Do you know of a teacher you’d like to thank for their inspirational work transforming young people’s literacy performance?

If the answer to that question is yes, now is the time to nominate them for the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

The awards recognise educational staff’s expertise, dedication and vital contribution to the community.

And there are separate categories for primary, secondary and further education, as well as newly qualified teachers, non-teaching staff and volunteers.

One organisation that is particularly keen to see nominations for staff promoting literacy is awards supporter Social Enterprise Kent (SEK), which provides training and support services for social enterprises, communities and individuals from offices based in Ashford, Margate and Folkestone.

SEK deputy chief executive officer Rebecca Smith explained the importance of teaching reading and writing skills to her organisation.

She said: “Social Enterprise Kent delivers literacy training to adults as part of our suite of training.

“With good literacy teaching at a primary and secondary level, we would do ourselves out of a job – and that is our ultimate aim.

“Social Enterprise Kent wants everyone to have the necessary literacy skills in order to achieve their life goals.”

The awards are organised by the KM Charity Team, and are also supported by Ashford International Hotel, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, the University of Greenwich, Kreston Reeves, Project Salus, Diggerland, Kent Further Education, Towergate Insurance, the Medway Youth Trust, Canterbury Christ Church University, Loop CR, Edukit, Kape HR, Kent Sport, the Education People, Medway Council, Kent County Council and KCS.

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “Working to transform the outlook for individuals and communities, Social Enterprise Kent is an organisation that really understands just how important literacy skills are to people’s life outcomes.

“So it’s fantastic to have them on board for the awards.

“To the people of Kent, I would echo Rebecca’s words by saying if you know of any school or FE staff doing exceptional work promoting reading and writing skills, please nominate them for the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.”

The awards judges will select winners from each of Kent and Medway’s 13 local authority areas, as well as overall winners for the whole county.

And anyone can make nominations before the March 1 deadline.

To do so, find out more about the awards and download a best-practice brochure detailing last year’s winners, visit kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk.

Watch a video in which Rebecca Smith talks about the awards here: