THERE is just under a month left to nominate your favourite teacher for the first ever Daily Echo School Awards.

The competition aims to reward excellence in education from head teachers 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.

The deadline is Friday, February 5 - which gives you just four weeks to get your nominations in to us.

We will be searching for excellence, innovation, inspiration and endeavour in education.

Daily Echo editor Andy Martin said: "The idea of these school awards was to celebrate all those people that go above and beyond to make school special for our children and grandchildren.

"There's only a few weeks left now to nominate and to make sure our teachers and school staff get the praise they deserve."

The awards have also struck a chord with Poole's newest music emporium Freestyle, guitars and accessories in Holton Heath Trading Park which has signed up as a partner for the awards.

Bournemouth Echo:

Managing director Mark Patrick believes it is important to teach all youngsters how to play a musical instrument and hopes by supporting the School Awards teachers will get the recognition and praise they sometimes miss out on.

So if you have a teacher in mind then complete the nomination form in the paper or on our website.

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.

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