Now in our second year, we are delighted that Organix are sponsoring our awards again! Our 2008 Awards sponsored by Organix started way back in August 2007 when we opened up on-line nominations and then in November 2007 you have been voting on-line alongside our panel of judges who voted in all the awards.

Broadcaster, author and mum of twins Alice Beer has supported our awards this year and told me, "There is such a huge choice now of classes and activities for young children - from music to gym to learning Mandarin! I am pleased that these awards are looking at the different groups and praising those who are providing a genuine service, stimulating our little ones and saving their parents!" Thank you to all of you who nominated and voted, you have made a real difference to people's lives by recognising the marvellous work that the many thousands of dedicated class leaders and activitiy organisers do to every day.

The national award winners as voted for online and by our panel of judges:

Best Swimming Class Winner - Waterbabies Commended - Merbabies Best Baby Signing Class Winner - Sing and Sign Commended - TinyTalk Best Messy Play Class Winner - Gymboree Messy Monsters Art Classes Best Music Class Winner - Music Bugs Commended - Jo Jingles Best Performing Arts Class Winner - Stagecoach - Early Stages Commended - Baby Ballet Best Football Class Winner - Socatots Commended - Little Kickers Best Physical Activity Class Winner - Tatty Bumpkin Commended - Tumble Tots Best Language Class Winner - La Jolie Ronde

Our local award winners as voted for by our panel of judges and we have commended those that achieved a very close 2nd.

Best Local Activity
Winner - Stepping Notes (Englefield Green, Surrey)
Commended - Sticky-Kids (Hampshire)and Little Artvarks (West Lothian)

Comments from parents: "I do believe that inspirational teachers should be championed: I honestly find it difficult to put into words how fortunate we are to have stumbled across Stepping Notes. Through [Nikhil’s classes] we have entered into a fantastic and creative musical adventure that has greatly enhanced all our lives."

Best Pottery Painting Mobile or Studio
Winner - Pottering About (Oxfordshire)

Comments from parents "As a new first time mum, I have found this activity [Pottering About] with Katy Gorman an absolute breath of fresh air. She comes to your home or toddler group, or you can go to her studio - very flexible for new mums or mums with more than one child of different ages, and brilliant for parties. The activity provides excellent individualised gifts and useful household articles, great entertainment for the child as well as parent and an outlay for creativity, imagination and individuality."

Best Soft Play Centre
Winner - Active Tots (nr Reading)
Commended - Crazy Crocs (Derbyshire)

Comments from parents : "Active tots is the most beautiful soft play centre I've ever been to as it's in a converted barn in the middle of the countryside! It's also just for 0-4s so there is no worries about big kids running around and knocking over the very little ones! It's scrupliously clean at all times and has a great cafe with well thought out food for parents and children. There is also an area with good quality, well maintained toys. I think Active Tots must be completely unique in the UK!"

Best Antenatal Class
Winner - Sally Lomas Birthlight (Cambridge)
Commended - Lynn Baxter Birth Class (Norwich)

Comments from parents: "Sally is a truly inspirational antenatal yoga teacher who has made an enormous difference to my pregnancy. Her approach is incredibly holistic, preparing the mother not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. Her classes include yoga moves, breathing techniques to help with labour, good birth positions, time for meeting other mothers and much much more. She teaches with humour and from the heart. It is obvious that she uses her own experience and that of teaching pregnant women over the years to enrich each class. Many of us speak of coming out of class feeling so much more energised, however difficult our day or week has been. I would describe my class as a sacrosanct two hours in the week when I can escape work/ home/ family for two hours and really connect with my bump. The very high return rate to Sally's classes is a further testament to her skills. I hope that she can be recognised for her amazing work as she not only teaches her class but trains others as well."

Best Day Out
Winner - Paultons Park (Hampshire)

Comments from grandparents "We took our grand children to Paultons this Summer and they had a fantastic time! It's a theme park but geared up for younger children - even our little grandson who is just 2 went on a lot of the rides! The little ride-on animals are all free aswell so very young children can also enjoy themselves."

