Nominations are flooding in for the Kent Literacy Awards.

And with just three weeks left until the deadline for submitting entries, one of the judges has spoken of her desire to see the awards celebrate projects promoting parental participation.

Alison Whitmore-Ryan, executive business manager at awards judge Reed Education, said: “As we are heavily involved in the world of education, these awards represent something that is close to us and what we are striving to achieve by placing strong education professionals in schools to make a difference to children and their learning.”

Asked if there was any genre of project that her company was particularly keen to celebrate, Mrs Whitmore-Ryan replied: “It’s all so important, but I have always liked the projects that involve children, schools and parents alike.”

She said that she and her colleagues were all looking forward to judging the awards, as “there are always so many great and inspiring ideas”.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the literacy awards are for primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley, and recognise initiatives that develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

The awards categories include: most engaging writing topic; best initiative to encourage speaking and listening skills; and best promotion of reading for pleasure.

There will also be prizes for literacy initiatives using IT, drama, the arts and cross-curricular opportunities.

The deadline for nominations is May 1, and they can be submitted by teachers, support staff and management.

In addition to Reed Education, the awards’ judges are Tribeca, Coram Beanstalk, the Crown Foundation, Golding Vision, McCabe Ford Williams, University of Kent, The Education People, KM Facilities Management and Hempstead House, where the winners will be announced at a ceremony in July.

Submit nominations and find out more at KentLiteracyAwards.co.uk.