West Earlham Infant School, on the outskirts of Norwich, has been named the winner of the Early Years School of the Year award at the EDP Norfolk Education Awards 2024.

The school has gone above and beyond to support families during the cost of living crisis, with head teacher Jade Hunter even being mentioned in parliament for providing free breakfasts for children. 

It also hosts a dentist on a regular basis to check children’s teeth and hand out free toothbrushes and toothpaste. 

Jade is described as “a champion of special needs” and works to create a secure and comfortable environment for the school’s high number of special needs children.

The judges were “particularly taken” with the outreach that the school does with local families. They said that “their focus on supporting their wider community and their pupils’ wellbeing extends far beyond education”.

Upon winning, Jade Hunter said it was “really exciting to have early years recognised”, because “if we get the foundations correct, it sets the children off on a strong path in their learning.”

Finalist: Emneth Nursery School 

Emneth Nursery School, outside Wisbech, was nominated for all that it does to ensure pupils are happy and thriving. This ranges from holding sensory play sessions and helping children deliver Christmas cards in the village, to supporting families with things such as cost of living and healthy eating.

Finalist: Suffield Park Nursery

Suffield Park Nursery in Cromer is an ‘outstanding’ rated school that supports pupils and their families in a variety of ways, putting on different activities to provide variety and stimulation for all age groups, and regularly communicating with parents.

For more information on all the winners, please click here.

To find out more about the EDP Norfolk Education Awards, please visit norfolkeduawards.co.uk