Nursery World Awards 2024 – Congratulations to all our winners!

 

• Download the Nursery World Awards 2024 Book of the Night here
• Download the photos from our dropbox here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/va7z3cgmkhsyuvlv934xx/AJhXGlnYBlsjNVu9PVRyLuc?dl=0&e=1&rlkey=k4oo693duppramy7fu8xdee66&st=rnutptre

LEYF is the largest group of social enterprise nurseries in the UK, operating 40 nurseries and employing 1,000 staff members.

The group currently supports more than 4,300 children, with just under a third from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The award was presented by Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the first-ever children's commissioner for England, who is now Visiting Professor in Compassionate Care at Northampton University.

In his speech Sir Al said, 'By any yardstick, June’s work is truly outstanding. This award tonight is richly deserved.'

In a night of awards recognising the best among those that work across the early years education sector, RAFA Kidz Cranwell in Sleaford was named Nursery of the Year, while Acorn Early Years was awarded Nursery Group of the Year.

Congratulations to all our winners, those highly commended, and finalists. With thanks to our sponsors for their support.

The full list of award winners is below. More photos of the night to follow soon...

Lifetime Achievement

June O’Sullivan

 Nursery of the Year

Sponsored by childcare.co.uk

Winner

RAFA Kidz Cranwell in Sleaford, Lincolnshire

With awards host Ben Faulks (aka CBeebies' Mr Bloom), far left, and presented by Jools Page, awards judge and senior lecturer for early years at the University of Brighton

 

Finalists

Broussa Day Nursery, Part of the Elmscot Group – Hale, Greater Manchester

Little Explorers Forest School – Derby

Poppies Pre-School – Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire

 

Nursery Group of the Year

Sponsored by Eden Training Solutions

Winner

Acorn Early Years – Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire

With Ben and award presenter Catherine Gaunt, Nursery World deputy editor (second left)

  

Highly Commended

RAFA KIDZ – Nationwide

Finalists

Bright Horizons –NationwideKido Schools – Greater London

Kids Planet– NationwideKindred Nurseries – Nationwide

 

Pre-School of the Year

Sponsored by Tigerlily

Winner

Woodville Pre-School, Storal Derbyshire

With Ben and sponsor Tigerlily trainer Omar Zayoun (right)

 

Highly Commended

Bybrook Pre-school – Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire

Finalists

The Old Forge Day Nursery – Findern, Derbyshire

The Wharf Nursery School – Godalming, Surrey

 

Early Years in School Award

Sponsored by istep Learning

Winner

Gateways School, Leeds, West Yorkshire

With Ben and award presented by iStep Learning's Operations Director, Ellen Brechin (right)

 

Finalist

Eldon Grove Academy – Hartlepool, Teesside

Childminding Business of the Year

Sponsored by childcare.co.uk

Winner

Shelford Childcare, Cambridge

With Ben and presented by Rebecca Martland, early years consultant and trainer and award judge (right)

Finalists

Bears Daycare – Bewdley, Worcestershire

The Playroom Marple – Stockport, Greater Manchester

Rachael’s Childcare – Staithes, North Yorkshire

 

Nursery Manager of the Year

Sponsored by Busy Bees

Winner

Victoria East – Smallville Nursery, Snodland, Kent

With Ben and award presented by Busy Bees' Group Chief Quality Officer Gill Jones

 

Highly Commended

Kate Campbell, Defence Children Services, ESBA Early Years – Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos, Cyprus

Finalists

Jane Noble, First Friends@ Wootey – Alton, Hampshire

Catherine Stones, Tiddlywinks Nursery Group – Higher Blackley, Greater ManchesterKirsten Ward, Willow Tree Nursery School – Clacton on Sea, Essex

 

Nursery Operations/ Area Manager

Sponsored by CC Nurseries

Winner

Laura Tingey – Acorn Early Years – Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire

With Ben and award presenter CC Nurseries' HR Manager, Lydia Amor (right)

 