Most Outstanding Baby and Toddler Group - £100 donation and Organix Hamper
Winner - Bubble Club (Reading)

Comments from parents: "Our Bubbles Club is a very special Club for Babies and Toddlers with a learning disability, who come along with their parent/carer. The Club provides a much needed support group, very often being the first contact the family has with others who understand their difficulties in coming to terms with having a special needs baby."

Our special award winners as voted for by our panel of judges and we have commended those that achieved a very close 2nd.

Best New Activity Winner - Baby Loves Disco Commended - Baby Sensory Comments from parents "[About Baby Loves Disco] The best afternoon we've had in ages! We will definitely be going along every month." Best Innovation Winner - Talking Tots Commended - Baby Sensory Comments from parents "Talking Tots is unique and not like anything I have attended before. The sessions are totally interactive with a realy good mix of learning and active games." Best Baby Development Class Winner - Baby Sensory Commended - Waterbabies Comments from parents "We attended Baby Sensory until our first year was up and was devastated to say goodbye! Amazingly organised, run by exceptionally thoughtful and kind individuals, classes that changed weekly with a phenomenal range of baby activities and sensory experiences. It was the best baby class that we attended hands down and everyone at BS deserves to be recognised by a special award. Exceptional, fantastic and fun!" Best Toddler Development Class Winner - Monkey Music Commended - Talking Tots Comments from parents "I have taken both my boys to Monkey Music (now aged 4 and 7) and it had done wonders for their confidence as well as bringing on their musical ability. They have both been diagnosed with learning difficulties but I am sure that the sessions have helped with their learning, social communication skills and co-ordination. Of course they are great fun too and a great way for mum to meet people!! I have also been blessed that the teacher is absolutely brilliant and a joy to meet every week." Most Outstanding Volunteer - wins an Organix Hamper Winner - Sharon Smith (Hook, Hampshire) Co-founder and secretary for Stepping Stones Down syndrome support group.

Comments from parents "I am nominating Sharon Smith co-founder of Stepping Stones Support group for children with Down Syndrome. She has a 2 year old daughter with Down Syndrome so understands how important it is to have a local support network.

Sharon helped to form the group approx a year ago. She took charge of the promotion and advertising, securing numerous newspaper articles, local funding and support. At a recent open day she managed to convince many local companies to donate raffle prizes, arranged a face painter and organised a venue. She is currently organising a summer outing, a Christmas party and speech therapy sessions. She acts as an intial contact for new families, offering to meet them for coffee and a chat before they attend the group.

She does all this alongside work for the local school PTA, volunteering for the NCT and looking after her two children. The group could not run without her commitment and support."

Organix "Make a Difference" Food Award - wins an Organix Hamper
Winner - Little Apples (Nr Basingstoke)
Commended - Edward Bear Club

One of our judges said "Little Apples - it's all in the name! It's good to let the children have a choice of healthy foods, and to take home the good advice which can be used by the whole family - hopefully keeping them all healthy well into adulthood."

Thank you once again to our fabulous sponsors Organix for their support and help with this years awards. They have also generously donated 3 hampers as prizes full of their yummy organic snacks and foods for babies and children.

A massive thank you to our 8 judges, 6 Mums, a Dad and a representative from Organix, who all volunteered to get involved with our awards. In December they each received 3 massive documents containing all your nomination comments plus all the nominees' submissions about their activities. Our judges then had to read all these documents before casting their votes. It took them several hours to do their judging and you didn't make it easy for them as it was very hard to choose between nominees as the standard was so high. Thank you judges, you know who you are, without you our awards wouldn't have been possible! Thank you also to Alice Beer for taking time out of her busy schedule to support this years awards.

Believe it or not planning is already underway for our 2009 awards! And we'll be letting you know more about this later in 2008.

It will be our 3rd annual awards and we are planning an awards presentation for 2009 winners!