Anne Watson, the head of Jigsaw nursery centre in Muirhead, North Lanarkshire, said she was 'absolutely thrilled' to receive an MBE for her services to early years. She took up her post at the nursery, which is owned and run by North Lanarkshire council, in 1994.
Ms Watson told Nursery World Scotland, 'I am delighted and surprised to receive such an award. From a personal point of view I wish to acknowledge the dedication and co-operation of the staff at Jigsaw. In addition, I recognise this award not so much as a personal achievement but rather as recognition of the professionalism shown by all early years staff and the important role they play in the development of young children.'
Jigsaw nursery centre opened in 1990 and is housed in a wing of St Barbara's Primary School. It has 69 full-time places and a 20-place after-school club offering parents extended provision from 8am to 6pm, during term-time and school holidays. A parent and toddler group is also based there and a local childminding group holds regular meetings.
Ms Watson said, 'We offer support to vulnerable families with children under three, which is linked to Sure Start funding.'
Ms Watson's career in childcare spans 30 years. Her first job in 1973 was as a nursery nurse at Aileymill nursery school in Greenock. She became deputy head of Hillend children's centre in 1986 before becoming head of centre at Pollockshaws day nursery in Glasgow in 1990.
She is currently completing a postgraduate diploma in early years education at Strathclyde University and has been studying part-time during the past five years.
The work and dedication of other childcare professionals from across the UK were also recognised in the New Year Honours list. Annette Walker, the managing director of Cambridgeshire-based Opportunity Links, a voluntary organisation that aims to help parents back to work, received an MBE for her services to childcare.
Opportunity Links supports families, individuals and employers by providing accessible childcare information and aims to help people achieve a greater work-life balance. It provides free information via its website, www.opp-links.org.uk, and over the phone.
The organisation is also responsible for managing the Government's ChildcareLink website, www.childcarelink.gov.uk, launched as part of the National Childcare Strategy. This is the only national website of registered childcare information in the UK and provides links to local Childcare Information Services and other associated sites.
Opportunity Links is the brainchild of Cambridge MP Anne Campbell. Ms Walker was appointed managing director when the company formed in 1996. It has grown rapidly and now employs more than 40 members of staff.
Other early years figures who were awarded MBEs include Ann Birnie, retired first assistant of Westerhouse nursery school in Easterhouse, Glasgow; Diana Ballardie of the Centre Pre-school in Newton Abbot, Devon; Mary McQueen Megan, former teacher-in-charge, Loatland Primary School nursery unit, Desborough, Northamptonshire; and Mary Weeks, manager of Nightingale community playgroup, Eastleigh, Hampshire.