MA Education & Music (right)
Professional Book of the Year
Winner
From Birth to Three: An Early Years Educator’s Handbook by Julia Manning-Morton (Routledge)
Ben with Julia and award presenter Associate Head of School at the Open University, Jackie Musgrave (right)
Highly Commended
Why Children Need Joy by Ben Kingston-Hughes (Corwin)
Finalist
Are You Ready For Your Inspection 4th Edition – by Vanessa Dooley (self-published)
