The Nursery World Awards are a chance for you to get your hard work, innovation and dedication recognised by your peers. They are a way to communicate some of the learning and best practice in early years education and child care. And they are an opportunity to raise the profile of the sector.
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
There are different categories of awards for organisations, teams, individuals, initiatives and equipment providers. However, anyone can enter, whether public, voluntary or private sector.
ORGANISATIONS
A. Nursery of the Year
Open to Ofsted-registered settings offering full daycare (private, voluntary or maintained sector)
B. Pre-School of the Year
Open to Ofsted-registered settings offering sessional care and education
C. Foundation Stage Unit of the Year
Open to nursery/reception units in primary schools or standalone nursery schools
D. Nursery Chain of the Year
Open to UK nursery groups with three or more settings
E. Local Authority Early Years Team of the Year
Open to any local authority team working to provide or support early years and childcare services
Individuals
F. Nursery Manager of the Year
Open to any nursery manager in a full daycare or sessional setting
G. Early Years Professional of the Year
Nominees must have gained Early Years Professional Status
H. Early Years Teacher of the Year
Nominees must have Qualified Teacher Status
I. Nursery Practitioner of the Year
Open to any qualified practitioner working in an early years setting
J. Newcomer of the Year
Open to practitioners with less than one year's experience at closing date
K. Trainer of the Year
Open to anyone responsible for early years and childcare training in colleges, training companies or in-house for nursery groups etc
L. Childminder of the Year
Nominees must be registered childminders
Initiatives
M. Working with Parents Award
Open to services or projects that support parents, enhance their understanding of their children's learning and development, or improve children's outcomes through involvement and co-operation with families
N. Inclusive Practice Award
Open to services or projects that promote equality of opportunity and the best outcomes for all children, regardless of special needs, background or disadvantage
O. Team Development Award
Open to early years and childcare services who have built a high-quality staff team through good practice in recruitment and retention, training and career development
P. Business Development Award
For a new launch of or significant expansion to an early years service in the past 12 months
Early Years Equipment
Q. Communication, Language and Literacy
R. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
S. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
T. Knowledge and Understanding of the World
U. Creative Development
V. Physical Development
W. Birth to Threes
Open to early years resources and equipment that support children's learning, development and enjoyment in any of the six areas of the Foundation Stage or for those from birth to three
Judging panel
A panel of distinguished experts and professionals from across the sector will judge the entries. The panel will be representative of the diversity of disciplines and organisations that make up the sector. The judges will have the knowledge and experience to assess each entry according to its objectives and available resources and budget.
The panel of judges will be chaired by Nursery World editor Liz Roberts.
What will the judges look for?
The aim of the Nursery World Awards is to recognise excellence. The judges will not be looking for bland, reassuring statements, but for examples of excellent organisations, teams, individuals, projects and intitiatives, and equipment providers, properly profiled in the submission and supported with hard facts and/or illustrative material. Each submission must indicate clearly to the judges the nature and degree of difficulty of the challenge faced or the success achieved. FURTHER INFORMATION
- Closing date for entries has now been extended until 15 August.
- The awards will be presented at a gala dinner on 21 November at the Hurlingham Club in London
- You can find more information, plus the entry form, on the awards web site.
