Nursery World Awards 2008: Judges - Our Judging Panel

The Pre-School Learning Alliance is the largest children's educationcharity in England and supports 800,000 children and their families.Previously, Steve was chief executive of the British DyslexiaAssociation. He has more than 25 years' experience in senior roles inthe NHS, local authority and voluntary sectors. He has helped to shapenational policy, including as an associate consultant with the NationalDevelopment Team.

LIZ BAYRAM - Chief executive, National Childminding Association

Liz joined the NCMA as director of policy and public affairs in 2004 andbecame chief executive less than two years later. Her career began injournalism and she then took her skills in campaigning and raisingawareness to the voluntary sector. Her leadership has helped the NCMA toraise the profile of childminders. She is also trustee of the NationalChildren's Bureau and the National Council of Voluntary Child CareOrganisations.

JULIAN GRENIER - Headteacher Kate Greenaway Nursery School andChildren's Centre

Julian was a member of the working party which wrote the 'Principles'section of the Foundation Stage Curriculum, and has written andco-written some of the guidance for the new Early Years Foundation Stageas well as writing a short supplement about the Early ExcellenceProgramme. He is currently studying for a doctorate in education at theInstitute of Education. Julian is a regular writer for NurseryWorld.

LAURA HENRY - Managing director, Childcare Consultancy

Laura has more than 20 years' experience in the early years field. TheChildcare Consultancy specialises in quality training and expert adviceto childcare settings. With private, independent, voluntary andmaintained sector clients, the team has developed an enviable reputationwithin this sector. Laura writes for early years journals and is oftencalled upon to give expert advice on sector issues, nationally andinternationally.

MARTIN HOWARTH - Assistant director for Strategic Services, DCSF

Martin is assistant director for Strategic Services - Early Years,Extended Schools and Special Needs at the Department for Children,Skills and Families. His role includes responsibility for theGovernment's 1.7 billion early years grant and 0-7 partnershippilot programme. From 2005-08, he headed Croydon council's SEN inclusionstrategy. He also worked on the Government's 'Removing Barriers toAchievement' strategy.

LINDA KEATS - Nursery manager, Laindon Neighbourhood Nursery

Linda began her career in early years in Australia more than 20 yearsago and has been involved in many areas of childcare. She progressedfrom nursery assistant to development officer, deputy, and then on toher current position as nursery manager at Laindon - which has justreceived its second 'Outstanding' Ofsted report. Her passion for earlychildhood education is accompanied by a commitment to ensure it is seenas essential to a child's lifelong learning journey.

EMMA KNIGHTS - Joint chief executive, Daycare Trust

Emma Knights took up the post of joint chief executive with AlisonGarnham in June 2006. She has had a variety of roles in the voluntarysector, and worked at Child Poverty Action Group in the 1990s. Her twomost recent posts were at the Legal Services Commission and the LocalGovernment Association, leading projects on child poverty andattainment. She was the founding chair of the after-school club at herchildren's school in Norwich.

ANNE LONGFIELD - Chief executive, 4Children

Anne Longfield has worked in the children and families policy andservices arena for almost 25 years. Chief executive of 4Children since1997, Anne has played a leading role in influencing thinking anddelivery of support for children, families and wider communities. Shehas a strong interest in community development. She has held severalGovernment adviser roles, including in the Prime Minister's strategyunit at the Cabinet Office.

SOPHIE LOWLES - Project officer, Children's Workforce DevelopmentCouncil

Sophie has worked as a member of the early years team at the Children'sWorforce Development Council for three years. She is the manager ofseveral national projects, which include work on the early years sectorlearning strategy and driving up the minimum level of qualifications inearly years settings. Having gained her first degree in sociology, sheis now studying for a Masters in public policy.

ANNE NELSON - Chief executive, Early Education

Anne became a deputy head in 1973 and three years later head ofWolvercote First School in Oxford. As a school improvement adviser, Annehas worked across primary, secondary and special schools. In 2004 shewas appointed chief executive of the British Association for EarlyChildhood Education. She is vice-chair of Early Childhood Forum andchair of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership inOxfordshire.

ANNE O'CONNOR - Early years consultant

Anne has taught in inner London primary schools for more than 20 years,specialising in early years and foundation stage. She set up and ran oneof the first units in Tower Hamlets, east London to integrate nurseryand reception children. Now a freelance early years consultant, writerand trainer, she is an associate trainer for the Institute of Education,University of London, and an advisory board member for two Children'sCentres.

RUTH PIMENTEL - Early years national director, National Strategies

As the national director for early years, Ruth has overseen theimplementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has also led anexpansion of the early years work within the National Strategies inrecognition of the importance placed on high quality early yearsprovision. A trained teacher, Ruth has worked in many schools andsettings, and also as an inspector. She has provided qualified teachersupport to Foundation Stage settings.

WENDY SCOTT - Consultant in early education, President TACTYC

Freelance consultant Wendy has been an early years teacher and aninspector, and led a demonstration nursery school. She lectured in earlyyears education and taught the UK's first multi-professional advanceddiploma at the Roehampton Institute. After six years as chair and chiefexecutive of the British Association for Early Childhood Education, shebecame a specialist adviser to the Department for Children, Skills andFamilies.

JENNY SPRATT - Head of early years and childcare services, Peterboroughcity council

Jenny has been head of early years and childcare services forPeterborough city council since 1998. She has a background in earlychildhood education and was head of a nursery school for nine years. Sherepresents the Local Authority Early Years Network on the EarlyChildhood Forum and is on the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes earlyyears advisory group. Jenny was co-author with Professor Tina Bruce ofEssentials of Literacy from 0-7.

LESLEY STAGGS - Early childhood consultant

Lesley began teaching in the north-east and became head of a nurseryschool in a mining community, followed by a large nursery school inLondon. She was an inspector in two London boroughs. At theQualifications and Curriculum Authority she led work on the EarlyLearning Goals and Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. Shebecame a senior adviser within the Sure Start unit and in 2003 the firstnational director for the Foundation Stage.

JUDITH STEVENS - Early years regional adviser, National Strategies

Judith Stevens is an early years regional adviser working in northLondon. She has worked as a childminder, teacher, early years andmathematics co-ordinator and as an early years adviser. She has aninterest in problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy, and developingenabling environments. She has written for early years publications,including Nursery World. Her most recent books are Maths in Stories(2008) and Maths Now! (2008).

PURNIMA TANUKU - Chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association

Purnima works closely with ministers and senior civil servants,representing NDNA and the sector. She has helped with the development ofNDNA's new National Early Years Enterprise Centre and headquarters,which opened in June 2007. Purnima has focused on the charity's abilityto support and represent the membership. She has much experience atsenior executive level working with public, private and charitableorganisations.

NICOLE WEINSTEIN - Freelance journalist, Specialist in early years

Nicole Weinstein is a freelance journalist specialising in earlyeducation and childcare. She spent five years writing in-house forNursery World and now produces its 'Tried and Tested' monthly resourcesfeature. She has many links with the childcare sector, working withthose who run on-the-ground services as well as those at the forefrontof the industry. Since becoming a mother she is even more passionateabout the early years.