The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards are now open for nominations from parents, pupils and school staff wanting to show their appreciation to the shining stars of the classroom.

Award categories include primary, secondary and newly qualified teachers, non-teaching staff such as dinner ladies and caretakers, and a volunteer award which includes members of parent-teacher associations and governors.

A key partner of the awards, national literacy charity Beanstalk, has joined the call for nominations to find praiseworthy volunteers making an impact in Kent schools. The charity has recruited, trained and supported volunteers work in primary schools for over 40 years and are familiar with the huge difference they can make to the lives of the children they serve.

Confident the role is rich with worthy nominees for honours at the awards in 2017, area manager, Malou Bengtsson-Wheeler said: “At Beanstalk we have been supporting children to read grow succeed for many years and we want to celebrate all those inspirational volunteers that go into school. We work very closely with schools and its key to us that teachers feel that we help bring something to their schools and can support them in the excellent work they are doing.”

Members of the public, pupils and colleagues are invited to nominate those who have gone over and above to ensure that lives in Kent are richer through education

Individuals can place one nomination or more at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk until the deadline of March 1.

The awards are organised by the KM Charity Team in partnership with the KM Group. Organisations joining the judging panel include University of Kent, Kent County Council, Christ Church University, CXK, Kent Sport, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Social Enterprise Kent, Project Salus, Kreston Reeves, LoopCR, Trust Careers at Medway Youth Trust, Hornby, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Kent Libraries, the Mercure Great Danes Maidstone.