Practical Pre-School Awards 2009

Practical Pre-School is proud to announce the winners of the Practical Pre-School Awards 2009

The Practical Pre-School Awards exists to identify and reward excellence in the fields of educational equipment, childcare, books and toys suitable for children aged birth to eight for use in professional childcare and educational settings. These include private and state nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups, childminders and after-school clubs.

This year, for the first time, we are delighted to introduce the 5to7 Awards. It's aim is to identify and reward excellence in educational products that have been designed for children in key stage 1. We are extremely pleased with the interest shown in these awards, which have been split into two categories: 5to7 Books and 5to7 Other. These new awards mean that, for the first time, we are able to give guidance to professionals working in key stage 1.

Each product entered was tested in at least two separate settings by children and practitioners. Testers marked and provided a detailed evaluation as to the performance of a product against set criteria. This included: appeal to children (at the beginning and end of the trial); durability; adaptability; educational value; play value; value for money – and many others.

The Gold Award standard is not easily achieved. It is a much coveted and meaningful award. Products needed an average score of 90 per cent or more to attain gold. The standard is also high for silver (80 - 89 per cent) and a bronze requires 65 to 79 per cent.

This year, we were particularly impressed at both the amount of products entered and the number of companies involved. The testers have been tough – as professionals working with young children should be. They want to provide a first class care and learning environment. The result is a valuable guide for anyone buying equipment for an early years or key stage 1 setting.

Our thanks to our team of testers, the full list of whom can be seen on page 4 of the attached publication.

Category winners

The overall winners for each category are as follows:

Teaching resources and equipment

What If..? (Series)

Publisher: A and C Black Publishers Ltd
www.acblack.com
Price:£29.99
Age range: Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1
Description: Each project book contains: high quality photographs that tell the story; whiteboard activities; practitioner guidance and an accompanying CD-Rom with additional photos, posters and activity sheets. These resources provide an ideal opportunity to develop observation, problem solving and prediction skills.

Toys and Games

Musical Set

Publisher: John Crane Ltd
www.john-crane.co.uk
Price: £30
Age range: 3 years +
Description: This charming musical set includes a triangle, maracas, tambourines, castanets, musical bells and much more. Ideal for a nursery setting, the musical set has enough to delight a group of eight or more children.

Childcare

Coocoose®

Publisher: Coochi Ltd
www.coochico.com
Price: £19.99
Age range: 0-2 years
Description: Designed by mums, the Coocoose® is a pure cotton baby bath towel you wear as an apron. With its unique, registered design it fastens at the neck and behind your back keeping hands free for safer, easier and more snugly bath times.

Multi Media

People who help us' and 'People who help us 2' DVDs Plus

Manufacturer: Child's Eye Media Ltd
www.childseyemedia.com
Price: Each DVD Plus (DVD with digital CD handbook): £24.99 plus VAT
Age range: 3-8 years
Description: These two feature-length DVDs feature young children as mini-reporters exploring the worlds of fire-fighters, the police, postal workers, recyclers, nurses, doctors, vets and car rescuers. Accompanied by extensive curriculum-linked digital handbooks for EYFS and key stage 1, these delightful DVDs Plus will inspire children to think, talk, plan and play.

Music

Creepy Crawly World' Dance Tales

Supplier: Dance in a Bag
www.danceinabag.co.uk
Price: £35.00
Age range: 2-5 years
Description: Creepy Crawly World Dance Tales peek into the fantastic world of creepy crawlies. Listen to the story and respond to the interactive storyboard "I can fly" inspiring children to move and change from a caterpillar into a butterfly. Comes with CD, storyboard, lesson plan and activity cards.

Electronic

Singing Orchestra

Manufacturer: Chicco UK Ltd
www.chicco.com
Price: £29.99
Age range: 12 months +
Description: The child is a true protagonist: it discovers the musical instruments that introduce themselves by speaking and playing and can sing along to the fun songs. With the special orchestra mode, the child "directs", adding only the instruments it wants to the base melody when desired. Instrument after instrument, the music will become richer and richer.

Books and publications

Sparklers (Series) Out and About Overall

Publisher: Evans Publishing Group
www.evansbooks.co.uk
Price: £10.99
Age range: Foundation-key stage 1
Description: Four new titles in this award-winning series provide a colourful framework for talking about and exploring familiar outdoor places. With emphasis on role-play and active learning, these books get children up and moving with bright photographs and punchy 'join-in' text.

5to7 Books

RHS Wildlife Garden

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing
www.dk.com
Price: £9.99
Age range: 5-7 years
Description: RHS Wildlife Garden helps children take a walk on the wild side and turn their garden into an amazing haven for wildlife, with the experts at the RHS.

Learn to Sign and Cook With Olli

Publisher: Sausage Dog Publishing
www.signwitholli.com
Price: £12.99
Age range: 7-11 years
Description: By combining the twin themes of food and sign language, this book will help children of all ages to improve their communication skills whilst they learn about food and how to prepare it safely.

5to7 Other

Wammy

Supplier: Flair Plc
www.flairplc.co.uk
Price: £9.99
Age range: 5 years +
Description: Wammy is the patented, tactile new toy from Japan that allows girls to make whatever they want using vibrant multi-coloured common shaped pieces. Each soft pliable piece can be flexed and connected in a variety of ways to create anything from small, cute models of animals to huge themed scenes. The beauty of Wammy is that the fun never has to stop. Girls can design their own unique creations, then take them apart and start again!

For a full list of all the winners for the Practical Pre-School Awards 2009, please view the 2009 Awards brochure.

Would you like to be a tester? Find out more.

View and download the photos from the PPS Awards 2009