Best-selling children’s author Nick Butterworth will be the guest of honour at the Kent Literacy Awards.

The author of the much-loved Percy the Park Keeper books will be a special speaker at the event, and award winners will be able to chat with him during a meet-and-greet session, get any copies of his books they may own signed by him, and buy his latest Percy book, One Springy Day.

Mr Butterworth will also present a free copy of his new book to an award winner of his choice.

He said: “I’m delighted to support the awards as they celebrate and showcase the excellent initiatives being used in the region’s schools.

“Well done to all those who go well beyond the call of duty to excite children with reading and improve vital literacy skills.”

The awards are organised by the KM Charity Team, for whom Mr Butterworth acts as a literacy ambassador.

They are for primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley, and recognise initiatives that develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Nominations are accepted from teachers, support staff and management, and the deadline for submitting them is May 1.

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “Nick first got involved with the Kent Literacy Awards in 2017, and it’s such a vindication of their value to have him on board again this year.

“The awards aim to celebrate and publicise really important work helping to transform the educational performance and life prospects of children across Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley.

“We believe it’s really important that other educators have the chance to learn about successful and innovative projects, so they can apply those approaches themselves and their pupils can benefit from them too.

“So I would urge schools to nominate any of their literacy projects that they think may be worthy of an award now.”

The awards judges are Coram Beanstalk, the Crown Foundation, Golding Vision, McCabe Ford Williams, Tribeca Technology Group, University of Kent, Reed Education, The Education People, KM Facilities Management and Hempstead House, where the winners will be announced at a ceremony in July.

Submit nominations and find out more at KentLiteracyAwards.co.uk.