Childcare awards handed out

Childcare providers from Cannock and Rugeley were praised at a glittering awards ceremony recognising the quality of provision by Staffordshire County Council.

Staff from Cannock Chase Children's Centre were awarded a Star Award at the first ever Early Years and Childcare awards ceremony.

Independent childminders and staff from nurseries and pre-schools from across Staffordshire were honoured.

The awards recognised childcare providers who were judged to be outstanding by the inspection body Ofsted – nationally, only around two per cent of providers achieve an outstanding rating.

Peter Traves, corporate director of the council's children and lifelong learning directorate, congratulated recipients and handed out the awards and flowers at the ceremony, which was held in the authority's county buildings in Stafford.

The ceremony was also attended by a guest from the Department for Education and Skills, in the shape of Helen Moylett, senior director for the early years foundation stage. She told guests: "Effective childcare is all about looking at children and thinking about what they're doing well, then providing what they need to do it better. It's not always simple to do, but that's what makes it so exciting."

Anne Cummins, head of the county council's Early Years and Childcare service, said: "We need parents to know that when they place their children in a childcare setting, it is at the place they are most comfortable with."

It is anticipated the awards ceremony will now become an annual event.