Childminder of the Year Jane Fisher was presented a cheque for 1,000 by Sure Start minister Baroness Catherine Ashton (pictured, left) and Ann Hunter-Love (right) of Jackel International, which owns sponsor Tommee Tippee. The award was presented in partnership with the National Childminding Association.
Jane is president of her local childminding association in Boroughbridge, near Harrogate. She said, 'I am thrilled to be receiving this award, not just for myself, but for the thousands of childminders throughout the country who are supporting children, parents and communities with a quality childminding service.'
Prima Childcarer of the Year was won by Jackie Deacon from Southend, who has more than 27 years' childminding experience. Hazel Ashley from Stretton in Warrington won Prima Baby Nursery Worker of the Year, awarded in partnership with the National Day Nurseries Association. Playworker of the Year, in partnership with Morton Michel and Sterling Insurance, was Carol Klein of Buccaneers out-of-school club in St Neots in Cambridgeshire.
Joan Bailey won the Childcare Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Kids' Clubs Network. Joan was the founder of Outside of School Hours in Peterlee 20 years ago and was instrumental in the early years of the Kids'
Clubs Network.
Overall sponsorship for the awards was provided by the Sure Start Unit.
Others partners associated with the awards are NurseryWorld and Genderquake.
A feature on all of the award winners will appear in Nursery World later this month.