Prima childcarer of the year
Teresa Lee, Sharnford Pre-school Playgroup, Sharnford, Leicestershire
Teresa first entered childcare in 1987 when she rescued a village playgroup from the threat of closure. Despite agreeing to be playgroup leader for just a short time, Teresa is still working there 17 years later.
By forging close links with the Sharnford local community, Teresa has ensured the playgroup has become a central part of village life, relied upon by parents and children. Teresa's policy is that every child who wishes should be able to attend her playgroup, and if parents are in financial difficulties fees will be waived. No child is ever turned away.
The parent who nominated Teresa for the award praises Teresa's work with her autistic son Francis. 'Teresa enthusiastically welcomed a pre-diagnosis little boy who presented with speech delay, social impairment and challenging behaviour,' she says. 'Teresa's support not only had a positive impact on Francis but on our family as a whole, and I have no doubt that without this wonderful playgroup we would not have had a little boy who has developed so well.'
Teresa also works as a mentor for the Pre-school Learning Alliance, but says that nothing gives her a bigger thrill than meeting the children each day and sharing their learning through play. 'I get so much fun from my job,' says Teresa. 'I'm always happy at the playgroup and it's a pleasure to go to work every day.'
Although Teresa is pleased to have won the award, she is quick to share the acclaim. 'I couldn't do what I do without my superb staff. We work together to provide a great quality of education and care for the children.'
Teresa has won a week of relaxation on the tropical island of Cuba.
* Runner-up: Janet Marshall, South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
Prima Baby nursery worker of the year in partnership with the National Day Nurseries Association
Nicola Hughes, Nene Valley Day Nursery, Northampton
'Nicola is a wonderful role model for all the children she works with,' says the parent who nominated her for the award. 'My three-year-old daughter Darcy has Angelman syndrome and is severely mentally and physically handicapped. But Nicola played a vital role in helping Darcy meet her developmental milestones.'
Although Nicola had never worked with special needs children before, Nicola became the SENCO at Nene Valley Day Nursery as a direct result of her success with Darcy. This role has allowed Nicola's dedication and supportive manner to stand out.
Nicola has wanted to work in childcare for as long as she can remember, but has never lost sight of what makes her job so important - forging links with children and helping them to achieve personal goals. She has worked at Nene Valley for just two years, and was thrilled to be nominated for the award. 'I love working with children and being involved in their learning,' she says. 'My work has given me an interest in special needs, and I'm looking forward to offering support to them and their families.'
Nicola has won a weekend of pampering in London with a day at a health spa and tickets to a show.
* Runner-up: Claire Wilkinson, Riverside Nursery, North Shields, Tyne and Wear.
Childminder of the year in association with the National Childminding Association
Naseem Rafiq, Leicester
Naseem Rafiq has provided childminding services in Leicester for more than 20 years. 'It all started when my own children were young,' Naseem says.
'There wasn't much childcare available so I became a registered childminder and I've looked after children ever since.'
In this time, Naseem has built up a deserved reputation for the sheer excellence she offers children, parents and the community. She is flexible in her childminding service, and is always willing to meet the needs of parents who work shifts or long hours. Speaking about her job, Naseem says, 'The best part is the care and love that the children give you back.'
In her spare time, Naseem is a volunteer for Home Start Leicester, a charity that finds experienced parents to advise families with social problems. She is also on her local council's list of approved childminders to offer respite care for parents of children with special needs.
The employer and friend who nominated Naseem describes her as 'dedicated, extremely hardworking and offering exceptional care'. She says Naseem genuinely loves the children she cares for, and places the safety, physical and emotional well-being of the children as top priority. Naseem spends much of her childminding income on improving the house to provide better play opportunities for the children in her care.
Naseem will enjoy a chocolate weekend for two in Brussels.
* Runner-up: Julie Ulla, Tower Hamlets, London.
Playworker of the year
Hazel Keen, Woodleys before-and after-school club, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Hazel has built her working life around children and has never lost sight of the importance of her childcare job. Getting a buzz from helping a child understand something at school right through to planning exciting activities for the after-school club and youth club, Hazel has always felt she is privileged to be doing the work that she so enjoys doing.
As well as running the Woodleys before-and after-school club, Hazel works at the youth club on Friday evenings, runs a junior tennis programme and is a governor at her local primary school.
Hazel was nominated for her dedicated work with the children at Woodleys, ensuring that both staff and parents are happy in what they are doing, developing behavioural strategies for the children, as well as continually looking for new ways to improve the club. Hazel ensures that Woodleys is both a place of excellence and a place of fun.
Hazel will be wined and dined during a luxury weekend break for two in Paris.
* Runner-up: Zo Pickering, Kuumba Playscheme, Kentish Town, London.
The employer achievement award for staff childcare
The NHS
The NHS, Europe's largest employer, now provides more childcare for staff than any other - and the NHS Strategic Health Authorities/Workforce Development Confederations in London have created so many new childcare places that they deserve a special award for employer achievement.
Since 2003, 660 new nursery places and 716 holiday playscheme places have been created, bringing the total to more than 2,000 nursery places and 1,000 holiday playscheme places for NHS staff in London - with many more at the planning stages.
Every member of staff now also has access to an NHS childcare co-ordinator (there are 59 in London), working closely with early years and childcare teams in local authorities, childcare providers and voluntary organisations to help staff to find childcare.
Lifetime achievement award
Dr Philippa Russell OBE
The focus for this year's lifetime achievement award was to recognise the work of those who have contributed to special educational needs work within childcare. Over the past 15 years, Dr Philippa Russell has made an extraordinary contribution to the childcare needs of disabled children and those with SEN.
Commissioned by Cathy Ashton when she was Minister for Sure Start, Dr Russell was the author of the seminal report, Bridging the Gap, which has proved to be a major influence on the Department for Education and Skills and Treasury policy. Many of the recently announced improvements for disabled children in childcare have been the direct result of her work behind the scenes with the Treasury and Gordon Brown. Estelle Morris recently said, 'There is little doubt that Philippa Russell has had more influence on advances in SEN legislation than anyone else bar none.'
Dr Russell is a commissioner for the Disability Rights Commission, and was the founding director of the Council for Disabled Children. She is a member of the Ministerial Special Education Needs Implementation Working Group and of the National Learning Disability Task Force.
Dr Russell is also an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, a trustee of the Family Fund Trust and a member of the London Regional Task Force for Children and Young People.
