Practical Pre-School Awards 2011

The Practical Pre-School Awards, which are run in tandem with the annual Early Years Conference, were held at the Park Crescent Conference Centre in London on Friday 23 September.

 

The conference, How children learn: exploring the importance and development of communication in the early years, provided delegates with an opportunity to hear from key names in the early years and to explore some of the main areas of interest surrounding communication and its importance.

 

More than 80 people attended the Practical Pre-School Awards Ceremony - which exist to identify the best products available for the early years and key stage 1 markets - some coming from as far as Scotland to collect their bronze, silver or gold award. Equipment entered was this year split into a record 15 categories, ranging from Teacher resources, Equipment and Tools, to Electronic Toys, Classic Toys and Games, Music and Multimedia and Childcare, among others.

 

The team at Evolution PR, who we were again working closely with and who oversee the awards process, kicked off the proceedings with a brief history of the awards.  Christine Skippo spoke about this year’s new categories: Creative Play and Best Licensed Property, and the stringent testing process that the products undergo to qualify for entry into the awards.

 

Editor of the magazine, bea Yeatman-Biggs then said a few words on the central role of play in child development, and how the equipment that innately curious children play with needs to meet their expectations and deliver play opportunities, not only of interest, but also of educational worth. 

 

Play and parenting specialist Dr Amanda Gummer of FUNdamentals finished off by talking about the ‘robot generation’ and the negative effect a lack of play opportunities has on a child’s educational and social outcomes.

 

Finally, each silver, gold, and overall winner was called up to receive their certificate and have their photograph taken, after which lunch was served, providing winners with a chance to mingle with other entrants and reflect on their successes.

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