Media Release

Nursery school assistant named as finalist in prestigious School Awards

A nursery school assistant from Cuddles Day Nursery in Canford Heath, Dorset has reached the finals of the popular Daily Echo School Awards 2017

Sue Westbrook-Merry has been named as a finalist in the best Supporting Staff Member of the Year category and was chosen out of hundreds of nominations received this year.

She was nominated by a parent whose child Imogen attends the Canford Heath nursery for one and a half days every week. Rebecca Leddington from Canford Heath has nothing but praise for Sue and says that her three year old daughter Imogen, who has Grade 3 Cerebral Palsy, has really blossomed under Sue's care: "Sue has done such a wonderful job of supporting Imogen so she can play with her friends and not let her disability stop her doing what any little girl would want to do."

Rebecca continues, "Physically Imogen is different, she has a special chair, she cannot stand or walk and spends a lot of time playing on the floor. Mentally Imogen is a very intelligent girl and from the word go Sue helped developed her Imagination and they would be going off on a rocket or in an aeroplane visiting different countries. Imogen would tell me about it and what animals they saw.

"Sue involved Imogen with the other children and for the first time she has developed friendships. She is a very popular little girl because Sue has let Imogen's personality shine and others have seen a funny caring little girl rather than a girl who can't walk and wears glasses."

Owner of Cuddles Day Nursery, Linda Duly, commented, "We are delighted to see that Sue has reached the final of these School Awards, particularly because she was up against people who work in a wide range of educational establishments, not just nurseries.

"We are all keeping our fingers crossed for 17 March when we will be attending the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony. We are so grateful to Rebecca Leddington for nominating Sue and are delighted that she is seeing such positive outcomes for her daughter Imogen as a result of her time spent at Cuddles."

Cuddles Day Nursery has also just announced that it has received an Outstanding Ofsted report.

Photo Caption: Sue Westbrook-Merry from Cuddles Day Nursery, Canford Heath, Dorset

Further details about Cuddles Day Nursery from:www.cuddlesnursery.co.ukT/: 01202 672671 (Canford Heath) or T/: 01202 747198 (Parkstone), or 01202 280101 (Poole Stadium)

Further press information and hi res images from Jane Adkins, A Head for PR, T/: 01935 813114; M/: 07960698089 or E/:jane@aheadforpr.co.uk

Note to Editors

Cuddles Day Nursery Parkstone opens each weekday from 7.45am to 6pm for 51 weeks a year. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 22 members of staff with the manager and owner holding early years professional status, 17 members of staff holding a level 3 qualification and three holding a level 2 qualification.

Cuddles Day Nursery operates at two other settings in the Poole area: Canford Heath and Poole Stadium. The three Cuddles settings are some of the highest achieving nurseries in Dorset.

With nearly 20 years' experience, Cuddles is one of the most established child care providers in Dorset and each Cuddles' setting has an outdoor play area, to encourage children to play freely and safely.

Mar 2017 (CDN 02)