Dr Julian Grenier and Kids Planet's Clare Roberts awarded Queen's Honours

The pair are among those in the sector that have been awarded an honour by the Queen this year.

Dr Grenier, head of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in London has been awarded a CBE, and Clare Roberts, the founder and chief executive of the country’s third largest nursery group that operates more than 100 settings, has been awarded an OBE.

Dr Grenier is a regular contributor to Nursery World magazine and has written a number of professional childcare books. Most recently he put together the revised Development Matters guidance in consultation with the sector.

A CBE is the first highest ranking Order of the British Empire Award, excluding a Knighthood/Damehood, following OBE and then MBE.

Dr Grenier said, ‘I’m delighted as well as a little shocked to receive this honour. I think it really reflects all we’ve achieved as a team at Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, and at East London Research School. I’m very lucky to work with so many talented and committed people. 

‘I’d also like to thank everyone at Nursery World, which has a very special place in my heart. I wrote my first piece for the magazine over 20 years ago. I’ve especially benefitted from the advice, guidance and friendship of the magazine’s former deputy editor Ruth Thomson for many years.’

Roberts commented, 'I am honoured and very humbled to have been included on the Queen’s honours list and to be awarded an OBE for services to education, particularly during the Jubilee celebrations.

'I am immensely proud to be part of the early years sector and dedicate this honour to all my colleagues within Kids Planet and the wider industry for the incredible work they do for children each and every day.

'Such unwavering commitment and professionalism has been even more apparent during the challenges we have all faced over the last two years, as a result of the pandemic. We still have much work to do to overcome the ongoing challenges within our sector and I will continue to do this in whatever way I can to improve Early Years services for all children.'

Another nursery owner, Freya Jane Derrick (Freya Dingwall), founder of Hopscotch Day Nurseries, a group of eight sites in Hampshire, has also been recognised with an MBE.

Jill Whittaker, the managing director of Connect2Care (pictured right), which delivers early years apprenticeships, has also been honoured with an OBE.

She said, 'I am hugely grateful to have been chosen for this prestigious honour. I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside a vast number of talented individuals and industry bodies during my career and I’m extremely proud of the positive change we’ve achieved in that time.'

Other recipients of the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022 for their role in education and childcare include:

• Patricia Mary Pritchard has been honoured for services to childcare and early years professionals in Derby through her work to improve the status of childcare and promote the wellbeing of early years’ employees – MBE.
• Dr Penelope Leach, child wellbeing campaigner and researcher at the association for mental health in East Sussex – OBE.
• Yvonne Jacqueline David, former headteacher of Oak View Primary and Nursery School in Hatfield in recognition of being a trailblazer in education for teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds – MBE.

• The full Queen's Birthday Honours 2022 list is available here