NOMINATIONS are streaming in for the first ever Daily Echo School Awards.

The competition, which was launched last weeks, aims to reward excellence in education from headteachers to lunchtime supervisors.

It is down to members of the public to nominate those who make their local schools special - and so far we have received dozens of recommendations.

Nominations are sought in nine different categories and include not only teachers and school leaders but all the support staff who go the extra mile to enhance the education of young people across Dorset and its borders.

Your nomination could range from your child's favourite teacher or lollipop lady to a hard-working governor or a brilliant PE teacher.

Alternatively it could be a colleague who constantly impresses you with their devotion to their job or someone who demonstrates a genuine interest in the pastoral care of the young people in their care.

From now until the February 5 deadline we will be searching for excellence, innovation, inspiration and endeavour in education.

Daily Echo Editor Andy Martin said: "It's great to see so many nominations coming in already and it clearly shows how much our local schools are appreciated for all their hard work.

"There's still plenty of time to nominate to make sure your favourite teacher gets the recognition they deserve."

You can complete the nomination form in the Daily Echo or go to bournemouthecho.co.uk/schoolawards to submit your nomination.

After the deadline expires, a specially-selected panel of judges will whittle the nominations down to three in each category.

The 27 people who are shortlisted, along with a guest of their choice, will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony at Bournemouth's Cumberland Hotel on the East Cliff on Thursday, March 17 next year.

Additional tickets can be purchased by family, friends and colleagues who want to support the nominees – more details to follow.

At the ceremony, short films of each nominee will be shown to attendees before the winners are announced.

Each of the categories will be sponsored by a local business and so far the Teachers Building Society has confirmed its support for the Newcomer of the Year category.

To discuss partnership and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Angela Boyer (Executive Sales Manager) on 01202 411221 or email angela.boyer@bournemouthecho.co.uk.

The categories are:

1. Nursery/Primary Teacher of the Year

2. Middle/Secondary Teacher of the Year

3. Newcomer of the Year (nominees in education for less than two years)

4. Supporting Staff Member of the Year (eg lunchtime supervisor, school crossing supervisor)

5. Art/Creative Team Member of the Year

6. Teaching Assistant of the Year

7. Lifetime Achievement Award

8. Leadership Award (Head Teacher or Senior Leadership team member)

9. PE Teacher of the year