Highly Commended

Rebecca Casserly, Nurtured Childcare – North of England

 

Finalists

Emma Bate, Storal – Nationwide

Charlotte Bateman, Little Barn Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex 

Georgina Hempstead, The Old Station Nursery Group – Nationwide

 

Nursery Practitioner of the Year

Sponsored by Eduzone

Winner

Paul Carter, Kristaval Day Care Nursery Liverpool, Merseyside

With Ben, colleagues, and award presenter Eduzone's Head of Business Development, Helen Swann

 

Highly Commended

Mark Wallis, Elmscot Group – Hale, Greater Manchester

 

Finalists

Alison Eardley, Nurtured @ Chell – Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Claudia Scarsella, Cybertots at GWQ – Brentford, West London

Aoife Winchcombe, The Butterfly Pre-School – Clapham, South West London

 

Early Years Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Connect2Care

Joint Winner

Mollie Bowen, The Nursery in Belong, Chester

With Ben and award presenter Connect2Care's National Early Years Lead, Charlotte Armitage (right)

Joint winner

Mohamed Elmi, Bright Horizons Cedar House, Enfield, North London 

With Ben and Connect2Care's National Early Years Lead, Charlotte Armitage

 

Finalists

Sarah Camp, Kamelia Kids Day Nursery and Beach School – Worthing, WestSussex Sophie Davies, Shenfield Day Nursery – Brentwood,Essex

 

Individual Childminder of the Year

Sponsored by childcare.co.uk

Winner

Kerri Fitzgibbon, Poppyfields, Teacher Led Early Years, Colchester, Essex

Ben and award presenter PACEY's Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges

 

Highly Commended

Charlotte Ford, Little Strawbs Childminding – Carterton, Oxfordshire

 

Finalists

Claire Hassall, Claire’s Childcare – Hygge In the Early Years Accredited Setting – Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Vikkie Murray, Little Acorns Childminding – Banbury, Oxfordshire

Caitlin Smith, The Flower Cottage – Dudley, West Midlands

 

Trainer of the Year

Winner

Helen Field, Central Bedfordshire Council

With Ben and presenter Dr Sue Allingham, award judge and Director of Early Years Out of the Box 

 

 

Highly Commended

AHN Education & Training, Apples and Honey Nightingale CIC – Greater London

Finalists

Ali McClure, Ali McClure Education and Parenting – Guildford, Surrey

Edwina Revel and Georgia Leech, Early Start Nutrition – East London

 

Outstanding Contribution

Sponsored by Wizard Staff Solutions

Winner

Jackie Warren

Growing Places Community Childcare Centres – Hampshire

With Ben and Wizard Staff Solutions' managing director, Faye Walters

 

Highly Commended

Charlotte Bateman, Little Barn

Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex

Finalists

Alison J Hawkins, Wester Coates Nursery School – Edinburgh

Fiona McQueen, Bright Horizons Treehouse – Aberdeen

 

Early Childhood Graduate of the Year

Sponsored by the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network

Winner

Dearbhàil Maguire

Liverpool Hope University

With Ben and award judge and ECSDN Co-Chair Dr Tanya Richardson

Finalist

Lisa Bickford

University of Plymouth

 

Health and Wellbeing Award

Sponsored by The Old Station Nursery

Winner

Holly Bank Nursery – Portland Nurseries Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

With Ben and award presenter The Old Station Nursery's Chief Operations Officer, Claire Sephton

Finalists

Blue Giraffe Childcare – Droitwich, Worcestershire

Farm Day Nurseries – Nationwide

Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside

Kerrie’s Cherubs – Blyth, Northumberland

 

Eco-Friendly Early Years Award

Sponsored by Hope

Winner

Young Friends Kindergarten – Hove, East Sussex

With Ben and award presenter Hope's Key Account Manager, Judy Whitehead

 Finalists

Adventure Farm Day Nursery – Burton On Trent, Derbyshire

Bright Horizons at 24 St Swithin – Aberdeen

Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside

 

