AS the school term comes to an end, staff and parents are being urged to turn their attention to the Daily Echo School Awards.

Nominations are now open for the second annual awards event, designed to celebrate all the good work going on in schools in our area.

You may have a favourite teacher who goes the extra mile to help your child.

Or it could be anyone else in the profession from the head teacher to a teaching assistant, lollipop lady to caretaker.

Last year's winners included primary teacher of the year David Payne from Dunbury Church of England Academy, middle/secondary teacher of the year David Mastracola from The Bourne Academy, newcomer of the year Gillian Bennett-Lurie from Glenmoor and Winton Academies and support staff member of the year Mike Fitzgerald, Muscliff Primary School.

So far this year's awards are being sponsored by Bournemouth and Poole College, Two Counties Cleaning Services Limited and Blue Sky Financial Planning but there are still opportunities for others to get involved as sponsors or partners.

The Daily Echo is now urging members of the public to nominate in 11 categories.

An awards evening will take place at top Bournemouth independent school Talbot Heath on Friday March 17.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 3 and afterwards a panel of judges will create a shortlist before choosing an overall winner.

Three people will be shortlisted in each category and they, along with a guest of their choice, will be invited to the awards event.

Extra tickets can be purchased by family, friends and colleagues who wish to support the nominees.

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

The Daily Echo is also offering local companies and organisations the chance to get involved by sponsoring one of the categories. There is also the chance to be one of two main partners. For more details, please contact Angela Boyer, Key Account Manager, on 01202 411221