Six trainees and six newly qualified nursery staff from across Busy Bees' nurseries went head to head in the finals of Busy Bees National Storytelling competition in October.
Inspired by research that found reading to babies and young children improves their language development, Busy Bees launched the competition across 136 of its nurseries.
Finalists had to read the book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, to a panel of judges, including author Michael Rosen (pictured here with finalist Aaron Ward from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Nursery). The winning trainee was Zoe Brown, Busy Bees Altrincham, Manchester, and the newly qualified winner was Laura Bailey, Busy Bees Burntwood, Staffordshire.