Working with Parents

Winner

Smallville Nursery – Snodland, Kent

With Ben and award judge and early years trainer and consultant Sue Asquith (centre)

  

Finalists

50 Things to Do Before You’re Five, St Edmund’s Nursery Schooland Children’s Centre – Bradford, West Yorkshire

Atelier Nursery – Bath,Somerset and Chippenham, Wiltshire

Finkley Weeke Nursery and Pre- School – Winchester, Hampshire

Nottingham Hub, National Literacy Trust – Nottingham

 

Working with Babies and Twos Award

Winner

Atelier Nursery – Chippenham, Wiltshire

With Ben and judge Jools Page (right)

 

Highly Commended

Growing Places Community Childcare Centres – Hampshire

 

Enabling Environments Award

Sponsored by YPO

Winner

Little Barn Owls Forest and Farm School Nurseries – Horsham, West Sussex

With Ben and presented by YPO's Business Development Manager – UK, Paul Gallagher

 

Highly Commended

Treehouse Nursery School – Wanstead, East London  

Finalists

Atelier Nursery – Bath, Somerset

esSENtial Early Years – Birkenhead, Merseyside

Growing Places @ Little Acorns – Wickham, Hampshire

 

Business Development Award

Winner

Precious Times Day Nursery, West Midlands

With Ben and judge and CEO of Acorn Early Years, Zoe Raven 

 

Highly Commended

U1R Thanet Nursery – Ramsgate, Kent

Finalists

Canopy Children’s Nurseries – Nationwide

Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs – Nationwide

Wild at Heart – Driffield, East Yorkshire

 

Team Development Award

Winner

esSENtial Early Years – Birkenhead, Merseyside

With Ben and judge and EYFS Advisor, Essex County Council's Linda Keats

(Collected by Nursery World Deputy Editor on winner's behalf)

Highly Commended

Honey Pot Nursery Group – Liverpool, Merseyside

Young Friends Kindergarten – Hove, East Sussex

 

Nursery Food Award

Winner

The Old Forge Day Nursery – Findern, Derbyshire

With Ben and award judge and director of Red Hen Day Nursery Jane Harrison (far right)

 Finalists

Atelier Nursery – Chippenham, Wiltshire

Harpole Day Nursery, Part of The Old Station Nursery Group – Harpole, Northamptonshire

Willow Tree Day Nursery, Part of the Elmscot Group – Sale, Greater Manchester

Woodlands Day Nursery,Part of the Elmscot Group – Timperley, Greater Manchester

 

Inclusive Practice Award

Sponsored by Nasen

Winner

Doris Venner Pre-School – Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

With Ben and Nasen's Sales Executive, Alistair Gilbert (far right)

 

Highly Commended

The Indigo Childcare Group – Glasgow

Finalists

Dingley’sPromise – Nationwide

esSENtialEarlyYears – Birkenhead, Merseyside

NELI Preschool, OxEd and Assessment

Wonderbloom Nursery – Woking, Surrey

 

Community Support Award

Joint Winner

Young Fathers Programme – Shifting Your Mindset Nottingham

Ben with presenter John Warren, director of Toddleworld Nursery Group, and award judge

Joint Winner

The Early Years Community – Osmaston Day Nursery Derby

 

Finalists

Community Initiative, Bright Horizons Bracknell Day Nursery and Pre-School – Bracknell, Berkshire

Ready Generations Charity – Liverpool, Merseyside

 

Online and Social Media Award

Winner

Polka Dot Farm in Billericay, Essex

With Ben and award presenter Ravi Chandiramani, managing director of MA Education & Music (right)

 

Professional Book of the Year

Winner

From Birth to Three: An Early Years Educator’s Handbook by Julia Manning-Morton (Routledge)

Ben with Julia and award presenter Associate Head of School at the Open University, Jackie Musgrave (right)

 

 

Highly Commended

Why Children Need Joy by Ben Kingston-Hughes (Corwin)

Finalist

Are You Ready For Your Inspection 4th Edition – by Vanessa Dooley (self-published)