A CHILDMINDER has been crowned best in the country at an awards ceremony.

Jane Fisher, of South Woodham Ferrers, was handed the Nursery World Award for Childminder of the Year last month.

Jane has worked as a childminder for more than 25 years, having taken care of more than 300 children.

She has also never missed a single day of work in that time.

The award, which was handed to Jane at The Brewery in London on September 23, had dozens of nominations from registered childminders across the country.

However, the judging panel did not shortlist any of the nominations and gave Jane the award, viewing her as the overarching winner.

The Nursery World Awards are open to everyone involved in early year’s education and childcare, shining a light on best practice and help to raise the profile of the sector.

Jane’s last two Ofsted inspections were both graded outstanding, with inspector Claire Stocking’s comments including “the most outstanding of the outstanding” and “most outstanding setting for children”.

Kelly Perry had her children cared for by Jane, and nominated her for the award in April this year.

She said: “Jane is passionate about children and giving each individual the opportunity to be the very best they can.

“She achieves this through her enthusiasm, drive, imagination, willingness to embrace change, artistic flair, dynamic personality and great communication skills.

“She loves every child as if they were her own. She has great working relationships with all her parents’ and their extended families and crucially she proactively builds great relationships with all the other professionals that have a vested interest in each child’s development. She is simply the best; a one in a million.”