The National NMT Nursery Awards took place at the end of last year at the Platinum Suite of London’s Excel, celebrating the very best of the early years sector. In the first of a two-part round-up our winners reflect on what their achievement means to them

Nursery Group (Large) sponsored by Christie & Co

Winner: Kids Planet Day Nurseries

Kids Planet Day Nurseries, an award-winning independent, family-owned group and one of the leading nursery providers in the UK, was honoured to be awarded Large Group of the Year at the NMT Awards 2024.

During a time when recruitment remains a challenge for the early years sector, the judges praised Kids Planet’s investment in its staff through the many career pathways made available and the mentorship provided along the way. They remarked that Kids Planet’s impressive quality of care reflects the group’s passion for delivering early years education across the country and for generations to come.

With its own Training Academy, the Kids Planet group prides itself on fostering “homegrown” talent and where possible, promoting within and providing clear career pathways. Kids Planet’s staff are childcare professionals and hand-picked for their warmth, passion, commitment, and enthusiasm. Each staff member is committed to the care and safety of the children, and the group invests heavily in their ongoing training and development.

Kids Planet understands that finding childcare can feel overwhelming, and every parent wants the very best for their child, and that it’s about so much more than just childcare. The early years are a critical time for developing essential skills that prepare children for life’s bigger adventures, and as such, Kids Planet is devoted to delivering the highest quality education and development, inspiring young minds, nurturing their natural curiosity, and equipping them for exciting futures.

Clare Roberts, founder and chief executive of Kids Planet, said: “When we set up Kids Planet in 2008, my family and I had a vision to create nurseries where teams could deliver outstanding childcare and education to every child who walked through our doors. We’re proud to serve diverse areas and demographics, giving children from all backgrounds the best possible start.

“Sixteen years on, although our group has grown, our core values remain as strong today as they were at the start of the Kids Planet journey. We are continually striving to provide the highest standards of care and are deeply committed to investing in and supporting our staff, understanding the crucial role a skilled and motivated workforce plays in shaping positive outcomes for children.

“I’m incredibly proud of the way we’ve built a community-centred culture that encourages collaboration across all our nurseries. By prioritising colleague wellbeing, fostering open communication, celebrating achievements, and providing robust development opportunities, we’ve created an environment where employees can thrive.

“Receiving the Group of the Year award is a reflection of our dedication to addressing long-term needs, even while navigating the recruitment challenges our sector has faced in recent years. A sincere thank you and congratulations to everyone who has been part of this journey and who contributes to the success of our family group today.”

NMT Fellowship Award for Outstanding Service

Winner: Marg Randles, co-founder, Busy Bees

“Receiving the NMT Fellowship Award was a complete surprise and a huge honour. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have had 40 years in a career doing something I have truly loved. It is a huge responsibility caring for and educating children and the award for me was such a great accolade at the end of my career.

“There are thousands of educators across the country who dedicate their lives to providing the best opportunities and improving outcomes for children, some of which were nominated and some who won awards. Thank you to NMT for helping to raise the profile for the sector and for recognising these incredibly dedicated people.”

Nursery Group (Medium) sponsored by Community Playthings

Winner: Storal

“Winning NMT nursery group of the year 2024 (medium) is recognition of the hard work, commitment and unwavering dedication of every team member in Storal. Winning NMT nursery group of the year two years in a row is recognition by our industry peers of the high-quality care and education we offer to our children, families and teams. “Winning this award allows us to celebrate our teams, who are at the centre of everything we do. The impact they have on our children and families is seen through the positive feedback and reviews we receive, the strong partnerships we have with our parents and the confident children who leave us ready and excited for the next phase in their education journey.

“At Storal, we not only strive for high quality in each setting, but what really makes us stand out is the consistency of high standards across the whole group, which is testament to our thorough quality assurance processes.

“We are always reviewing our practices and with strong leadership and innovation, we look forward to the next chapter in our journey with the acquisition of the Children 1st group and are excited to build on our shared experiences.”

Nursery Group (small) sponsored by Dot2Dot

Winner: Muddy Boots Nurseries, York

“This incredible achievement is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of each and every one of our team members at Muddy Boots, and we couldn’t be more proud. With the recent incorporation of our unique forest and nature school facility at our Poppleton site, we plan to roll out this concept at all of our sites where feasible. We’re constantly endeavouring to get the most accurate data to support and improve the health and strength of the nursery. We look at areas such as team culture, family satisfaction, environment audits, educational quality and financial health on a weekly basis, being confident that all the key areas of our business are healthy, tracking upwards, and leading us to becoming foremost in the sector. We don’t take anything for granted, with robust marketing and sales systems that ensure we retain families, see more referrals, and deliver exceptional service. As such, we are so excited for our future plans to expand, as well as continuously improving, innovating and raising the standard of how childcare can be delivered in the UK.”

