It was posh frocks and black ties on to attend the Nursery World Awards 2012 ceremony at the Lancaster London. Lisa Faulkener was the host, and as well as wonderful food, rousing entertainment and lots of networking, most important of all, we found out who had won the prestigious awards.
Alan 'Voice of the Balls' Dedicoat was masterful on the voiceover. The excitement and emotion was hugely infectious, as the winners came up to receive their prizes. Dancing went on until the early hours.
A huge thanks to our Awards team for their wonderful organisation, and to all our judges and sponsors.
Here are the full results. You can click on the links on the right to read more about the winners. (HC - highly commended). To see more photos, and to order copies, go to http://www.leothephotographer.co.uk/v/r/C111848202/25833knc.
Nursery of the Year
Wendy Scott picked up the award on behalf of The Cottage from Del Sharman of sponsor Pound Gates
- Winner - The Cottage Kindergarten
- Finalist - Droitwich Spa Nursery & Kindergarten; Greenacres at Priory Road; Nature Trails Day Nursery; The Tadpoles Nursery
School Early Years Team of the Year
The Middleton-in-Teesdale team with Del Sharman of Pound Gates
- Winner - Middleton-in-Teesdale Nursery and Primary School Foundation Stage Unit
Nursery Chain of the Year
Seymour with judge Neil Leitch of the Pre-School Learning Alliance
- Winner - Seymour House
- HC - Toybox Day Nurseries
- Finalists - The Co-operative Childcare; Daisy & Jake Day Nursery; Mulberry Bush Nursery Group
Children's Centre Team of the Year
Judge Dr Ann Clare with the St Paul's winning team
- Winner - St Paul's Community Development Trust/Balsall Heath Children's Centre
- HC - Lower Edmonton Children's Centre
Nursery Manager of the Year
Amanda Brown and Sarah Culpin of sponsor Caleeda
- Winner - Kids Planet Beamont - Amanda Brown
- HC - Norland Nursery - Clare Crowther; Bertram Nursery Group - Paula Williams
- Finalists - Acorns Pre-School - Marie Beth Tatersall; Bishop Auckland College Nursery - Jackie Bennett; kidsunlimited - Sarah Jane Smith; The Tadpoles Nursery - Pamella Seear; Treetops Nurseries Ltd - Sian Wride
Nursery Operations/Regional Manager
- Winner - Kaleidoscope Day Nurseries - Alison Turner
- Finalists - Kids Academy Day Nursery & Preschools - Kerry Eccles; Treetops Nurseries - Karen Turner
Early Years Professional of the Year
Victoria Stafford with Ros Marshall of sponsor kidsunlimited
- Winner - Wellies - Victoria Stafford
- HC - Lincolnshire Montessori - Jo Robinson; University of Sheffield Students' Union Nursery - Lisa Jane Wildey
- Finalists - Kids Planet Warrington - Emma Morris; Grace's Day Nursery - Zoe Walter; Mon Ami Children's Day Nurseries - Kristina Johnsons
Nursery Practitioner of the Year
Rachel Galbraith with 4Children's Sue Robb
- Winner - Fountain Springs - Rachel Galbraith
- HC - kidsunlimited - Lucy Burgess; Red Hen Children's Day Nursery - Andrea Parsons
Newcomer of the Year
Jemma Morris and Adrian Moore of sponsor Kiddi Caru
- Winner - Kids Planet Beamont - Jemma Morris
- Finalists - Acorns Pre School - Amanda Cook; Kids Allowed Macclesfield - Hannah Beck
Trainer of the Year
Jane Middlebrook with judge Ann Langston
- Winner - Kaleidoscope Day Nurseries - Jane Middlebrook
- Finalists - Southend Adult Community College - Helen Black; Touch-Learn International - Anita Epple
Childminder of the Year
Ann Ross with Jane Comeau of the NCMA
- Winner - Your Child Matters Childminding Service - Ann Ross
- HC - Happy Days Childcare - Elizabeth Thomas
Outstanding Contribution
Jean Smith with Gareth James of JHP
- Winner - Bookstart and other roles - Jean Smith
- HC - Kids 1st Day Nurseries - Allison Winship
- Finalist - Elmscot Group - Julie Anne Singleton
Pearson/Nursery World Childcare Student of the Year
