Shortlisted Entries: Fun Kids' Teacher of the Year with Collection Pot! - Fun Kids

To celebrate the hard work and dedication of teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and headteachers, we’ve teamed up with Collection Pot to find the nation’s best teacher.

You’ve been hard at work nominating your teacher and there’s been SO MANY deserving entries.

It’s time to announce the shortlisted entries…

1. Mr Collard nominated by Callie Ragaven.

“I started reception this year having just been diagnosed with leukaemia and Mr Collard has given me the most incredible start to school life that I could have ever imagined. He has always gone above and beyond to ensure I am well looked after, supported and cared for in Birch class. Nothing is ever too much for Mr Collard and he does his job with so much love and dedication. I have had the most fantastic start to school life thanks to Mr Collard and I don’t think it would have been quite the same without him. He deserves so much recognition for all his hard work. He always does his job with a big smile on his face and makes me feel really happy when I am at school. My family and I and are truly thankful for his support this year, he is so incredibly deserving of this award.”

2. Mr Smail nominated by Natasha Rawdon-Rego.

“I nominate Mr Smail as the best teacher in the world! For over four years, my daughter has thrived in his sports sessions and PE classes. We’ve witnessed a remarkable boost in her confidence and skills across various sports, including cross country, netball, fitness, and dodgeball. Mr. Smail masterfully combines competition, structure, fun, and teamwork, making his PE lessons incredibly popular among children. His passion and expertise are evident in every session, as he not only teaches each sport to a high standard but also instils a genuine love for them in the children he teaches. He consistently refines each child’s abilities, ensuring they reach their full potential. What I love is how Mr Smail makes every child feel valued and heard, finding ways for each one to feel like an integral part of the team. He goes above and beyond in his duties and dedicates countless hours beyond the school day to the school community. He takes the children on trips, organises opportunities for them to be rugby game mascots, plays in the teachers’ band for school fundraisers, and even spends his Sundays running parents’ tournaments to support the school. His love for the school community is evident in everything he does and we all love him for it!”

3. Mr Sam nominated by Xander Love.

“Mr Sam is funny and very kind and an outstanding individual. He got hit by a car over half term and sustained very severe injuries including a broken back. We’d love to cheer him up whilst he recovers at home. He really is the best and deserves something amazing after a really horrible accident. The kids all miss him and hope to see Mr Sam back in Sep!”

4. Mrs Slade nominated by Betty Howett.

“My daddy died in February 2024 and she has been so kind giving me cuddles making dragons with me and always keeping me safe when I’m sad. She also is very good at talking to mummy when I need extra help.”

5. Mr Charles nominated by Felix Black.

“This year has been Mr Charles’ first ever year as a teacher and his class (Dragonflies) all feel SO lucky we got to have him for year 1. He is the kindest person in the world and makes us feel happy every day. He chooses to sit with us every Friday for lunch and my friend Grace said he was the person she was most looking forward to seeing at the start of term! Every morning he welcomes us with a smiley face and funny joke. We all love going to school because of him and he told me he spends his free time thinking of fun things for us to do in class together. Over the Easter holidays he made everyone in the class a special book filled with their favourite things to look at and colour in, and he makes us laugh all the time. We wish he could always be our teacher and feel so lucky we’ve been his first class. He’s a super teacher and we want everyone in the world to know how great he is!