Coram PACEY’s annual childcare and early years conference is back!

The Homebased Childcare Awards 2025

Setting the benchmark, defining excellence

This year, we are celebrating the very best in home-based childcare in England and Wales. From childminders, nannies and childminding assistants, to wraparound businesses, longevity and community heroes, we cover the whole umbrella of home-based childcare and education.

**The Home-Based Childcare Awards 2025 are now closed for entries. Winners will be announced on social media channels w/c Monday 15 December.**

Childminder of the Year

In May this year as part of Childminding Week, we scoured every region in England and Wales to find the best childminders those regions had to offer.

Thank you to our regional winners:

  • Nadine Hastings- Winner for East Midlands 
  • Danielle Gilkes- Winner for South East 
  • Jean Orsbourn– Winner for East of England 
  • Melanie Louise Han- Winner for North of England 
  • Samantha Beech- Winner for London 
  • Alison Hanson- Winner for West Midlands 
  • Georgina Young- Winner for Yorkshire & Humber 
  • Terri Steele- Winner for South Wales 
  • Sara Carter- Winner for North Wales 

We are pleased to announce our Childminder of the Year, chosen from this year’s exceptional group of Regional Childminder Award winners. Our winner is:

  • Sam Goldsworthy South West

 

 

Childminding Assistant of the Year

Childminding assistants are the rising stars of the sector and potentially the next generation of skilled and passionate childminders.

The Childminding Assistant of the Year award aimed to find that special someone that formed close bonds, went above and beyond to improve education and care for the children in their setting and dedicated the time to develop their own skills and knowledge.

This award was open to both members and non members.

We are pleased to announce the winner is:

  • Mark Orsbourn – Happy Kids Childminding

Wraparound business of the Year

Childcare providers have pivoted and adapted to meets the needs of children and the sector, this is evident no more so than in the increase of wraparound care businesses and their different models.

Coram PACEY aimed to find the most unique wraparound childcare businesses that supports children, families, schools and communities to ensure that children are properly cared for all year round.

This award was open to both members and non-members and all types of wraparound care providers including childminders, activity clubs and summer clubs.

We are pleased to announce the following:

Winner:

  • Cathy Armstrong

Runner-up:

  • Katie Keating

 

Nanny of the Year

Nannies are dedicated childcare professionals who work in family homes, can be employed by a parent or self-employed. Nannies often have sole charge of a family’s children, and can also work for two families at once as part of a nanny-share arrangement.

Being a nanny can be such a rewarding job. Nannies form close bonds with the children they care for, looking after their daily needs and early education in the family home. We looked for the very best that the nanny profession has to offer and help raise the profile of nannies within the sector.

This awards was open to both members and non-members.

We are pleased to announce the following:

Winner:

  • Sinead Gallagher

Runner-up:

  • Casey Higgins

 

Longevity award

There are so many dedicated and loyal childminders that have been caring for many generations of children. Your hard work over the years is a credit to your resilience and passion. We want to celebrate childminders who have stuck with it, through all the challenges they have faced during their careers and changes in the sector and to the profession over time.

This awards was open exclusively to Coram PACEY members.

We are pleased to announce the following:

Winner:

  • Dawn Williams

Runner-up:

  • Glenys Jones

Community hero

So many of our members do so much for the families they work with and their communities. From fundraising for important causes and putting on events to bring communities together to mentoring fellow childminders and working with local authorities to support where they can. Their commitment to their communities is inspiring and we wanted to acknowledge this and celebrate out loud.

This award was open exclusively to Coram PACEY members.

We are pleased to announce the following:

Winner:

  • Sarah Sharpe

Runner-up:

  • Jean Orsbourn

Judging panels

The Childminder of The Year award has been shortlisted from the winners of the Regional Childminder Awards that were announced in May during Childminding Week. The winner will be selected from the marked scores of their previous application and will be announced alongside all other winners in December.

Terms and conditions

  • Only Coram PACEY members can enter the Longevity and Community Hero awards. The Nanny and Childminder Assistant/Apprentice Awards are open to all.  
  • The Childminder award has been shortlisted from the Regional Childminder awards that took place during childminding Week 2025. 
  • Coram PACEY welcomes submissions in Welsh.   
  • Closing date for submissions is 11.59pm 16 November 2025. 
  • Submissions will be shortlisted by the Coram PACEY team. Winners will then be decided by a judging panel.  
  • Winners will be announced publicly on Coram PACEY social media channels at the beginning of December. Date TBC, although winners will be informed in advance.  
  • Each winner will receive a framed certificate and will be able to use a winner’s logo on their social media platforms and on communication and marketing materials. 
  • The Nanny, Longevity and Childminder Assistant/Apprentice awards allow for the applicant to submit a testimonial from a parent/employer in support of their application. If the winner has submitted a parent/employer testimonial, we will need the parent/employer to verify it came from them, so you will be contacted and asked for the parent contact details. 
  • Each person entering will receive 15% discount for tickets to Coram PACEY’s Childcare and early years conference on 28 February 2026 – discount code will be displayed after entry is submitted.  
  • The information provided in your submission may be used in Coram PACEY marketing material.  
  • Names and photographs of applicants shortlisted will be used in Coram PACEY marketing material.  
  • Winners will be required to submit a short video for use on social media platforms.  

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