At the very heart of literacy are books, and the Kent Literacy Awards will be supplying its very own paperback to all schools across the county.

All winning submissions to the awards will be published in a book which will be circulated across Kent, Medway and Bexley to really spread best practice in and outside the classroom.

The awards are designed to congratulate schools providing creative and innovative teaching to pupils in order to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, and nominations remain open until noon on April 29.

Nominations are accepted from teachers, support staff, management, pupils and parents, and more than one can be submitted. The awards offer a wide selection of nomination categories including Most Inspiring Book Corner, Best Speaking or Debating Club, and Most Engaging Writing Competition or Theme.

Simon Dolby, chief executive at the KM Charity Team which organises the awards, said: “We are dedicated and motivated to see the very best teaching appearing in our county's schools. The Kent Literacy Awards enable us the chance to highlight key initiatives which are really making a difference to the next generation, and the publishing of this book means we can help educate the educators.”

He added: “If you’d like to show your support for a great school, why not submit one or more nominations today.”

All nominations will be judged by the Kent Literacy Awards panel made up of key partners including The Canterbury Tales, Social Enterprise Kent (SEK), Hallett & Co., Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes), Southern Educational Leadership Trust (SELT), School News Group, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Beanstalk, Medway Council and Kent County Council.

The winners will be invited to an awards celebration evening at Sittingbourne’s Hempstead House Hotel and Spa at the end of June.

All nominations must be received by noon on April 29. To submit one or more, visit www.kentliteracyawards.co.uk