Hartlepool-based nursery Footprints Learning for Life has been shortlisted for the 2021 Nursery World Award for Inclusive Practice.
The prestigious Nursery World Awards are held annually and shine a light on best practice in the early years and childcare sector to help raise the profile of the industry. They are open to everyone involved within the sector and recognise how dedicated industry professionals go above and beyond for the children in their care.
The Nursery World Award winners across all 24 categories are selected by a prominent panel of expert judges that is representative of the diversity of disciplines and organisations that make up the sector.
In its statement to all the 2021 award nominees, Nursery World said: “This is a tremendous achievement against extremely tough competition. This year we received an astounding number of entries from across the country, so being shortlisted is an incredible feat.”
Footprints Learning for Life, which is one of three nominees for the Inclusive Practice Award sponsored by Nasen, is a nursery school that focuses on providing every child with an equal opportunity for a great start in life, regardless of circumstances.
The nursery was established in 2006 and is run on a philosophy that one size does not fit all, with owner Sharon Birch and her team striving every day to cater for the individual needs and requirements of every child in Footprints’ care, regardless of need, culture, race, gender, or ability.
Responding to the news that Footprints had been nominated, a beaming Sharon Birch said: "We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to be shortlisted for this great award, and for the fact that all our hard work and dedication to every one of our children and their families has been recognised."
Paying tribute to her colleagues for their dedication over a turbulent year due to the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic, Sharon added: "I personally would like to thank the whole Footprints team for their committed hard work over the last eighteen months. We have endured one of our toughest times through the Covid-19 pandemic and thankfully we're still here to continue supporting our families."
The winners will be revealed at the Nursery World Awards ceremony, which will take place on Saturday September 25, 2021, at the Brewery, London, starting from 19:00 BST. It will be the first live Nursery World Awards event to be held since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Everybody at The Leaders Council would like to wish Sharon and the whole team at Footprints Learning for Life the very best of luck!
