Hundreds of Sandwell childcare professionals attended a special presentation evening to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and high level of childcare in the borough. The special event at WS10 Conference Centre in Wednesbury was organised by the Sandwell Family Information Service and Sandwell Quality Early Years and Childcare Team. All the winners of the various sections were nominated by parents for the awards and received them from Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services, Chris Ward, Director of Education and Sara Baber, Early Years Lead.
Councillor Hackett said: “It was a pleasure to be among so many high achievers – people who have been recognised for their work after impressing parents and carers of the children they look after.
"I was so pleased to see how much these awards meant to those who were nominated and how proud the winners were.
"It was inspiring to see how committed the childcare providers are to giving the best care possible to our children and young people in Sandwell."
The Winners on the evening were:
- Childcare Practitioner 2016 – Lisa Hickman from Lola Belles Day Nursery
- Childcare Business Management 2016 – Dawn Mehigan from St Hubert’s Pre School
- Day Nursery 2016 – GNG Day Nursery
- Childcare Volunteer 2016 – Carrie Pearson from Little Fish, Bumps and Babies Parent and Toddler Group
- Out of School Club 2016 – YMCA Carters Green Out of School Club
- Pre School / Playgroup 2016 – West Smethwick Enterprise Pre School’s
- Childminder 2016 – Lisa Brookes
- Parents as Partners in Early Learning 2016 – Tipton Cluster of Children’s Centres
- The Dawn Richards Quality Award 2016 - Little Acres Day Nursery
- Effort and Dedication 2016 – Silvia Sermon from Cornerstones Pre School
Awards for an outstanding inspection from OFSTED also went to Childminders: Daniella Leech, Deborah Raheem, Elaine Slater, Lisa Brookes, Margaret Hitchins and Sundeepinder Kaur, Stepping Stones Pre School and 5 Star Day Nursery in Oldbury.
