The honour has been given for services to early years education following 20 years leading the NDNA.
Also honoured in the King’s New Year Honours list for their services to education are nursery school headteacher Lucy Driver, nursery owner Janet MacGregor, and academic and breakfast clubs’ researcher Professor Greta Defeyter,
Purnima Tanuku is well-known in the early education and nursery sector in the UK for lobbying Government and representing the interests of private, voluntary and independent nurseries. She was responsible for setting up the National Early Years Enterprise Centre as the NDNA’s head office and training centre in Yorkshire in 2006, and the UK-wide organisation also has national offices in Scotland and Wales.
More recently, NDNA launched the Institute of Early Years Education, a UK-wide professional membership body for all individuals working, or aspiring to work, in the early education and care sector.
She said, ‘I am genuinely humbled and honoured to receive the CBE in this year’s Honours list. It came as a total surprise and it still hasn’t sunk in yet.
‘It has been a privilege to work within and support the early education and care sector over the past 20 years. Nothing makes more of a difference to a child’s life chances than giving them high-quality learning and development opportunities in the first five years.
‘This honour represents the commitment and passion that early years providers, and the incredible workforce in our sector, have in working with our youngest children day in day out. It is this passion that drives me in everything I do to support the early years sector.’
Purnima Tanuku CBE with former NDNA Chair Sarah Carr MBE at the official opening of the National Early Years Enterprise Centre, Huddersfield in 2007
Born in the state of Andhra Pradesh, she was raised and educated in India before moving to the UK, where she held senior positions in local government and the private sector. When she received her OBE in 2011, she was the first South Indian woman to receive the award, and NDNA said she will be the first to receive the CBE.
Tanuku is also a classically trained dancer and played a major role as a trustee and chair in the development of Kala Sangam, the renowned South Asian Academy of Performing Arts in Bradford. She lives in Lancashire with her family.
Sarah Steel, chair of trustees at NDNA, said, ‘We are extremely proud of all the work Purnima has done to further the cause of seeing all children and families thrive through high-quality early education and care. To be honoured with the CBE in the New Year Honours List shows that her dedicated work and commitment to our crucial sector has been truly recognised.
‘We have seen a lot of change in the world of early education, from funded childcare being introduced and expanded to radical changes in curriculums, safeguarding and new standards in quality. Purnima has been at the forefront of providing leadership and support to the whole sector, she thoroughly deserves this remarkable award.’
New Year Honours for education and early years
Lucy Driver, executive headteacher at St Paul's Nursery School and Children's Centre, in Bristol, is awarded an OBE for services to early years education.
She is also the lead at Bristol and Beyond Regional Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, and an early years consultant. F
The BBC reported that she did not open the letter for two weeks because she thought it was a bill, and was ‘surprised’ and ‘humbled’ when she realised what it was.
Driver lost her mother on Christmas Eve but was able to tell her about the award before she died.
Janet MacGregor from Poole, owner and senior manager of Smithfield House Children's Nursery, is also awarded an OBE for services to early years education. She has worked in the sector for more than 30 years, as a senior leader and founder and owner of two nurseries.
School breakfast clubs’ researcher Professor Greta Defeyter, director of the Healthy Living Lab at Northumbria University has been awarded an OBE for services to education.
Her work has highlighted the importance of breakfast clubs for children’s health and has influenced the Department for Education’s rollout of a National School Breakfast programme over the past 15 years and funding of the Holiday Activities and Food programme for children and young people across England.
In September the Chancellor announced a £315 million free breakfast club programme that would provide free school breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools.
Professor Defeyter said, ‘I am both delighted and astonished at being awarded an OBE. To be recognised in this manner for my research with children, young people and families is a humbling experience.
‘Most importantly, I would like to thank all the organisations, local authorities, charities, children, young people, parents and carers who trusted me, and worked alongside me to conduct this research that has enabled societal change.
'Finally, I wish to thank all my research colleagues within the Healthy Living Lab for all of their support in conducting the research that has made a difference to millions of children and young people.’
