Top award for Playaway

The Playaway group, which meets in Islandmagee Community Centre on week day mornings, came ahead of Little Scamps, Newtownabbey Methodist, Mount St. Nicholas and Mount Oriel playgroups, which were all commended.

The award follows a nomination and inspection by Families First, then an online vote through the Families First website.

Awards were presented at a recent ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Belfast with success for a number of East Antrim care providers.

There were also plaudits for Minor Miracles (Best Nursery in Larne area), and Mrs. Kidd of Whitehead Primary School, who was second in the Best Teacher section.

Larne woman Karen Monaghan was named as Childminder of the Year.

The gala evening was hosted by UTV presenters Julian Simmons and Pamela Ballantine.

Playgroup leader Michelle Bolt commented: “We were nominated for going the extra mile with our overall provision.

“We are very pleased to have received this award and to feel appreciated by the community.”

Playaway Playgroup meets at Islandmagee Community Centre which Michelle described as “a great facility”.

She went on to say that the playgroup enjoys the support of local residents and the business community as well as younger families who have moved to Islandmagee area.

Families First NI offers a range of support and advice to parents across Ireland and specialises in marketing products and services to parents of babies and young children.

The company hosts the popular Families First Awards annually which “gives parents their say in recognising products, brands and people their family could not live without”.