The first months in the classroom can be a testing time for trainee teachers, and maintaining morale can sometimes be difficult.

Given that context, it’s entirely appropriate trainees’ efforts should be recognised in the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

It’s also fitting that the trainee-teacher category should be sponsored by the University of Greenwich.

The university provides approximately 30 teacher education courses, including a number of specialist PGCEs.

Chris Philpott, a reader for the university’s Faculty of Education and Health, said: “At the University of Greenwich we are committed to training high-quality teachers, and have been for the past 100 years.

“We train teachers in early years, primary and post-compulsory, and we know that trainee teachers make an invaluable impact on the settings and education of learners with which they come into contact.

“We want to recognise an invaluable contribution that a trainee teacher has made to the wider life of the school.”

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “Given the challenges of attracting and retaining new teacher talent, it is vital that the work of outstanding trainee teachers is recognised.

“And we are delighted that the University of Greenwich is involved with the awards and this category in particular.

“The university is recognised as one of the premier providers of teacher training in the country, so the eventual winner of this award would be right to view it as a considerable achievement.”

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

There are also 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.

The other awards supporters are the University of Kent, Kent Further Education, Ashford International Hotel, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, the University of Greenwich, Kreston Reeves, Project Salus, Diggerland, Towergate Insurance, Social Enterprise Kent, 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.

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

Watch a video showing Mr Philpott talking about the awards here: