Would you like to be a tester?
As part of the judging process for the Practical Pre-School and 5to7 Awards, more than 220 products were tested in a number of nursery, playgroup, classrooms and childminding settings throughout the country. The awards run in tandem with Child Care, a sister publication from MA Education.
Each year, the panel is asked to test an entered product for three weeks in their setting and then immediately return their test report on the supplied form. The report forms are clear, with marks awarded for pre-determined criteria and a section at the back for comments.
Most testers keep the samples as a thank you for contributing. But some products, usually expensive items, have to be returned. When this is the case, a collection service is organised so no expenses are incurred by the setting. There is no payment for being a tester.
All types of equipment are tested. If you would like to be considered for the testing panel in 2010, please send a letter to the organisers, or an email to the address below. You will be asked to complete and return a detailed form to qualify for a place. All applications must be in by December 31, 2009. The panel will be selected in January 2010.
Being a tester requires some work and an ability to keep to a deadline. It is fun but you need to be organised. And you need to be prepared to comment candidly.
To be considered for a tester, apply before December 31 2009 to:
awards@practicalpreschool.com or write to: Gold awards testing panel, Evolution PR, The Abbey Centre, Market Square, Daventry NN11 4XG
Our thanks to all those who tested the products for our 2009 awards, listed below. We hope it was fun! If you would like to be a tester for the 2010 awards, ensure that you contact us before December 31, 2009.
Childminder Alyson Anscombe
Childminder Anne Green
Childminder Sarah Bakewell
Childminder Sally Clare
Childminder Wendy Crook
Childminder Vikki Jenkins
Childminder Karen Kingston
Childminder Tracy Lee
Childminder John McLean
Childminder Brenda Salter
Belgrave CE Primary School Lisa Sarikaya
Bright Sparks Day Nursery Carolyn Below
Busy Bees Day Nursery Angela Walker
Busy Little Fingers (Childminder) David Madeley
Bundles of Fun (Childminder) Deborah Else
Clarecroft Day Nursery Anthea Bailey
Climbing Bears Preschool Clare Steere
Dunkys' Day Nursery (Runcorn) Jill Guy
Dunky's Day Nursery (Widnes) Becky Holman
Durdans Park Nursery Sylvia Hammant
Educare1 Day Nursery Sue Ridgway
Egerton & Walmsley Playgroup Veronica Holstead
Hafod Y Wern C.P. School Joanna Evans
Hickory House Day Nursery Andrea Barlone
Hillyfi elds Day Nursery Kerri Smith
Jade & Topaz Nursery Classes Fiona Wade
JellyBabies Playgroup Ruth Little
Jollytots Julia Trainer
Kids Planet Day Nurseries Amanda Brown
Hazel Morris
Little MarVal's Pre-School Val Bond
Morgan Vale & Woodfalls Pre-School Lynne Yardley
Norton Pre-School Anne Gladwish
Priestley Hse, Batley Grammar School Melanie Drummond
RAF Boulmer Pre-School Audrey Jamieson
Rotherly Day Nursery Lynda Doyle
Sheepsetting Pre-School Jacquie Fuller
South Kidlington Infant Pre-School (SKIPS) Rebecca Simmonds
St Denys Stay and Play Community Group Holly Adams
St Edmund's Playgroup Martine Turner
St James' Toddler Group & Childminder Liz McAnaw
St Marie's Toddler Group Juliet Green
St Marie's Nursery & RC Infant School Maureen Russell
St Thomas' Hospital Nursery Alison Swann
Tilda Henry's Victoria Williams-Lilley
Tina's Childminding Service Tina Clavering
Yarrells Prep School Rebecca Chappell
