WE can now reveal the winner of our Support Worker of the Year Award for 2024.

Cheshire West’s education community came together on Friday, July 12, to celebrate as ITV’s Lucy Meacock hosted a special ceremony at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel.

Our support workers ensure that every child is able to get the best out of their education, acting with care and dedication to aid those with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health needs or complex health needs.

All of our finalists deserve immense credit for the effort they put in every day to make our schools welcoming and enjoyable places for those with additional needs.

Our finalists for the Early Years Award are:

  • Sarah Milett-Reid, Parklands Community Primary School
  • Jacqui Halewood, Queen’s Park High School
  • Alice Johnstone, Guilden Sutton Day Nursery

Lucy Meacock on stage with Alice Johnstone.Lucy Meacock on stage with Alice Johnstone. (Image: Simon Warburton)

And our winner of this year’s Early Years Award is:

  • Alice Johnstone, Guilden Sutton Day Nursery

Speaking to Lucy Meacock, Alice said: “I feel really privileged to have won the award.

“Obviously doing the best for the children that are in our care, that’s in all our hearts and it’s an honour [to have won].

“It’s so important that every child get the very best opportunities and we put them at the centre of everything that we do.

“Each and every member of staff that works at our nursery really does have the families and their children at their heart and that is our ethos.”