National awards finalist

Congratulations to Trish Smaller - Deputy Manager who has been shortlisted for the Nursery World magazine awards for UK Nursery Practitioner of the year.

The awards will be presented at a lavish ceremony in the prestigious Balllroom at London's Grosvenor House on Friday 25 September. Nominations have been received for a number of categories which recognise the very best in early years provision across the country.

The Children's House won at last years awards for Team Development of the Year for its huge investment in training.

Nursery Manager Maxine Dobson said: "We are all thrilled for Trish. She is one of our most long standing members of staff having joined us 8 years ago. She is a massively dedicated individual who values children and childhood - a real asset to our team. For her to be acknowleged by these national awards is really something. We'll have our fingers crossed for her on the night!"

Director Sylvia Archer added "We kept Trish's nomination a secret, but when the email came in to say she had been shortlisted the whole nursery knew about it! Trish is such a committed, calm, lovely person to know - I hope her skills, knowledge and personality will be recognised at the ceremony"