Nursery Manager of the Year (groups and independents) sponsored by Millhouse

Winner: Ashley Webb, Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Droitwich

Ashley Webb: “I was blown away to be nominated by my amazing team and to read their testimonials along with parents. It is made so much easier to manage when you have a supportive and collaborative team. It is such an honour to be picked for this category and I am over the moon to have been picked.”

Early years operations manager Sam Richardson: “I am delighted that NMT recognised the hard work and commitment Ashley has to the nursery and her team at Happy Days Droitwich. It is a pleasure working with Ashley and seeing the passion she has for supporting everyone who uses the nursery. I am thrilled she has received this award and that I got to celebrate on the evening with her.”

Deputy Nursery Manager of the Year sponsored by CC Nurseries

Winner: Charlotte Spenser, Nursery on the Green

“Finding out I was a finalist for the NMT deputy manager of the year award was such an amazing feeling. To then go on and win the award, up against so many other incredible finalists, was a truly surreal moment—and to be honest, it still feels that way! “I don’t do my job for recognition; I do it because it’s what I love and because I’m passionate about making a difference. Receiving this title was beyond heart-warming. It’s a powerful reminder that my hard work, dedication, and efforts are truly seen and valued by others. “This award not only makes me incredibly proud of myself, but it also reflects the incredible support of my manager and team, who share in this achievement with me. Their pride and belief in me make this recognition even more special. It’s a moment I’ll always cherish and a motivation to continue striving for excellence.”

Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Kids Planet

Winner: Daisy Searle, Little Adventures

“Winning this award is a momentous feeling. I was extremely grateful to be nominated and did not expect to win. Nationally. I have worked with children from a young age and have such a passion for supporting them to learn and thrive. “I am thankful for my team at Victoria Park Bridgwater. They have supported me in many ways, such as progressing in my career as I am now room manager. Thank you to the company also, the confidence you have in me and my work is admirable. I look forward to continuing to flourish within my role.”

Nursery Room Leader of the Year, sponsored by McQueens Dairies

Winner: Bo Forster, RAFAKidz

“Winning the room leader of the year award is a real honour and means so much to me. After spending more than 15 years working in the early years sector, I can honestly say I’ve loved every moment. For the past seven years, I’ve been lucky enough to work at RAFAKidz Cranwell, a place that feels like home. Being recognised in a job I care so deeply about makes this award even more meaningful. “This recognition reflects the hard work I put in every day, but it’s also about the incredible support from my team and thetrust of the families I work with. It reminds me why I love what I do—helping create a space where children can feel safe, grow, and enjoy learning.

“Winning this award motivates me to keep doing my best for the children and families I work with. It’s not about grand gestures but the small, everyday efforts that make a difference. I feel proud and grateful to be able to do what I love and be part of a role that shapes young lives in such a positive way.”

Nursery Team of the Year, sponsored by Hope

Winner: Montessori Minds

“Winning this award means everything to us all here at Montessori Minds and it is such an honour. Since opening six years ago, our team members have been the foundation to our continued success.

“Our team is made up of individuals who care, love, and work passionately to ensure our children and families have the fondest memories of their early year’s experiences. It really takes a special individual to work within an early years setting; to be creative, imaginative, compassionate and empathetic, on top of having knowledge and understanding of child development. We are so grateful to have a team full of amazing individuals who have been acknowledged for their outstanding practise and dedication. We had a fantastic night celebrating at the NMT Awards and look forward to future events!”

Nursery Operations/ Area Manager of the Year, sponsored by The Old Station Nursery

Winner: Sherralyn Egan, Bright Horizons

“Winning the area manager of the year award is an incredible honour and such meaningful recognition of the hard work and dedication of my entire team. This award is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the collective effort and passion that everyone in our region brings to their roles every day. For me, this accolade underscores the importance of fostering a supportive and empowering environment where both adults and children can thrive. It highlights the value of our commitment to providing the highest standards of care and education, and it motivates us all to continue striving for excellence in everything we do.

“I am so proud of the progress we have made together and the positive impact our Nurture Approach is having on the lives of the children and families we serve. We will continue pushing boundaries, innovating and leading with compassion and vision. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated team and to be part of the Bright Horizons family, where we are all committed to making a difference in the early years sector.”