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The Education Excellence Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.
Education Excellence Awards
Early Years Setting of the Year Award
The best possible start in life.
About this category
This award recognises a nursery, pre school, childminder or early years setting giving young children a safe, stimulating and loving start. Judges look for development, care, partnership with parents and staff practice.
Eligibility
- Open to nurseries
- Pre schools
- Childminders and early years settings
Judging criteria
- Children's development
- Care and safety
- Learning environment
- Parent partnership
- Staff practice
Qualitative criteria
- Play
- Curiosity and care
Metrics
- Development outcomes
- Parent feedback
- Staff qualifications and inspection outcomes
Additional criteria
Entries should include a concise case study, supporting figures and, where possible, feedback from pupils, students, parents or colleagues. Never include names, images or any detail that could identify a child, pupil or student: describe work in anonymised terms and give results as percentages or ranges. Nothing in an entry is shared beyond the judging panel. Judges consider the size and context of the setting, so small schools and providers compete on equal terms.
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