The search has begun to find the county’s best teaching staff.

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

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

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

The panel of 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.

KM Charity Team chief executive Simon Dolby said: “Why not start 2019 with a resolution to demonstrate how much you appreciate the wonderful work that teachers, individuals and teams of staff do in Kent’s schools and colleges?

“It can’t be stated often enough how much we all owe to their efforts.

“And with schools and their staff and volunteers straining under the burden of straitened finances and ever-expanding workloads – there’s never been greater need for awards like these.”

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

Submit nominations, find out more and download a best-practice brochure detailing last year’s winners at kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk.

And watch a video of the awards launch event here: