There are just a handful of days left in which to submit nominations for the 2020 Kent Teacher of the Awards.

Once the nominations deadline passes on Sunday, March 1, the judging organisations will then begin the labour of love of selecting the winners.

And one of those organisations has made a heartfelt declaration of the need to celebrate educators’ invaluable work.

Sean Carter of Maidstone-based consultancy The Education People said: “We’re delighted to be part of the awards.

“There are some fantastic things that are going on every day in the classrooms of Kent, and these awards give us an opportunity to recognise all of the work from everybody – from the teachers to the head teachers and the volunteers who contribute to the life of schools.”

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the awards recognise school staff’s expertise, dedication and vital contribution to the community.

Apart from the Education People, the other judging organisations are Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Loop CR, the University of Greenwich, Kreston Reeves, Salus, Diggerland, Kent Further Education, Kape HR, Canterbury Christ Church University, KCS, Specialised Sports Products and key partner the Thinking Schools Academy Trust.

There are separate categories for primary, secondary, further education and newly qualified teachers, non-teaching staff and volunteers and in a range of specialties.

Anyone can submit nominations at www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/schools/teacheroftheyear, and winners for the county as a whole and its separate districts will be announced at a ceremony taking place at Ashford International Hotel in May.