THE Kent Teacher of the Year Awards has launched an important new category in the highly-regarded contest.

Now newly qualified teachers who are in their first year of working in the profession can earn recognition.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards was started to mark the vital contribution that teachers make to our community and recognises the expertise and dedication that is the hallmark of an outstanding teacher. It is organised by the Kent Messenger Media Group and a number of important community partners

All good teachers have to start somewhere and finding their feet in the first year in the classroom is often a testing time. Putting theory into practice and dealing with the realities of the classroom alongside the demands of the National Curriculum can sometimes be an uphill struggle.

But some teachers will settle quickly and have everything within their grasp quite quickly, developing their unique teaching style early on, which pupils respond to with enthusiasm and often affection.

There may also have also have appraised every child in their class with great accuracy with their teaching accurately targeting each child’s need, supporting them to achieve their full potential regardless of whether they are high-flyers or have additional educational needs.

We want to hear from KentOnline readers if there is an outstanding newly qualified teacher at your school who deserves to be in line for our top award.

Any teacher or head teacher serving in Kent,Medway, Bexley or Bromley may be nominated. As well as the NQT category nominations are being accepted for primary, secondary and science teacher of the year.

A panel of judges will select winners in each of the 15 local authority areas in the county. They are Ashford, Bexley, Bromley, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.

The top teachers will be invited to a special awards event to be staged at the Priestfield banqueting rooms at Gillingham Football Club. Priestfield Conference and Banking is providing the venue for the awards night for free.

General manager Philip Davies said that the venue is one of only a few south of the M25 that can cater for dinner for 550 guests, plus offer 28 syndicate rooms.

He said: "Priestfield Conference and Banking is pleased to be able to support the awards. We entertain a wide variety of schools and hold teaching courses from all over Kent and it is great to have the opportunity to give something back to Kent education."

Dr John Moss, acting dean of education at Christ Church University, is also backing the awards through both sponsorship and judging of the contest.

He said: "As a university that is strongly committed to Initial Teacher Education and continuing professional development, Canterbury Christ Church is strongly supportive of the recognition that excellent teachers get through the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards."

Recruitment specialists Hays Education is another major sponsor of the event. The firm which recruits both teachers and support staff believes the awards are important.

Area manager Matthew Hall said: "Awards like these go some way to rewarding the outstanding contribution that both teachers and support staff make to schools."

Other event sponsors include Denne construction, KCC, Pfizer, Gillingham Football Club and Mark Pantony technical services.

This is the sixth year that the Kent Messenger Group has run the awards. Pupils, colleagues, friends and family can make nominations on line at www.kentonline.co.uk/teacher which should be submitted by Tuesday, April 29.

For information on the awards contact Jane True at the Kent Messenger Group’s community and charity team at 01227 475966.