Golden Apple awards: Who will be the best early years provider of the year?

After teaching methods were revised with urgency as the Covid pandemic struck, our educational establishments sought to ensure parents that their young ones would not miss out on vital lessons.

That’s why the Best Early Year Provider is a hotly-contested category.

The nominations for Best Early Year Provider perfectly highlight the dedication and pride shown by those in the profession.

One of the three shortlisted, Parkfield Nursery, a nursery in Carlisle, has been praised by the families at the school for their committment to the children after Covid.

The school realised that the families needed their support just as much as the children, so they focussed on reassuring parents that their children were in the best place for their development.

Parkfield are focusing on the future; they want to continue growing their business, keeping the children are the forefront of it all.

They are beginning to make more connections with schools by inviting them into the nursery and allowing parents to chat with the teachers. They are also focussing on wellbeing in the nursery.

When told of being shortlisted, they said: “It is absolutely marvelous. The nursery has been going for 38 years. We have families coming back to us after they attended as a child so it shows we are moving with the times. It is amazing.”

When asked about how excited they were for the event, they assure they have 'their new frocks' at the ready.

Parkfield Nursery (Image: Newsquest)

Also shortlisted is Yewkids Nursery in Carlisle.

Yewkids have also recognised how important incorporating the families into nursery is. The nursery has been running several family activities including family tree planting, and family parties/meals.

The nursery has recently implemented new resources for the children, including a story stack library and creating individual resources for each child's needs.

Yewkids Nursery reacted to their nomination, saying: "We were really, really shocked but honoured and thrilled. We are delighted to know someone took time out of their day to do this.”

The nursery are excited to attend the event. Jude Coupland who works at the nursery has purchased a plain white dress, and is asking the children to draw and paint on it so she can wear that.

Jude explained her reasoning: “If it wasn’t for them, it wouldn’t happen."

Yewkids Nursery (Image: Newsquest)

Our third nomination is for Roose Nursery in Barrow-in-Furness.

The nursery has been praised for the service they offer to their children, as they themselves say: "We just offer the best service we can."

However, the nursery are committed to constantly improving the services they offer as they said: "We are constanty planning and enchancing what we do by offering the child the best we can and always looking for new ways to improve.”

Staff at the nursery spoke about the nomination, saying: “It is amazing. It shows that all the hard work is recognised.

"We are really excited to attend, it should be a good night.”

READ MORE: Grand success for the Hospice at Home ‘Big Birthday Bike ride’