Both Ms Scott and Professor Siraj have been honoured for their services to education.
Wendy Scott, who is president of the Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators (TACTYC), has taught in a variety of schools, including leading a demonstration nursery school, lectured in early years education and acted as a specialist adviser to the then Department for Education and Skills during the last Labour government.
She has been a regular contributor to Nursery World for many years, acts as chief judge for our annual awards, and was herself the winner of the Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
As Julie Fisher said in her tribute, Wendy ‘combines an enviable depth of knowledge with a rare gift for quiet advocacy. Her tremendous work ethic means that no stone is left unturned, no consultation left unanswered, no report left without a critique if Wendy has been asked for her contribution. Wendy will always respond to, support and advise others if it means that children will benefit.’
Commenting on her award, Ms Scott said, 'I hope this, and other honours, will help to focus attention on the importance of the early years within families, and also for the dedicated work of staff who are involved with children and parents at this crucial time in their lives.'
Professor of Early Childhood Education at University College London, Institute of Education (IOE) Iram Siraj (right), has worked as an academic and researcher for over 25 years, holding positions at the universities of Warwick and London. She was co-director of the research team that carried out the Effective Pre-school Primary and Secondary Education (EPPSE) longitudinal study.
Professor Siraj said, 'I am pleased to receive the honour and I thank all the colleagues whom I have worked with over the last 30 years for their passion and commitment to early childhood education and care, and their contribution to my award; no-one achieves these accolades alone.
'We have a lot more work to do in the coming years; particularly to stengthen quality in all our provision, to ensure that the least privileged get a stronger start in life and to make the case for a workforce that is fully professionalised and remunerated on par with other professionals in education. These issues will be important in the upcoming elections and I look forward to working with colleagues in bringing them to the attention of those who have the power to do something about it.'
Wendy Scott and Iram Siraj are among almost 100 people in education and children’s services to be honoured in the 2015 New Year Honours list.
The headteacher of Everton Nursery School and Family Centre in Liverpool, Lesley Curtis, has also been awarded an OBE for her services to education, as has Dr Hilary Cass, the President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), for services to child health.
Virginia Beardshaw, chief executive of I CAN, has been honoured with a CBE for services to children with special needs and disabilities.
Ms Beardshaw, who joined the children’s communication charity in 2005, said, ‘I am delighted to receive this honour and feel it is a testament to the wonderful work that I CAN and our sector have done to champion the rights and needs of children with speech, language and communication needs.
‘The landscape for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families has changed immeasurably since I joined I CAN. With the new Children and Families Act, children with SEND and their families have more control over the services they need than ever before. I am thrilled to have received this honour for my work and the work of I CAN over my ten years of leadership.’
Julie Morrow, head of Appletree and Stoneygate Nursery Schools and Children's Centres in Lancashire, receives an OBE for services to children and families.
