Time is fast running out in which to submit nominations for the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

The deadline for doing so is now just two weeks away, on March 1.

And one organisation on a mission to see the hard work and dedication of Kent’s educational staff recognised is awards judge Towergate Insurance Brokers.

June Greens, business development executive in the firm’s Caring Professions Division, said: “Towergate has worked closely with the schools in Kent for many years, helping to protect budgets against the cost of staff absence, and we are delighted to sponsor the event.

“The awards highlight the importance of the role teachers and support staff play in supporting our children for life challenges the future may hold.

“Teachers are often overworked and under-resourced. It is a role that can be stressful, and they deserve to be recognised for their hard work and dedication.”

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the awards have separate categories for primary, secondary and further education.

Besides Towergate, the other judging organisations are Three R's Teacher Recruitment, the University of Greenwich, Kreston Reeves, Project Salus, Diggerland, Kent Further Education, the Medway Youth Trust, Canterbury Christ Church University, Loop CR, Kape HR, Kent Sport, the Education People, Medway Council, Kent County Council and KCS.

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

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “With time fast running out in which to submit nominations for the awards, I would urge people to do so now.

“The online process is very straightforward and only takes a few minutes.

“And June Greens and Towergate are absolutely right in highlighting the vital role teachers play, the challenges that they face, and the need to celebrate their work with awards like these.”

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