THREE double award winners proved that west was best at a glittering ceremony honouring the county’s education and learning heroes. 

Family-run Woodend Country Childcare at Lamplugh and Mayfield School, Whitehaven, each picked up two trophies at the 2015 Golden Apple Awards. 

Highlighting the strong support for children with complex needs, Woodend Country Childcare won the new inclusion category and received the early years award. 

Meanwhile Mayfield School, a popular special school for three to 19- year-olds across Allerdale and Copeland, saw teacher Caroline Jourdain receive the technology in learning award and Alison Harper named teaching assistant of the year. 

Claire Sharpe runs Woodend Country Childcare, which now has 62 children on roll and employs 13 people. She started the operation nearly 13 years ago, drawing upon her experience as a parent of a disabled child. 

Her son Jonathan, now aged 19, has cerebral palsy and a range of complex needs. 

He was not expected to survive when he was a baby. Claire gave up her fashion shop to care for him. 

Now her outstanding childcare business runs alongside and on the family’s farm, where children get to feed the animals and explore the Cumbrian countryside. 

Claire was at Friday’s ceremony with her proud husband Kenneth, daughter Hannah (Jonathan’s twin) and nursery deputy manager Sophie Hall. 

An emotional Claire said: “We’re absolutely delighted. We didn’t expect to get the inclusion one so when we did we thought there was no way we’d win two, but we did. The early years one was the one I really wanted to win too.” 

Hannah added: “Mum and the rest of the team provide individual care which is tailored to the child and family’s need. I know they’ll all be so pleased for her and for all of us.” 

Gillian Temple, headteacher of Mayfield School, was also at Friday’s CN Group Education and Learning Awards. 

She said: “I have to congratulate all the staff but it is great for these ladies to come here and be recognised for what they do. They often are the unsung heroes so it is great to be honoured like this. 

“We’ll be holding an assembly to share them with the children.”

Lakes College also enjoyed a share in two awards. 

Its Graduates training restaurant, where students prepare, cook and serve meals to paying customers, won the new Award for Enterprise category while Jamie Lee Robinson, who works at Tata Steel in Workington and trained at the Lillyhall campus, was named apprentice of the year. 

Elsewhere, the Maryport Extended Schools Partnership was recognised for the way it is offering new opportunities to children while Helen Scott was named outstanding new teacher. 

Helen, 23, a former pupil of St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven, trained at the University of Cumbria before returning to her former school in 2014 where she teaches PE and performing arts. 

Beckstone Primary School in Harrington was one of the joint winners of the new sporting achievement award. 

Five of the school’s sports teams competed in different county finals during 2014-15. 

Teaching assistant Elaine Chambers, who is also a governor, said: “We’re overjoyed. We were all so proud just to be invited to such a prestigious event. 

“I’ve already been in touch with the head via text to tell him the news and he’s been straight back in touch saying congratulations. 

“We’re fortunate that we get the opportunities to provide our children with so many active after school clubs and having a strong focus all through the school on fitness and living healthy lifestyles. 

"That comes down from the top, from the governors and the head, and it is great that they recognise how important school sport is.” 

Winners and finalists were chosen by a judging panel who considered all nominations. 

Judges included Professor Liz Beaty from the University of Cumbria and Mark Bowman, chief executive of Inspira, retired headteacher Sue Hatt, and former college principal Anne Attwood. 

The university and Inspira sponsored the awards. 

The ceremony, hosted by Cumbrian broadcaster Caz Graham, was attended by more than 200 finalists and guests. 

Other supporters included Lakes College, law firm Burnetts, Britain’s Energy Coast, Furness College, social housing organisation Riverside and Esh Border Construction. 

The News & Star is published by Cumbrian Newspapers, part of CN Group.

Read more about the awards online at cneducationawards.co.uk and in The Cumberland News this week