Sarah Travis and judge Penny Tassoni on behalf of sponsor Pearson
- Winner - Sarah Travis - BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development, West Lancashire College
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Runner-up - Hannah Burgon - NVQ Level 2 Children and Young People's Workforce, Toad Hall Nursery; Jennifer Houghton - CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education, Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College; Anthony Toye - CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education, Ystrad Mynach College
Working with Parents Award
The CfBT team with judge Stella Louis
- Winner - CfBT Birth to Five Service - Home Early Learning Project (HELP)
- HC - Fit N Fun Kids - Outreach Initiative
- Finalists - Boogie Mites Parent Education Music Programmes; Tots on Tour Growing Talk Family Programme
Inclusive Practice Award
Mulberry Bush with judge Mary Dickins
- Winner - Mulberry Bush Nursery Group
- HC - QKS Meadowview - Inclusion for All
- Finalist - Kids Planet Day Nursery Widnes
Team Development Award
Training Depot with judge Julie Cigman
- Winner - Training Depot Day Nursery
- HC - Bishop Auckland College Nursery; Lincolnshire Montessori - Growing Together
- Finalist - The Butterworth Family Childcare and Education Team
Business Development Award
NW's Elliot Thomas picks up the award from Gareth James of sponsor JHP on behalf of York Nurseries
- Winner - York Nurseries, Totally Flexible Childcare
- HC - Fit N Fun Kids
- Finalist - Kiddie Winks Day Care Nursery
Nursery Food Award
Snapdragons with judge Jane Harrison
- Winner - Snapdragons Nurseries
- HC - Children's Place Day Nurseries
- Finalists - Grace's Day Nursery; Sandfield Natural Play Centre
Enabling Environments Award
Joint winner Norland Nursery with judge Michael Pettavel
Tall Trees were also Joint Winner
- Joint winners - Norland Nursery; Tall Trees Kindergarten
- HC - The Cottage Kindergarten; It's the Little Things
- Finalists - Footsteps Day Nurseries Sutton Coldfield; Ladybird Pre-school; Rachel Keeling Nursery School; Treetops Nurseries - Castle Garden Day Nursery
Website of the Year
Kids Allowed with judge James Collard
- Winner - Kids Allowed
- HC - Footsteps Day Nurseries; Officreche
- Finalists - Clever Clogs Day Nurseries; Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries; Kids Planet
Equipment - Under Threes
Sue Gascoyne of Play to Z with Beth Pedersen of Nursery World
- Winner - Play to Z - Stacking Hoops
- HC - MJH Educational - Heritage Treasure Baskets
- Finalists - Micro Scooters - Mini(R)Micro 3-in-1 Scooter; TTS Group - Baby Posting Pots; Walking Wagon - Rambler Explorer
Equipment - Three to Fives
- Winner - Drums for Schools - Dream Drum
- HC - Play to Z The Egg and Spoon Collection; Walking Wagon - Rambler Explorer
- Finalists - Micro Scooters. - Mini(R)Micro Union Jack Scooter; MJH Educational - Heritage Writing Belts; Reflections on Learning - Basketball Stand; TTS Group - Easi-Cars
Equipment - Staff Resources
The Sage team with judge Linda Keats
- Winner - Sage Publications - Early Childhood Practice: Froebel today, edited by Tina Bruce
- HC - Siren Films - DVD - Life At Two - Attachments, key people and development
- Finalists - Play to Z - 'Treasure Baskets and Beyond: Realising the Potential of Sensory-rich Play'; Sage Publications - Creating a Learning Environment for Babies and Toddlers by Ann Clare; Sherston Software - Early Years World; Smart Consultancy & Coaching - Movers & Creators: Creative Activities to Develop Physical Skills in the Early Years
Billy Jacques George goes for a spin
Ready for the awards
Nursery World Editor Liz Roberts welcomes the sector
Nursery World with Ann Langston and Neil Leitch
Taking the stage
Sponsors