The Nursery World Award for Outstanding Contribution to the sector, sponsored by Parenta, goes to Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association.
Gill joined the NCMA as chief executive in 1993 and, for the past 12 years, has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of childminders and other early years workers. In June 2000, Gill was awarded the OBE for her 'services to childminding'.
Her greatest achievement has been to ensure that home-based childcare is seen as a professional and quality childcare option that is now an integral part of the Government's Ten Year Childcare Strategy.
This 'professionalisation' of childminding will remain Gill's legacy to the NCMA and the childcare sector when she steps down from her role as chief executive later this year. Gill has overseen a massive expansion of the NCMA in recent years. Membership has risen to 50,000 and its income has rocketed to 14.6m. Today, the NCMA employs over 400 staff and has more than 1,000 volunteer groups.
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