Recognising and rewarding the most loved children's activities and businesses in the UK since 2006!


Welcome!

Congratulations to all finalists in the What's On 4 Kids National Children's Activities Awards!

Now in their 17th year, these are the most prestigious and longest running awards for the sector with a wealth of both voted for and judged categories across all areas and age ranges.  Awards night is THE industry party of the year - welcoming VIP guests from throughout the UK for a fabulous evening of recognition, celebration, networking and live entertainment!

The date for this year's extravaganza is 30th November 2023 at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry.     

We are delighted to be welcoming back our Headline Sponsor Morton Michel - the UK's leading childcare insurance specialist - as Headliner for the 5th year in a row!  This year we are very pleased that our ceremony sponsor is the British Franchise Association.

To find out more about our amazing judges please click HERE!

This year we have received over 45,000 votes and nominations with an increase in votes as parents and carers from throughout the UK showed their love and appreciation for their favourite class, club, leader, volunteer or venue.   

Over 500 businesses went through to the voting or judged stages - the highest ever! - and nearly 245 finalists are invited to attend our prestigious live Awards Celebration Event, alongside other VIPs and special guests at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry on 30th November - a night not to be missed!

Who is through to the finalist stage and joining us?  Just see below!


For the first time ever - due to the huge capacity of the magnificent Coombe Abbey Hotel - we are able to open up tickets to everyone and we’d love for you to join us!

There are a limited number of tickets available so please book as soon as you can - deadline to book ticket sales is 12pm on 31st October or earlier if they sell out!


"These are the crème de la crème of awards, have a great reputation and bring value to my business".***

 Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available for you to join us!

***Awards VIP guest

We can't wait for the Industry Event of the Year
at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry on 30th November.

👑 VIP guests will be walking in the footsteps of royalty with exclusive access to this year's venue

Finalists, guests and sponsors can look forward to a champagne reception, a sumptuous 3 course dinner with wine, and after the awards everyone can truly celebrate in style with live entertainment and a bar until midnight.

With its beautiful landscaped gardens by Capability Brown, unique bedchambers and exquisite banqueting, guests can look forward to donning their finery for a sparkling evening of awards, entertainment and early Christmas delight in this historic setting. Having housed royals, been part of the Gunpowder Plot and even surrendered to King Henry VIII, there's no finer setting to crown our winners for 2023.

Click HERE to find out more about this amazing venue and details of how to book your room!





2023 Sponsors, Partners and Supporters Showcase

Thank you to all these organisations that make the What's On 4 Kids National Children's Activities Awards possible.


Message from Morton Michel to everyone involved in the
What's On 4 Kids National Children's Activities Awards 2023

"The What’s on 4 Kids Activities Awards are our opportunity to share in the celebrations and individual and collective achievements of a wonderful business community. Inspiration, collaboration and pure passion for the safety, development and wellbeing of children are never off the agenda and we always leave the event with a great sense of pride for all those recognised."




The Award Categories and finalists for 2023 are...

Special Awards

Most Loved Indoor Play Centre or Venue

~

Sponsored by Association of Indoor Play

    Baby Sensory, Huddersfield
 CADWA WOW CENTRE, South Liverpool
Clart About Sensory Café, County Durham
Gymboree Play & Music, Bristol
Kiltoonies, Glasgow
Little Learners Playspace, Ashington
Littley Bay, Whitley Bay
Role 2 Play UK, London
The Kidslingo Hub (The Stay & Play Hub), Plymouth
The Play Yard, Treorchy
Open to any venue, activity or play centre which offers exceptional facilities and activities for children

Most Loved Charity or
Not-for-Profit Community Group

~

Sponsored by diddi dance

 Clart About Ltd
Devon Antenatal Family Centre
Mamma Social Co
People & Animals Wellbeing Sanctuary (P.A.W.S)
Sensory Play
Sophie's Legacy
Stage Door Arts CIC
The Boury Academy CIC
Open to any not-for-profit children's activity running in the UK.  Must be a registered Charity or Community Interest Group


Most Loved Party Supplier, Provider or Entertainment

 ~

Sponsored by Making Digital Real

ARTventurers
Be Our Guest Princesses
Caterpillar Music, North West London
Drama Tots
Gymboree Play & Music
Little City UK
Little Learners
Moo Music, Bridgend
Role 2 Play UK
Toddler Sense, Huddersfield
Open to any party supplier, provider or entertainment company


Most Loved Volunteer

~

Sponsored by Caudwell Children

Ann-Marie McMillan - Derbyshire Toy Libraries
Frank and Erica Mudd - Pop Up Play Village, Basingstoke
Heidi Moran - Stage Door Arts CIC
Kayleigh Laverick - Mamma Social Co
 Lora Steggles - People & Animals Wellbeing Sanctuary (P.A.W.S)
Lynn Hammel-Randall - Clart About Ltd
Open to any individual activity leader providing children's activities anywhere in the UK on a volunteer basis

Game Changing Supplier

~

Sponsored by Amanda's Action Club

Children's Activity Business Academy
Making Digital Real Ltd
Morton Michel
Sharesy
Sunshine Strategies
The Dance Den
ThinkSmart Software Ltd
Open to any company who supplies products or services to children's activities companies and/or professionals

Awards Across Different Regions

Most Loved Activity Leader or Business Manager in:

Scotland and
Northern Ireland
~

Sponsored by British Franchise Association

Amanda Findlay - Baby Sensory, Lanarkshire
Angela Peden - Abricabeats, Aberdeenshire
Carrie Love - babyballet, Scotland
Claire Ferguson - Water Babies, Fife
Diane Macdonald - Hartbeeps, West Lothian
Gillian Smart - Bloom Baby Classes, Northern Ireland
Jen Hodges - Kidslingo, Alloa
Lisa Melrose - Baby Sensory, Angus
Rachael Hall - Tumble Tots, Glasgow
Rachel Peebles - Estrellas Brillantes, Glasgow
Sacha Bradford - Baby Sensory, Northern Ireland
Tracy Anderson - Baby Sensory, North West & Coleraine NI

North England

~

Sponsored by British Franchise Association

Alick Willis - Rugbytots, Cheshire
Amanda Saunders - Bloom Toddler Classes, Liverpool
Becky Campbell - Baby Sensory, East Cheshire
Becky Mack - ARTventurers, Tyne Valley & Consett
Emma Bensley - Mix It Up Music, Stockton-on-Tees & Teesside
Karen Guthrie - Dinkies Swim School, South Tyneside & Sunderland
Katie Mitchell - Kidslingo, Stockport
Katie Parkin - Kalma Life, Sunderland
Samantha Davidson - Little Movers, Washington, Sunderland North & South Tyneside
Sarah Bamford - Baby Sensory, Stockport East
Sarah Horton - Little Movers, Warrington
Stephanie Spike - Hartbeeps, Saddleworth & Tameside

Wales, West and South West England
~

Sponsored by British Franchise Association

Amy Reddy - Kalma Life, Pembrokeshire
Cara Bassi - Little Movers, North Wales
Emily Hignett - Baby Sensory, Bridgend
Emma Eden - Baby Brews, Wales
Emma Inwood - babyballet, Bradley Stoke, Thornbury & Portishead Bristol
Kate Harman - Baby Sensory, North Cornwall
Natasha Baker - Kidslingo, Wales
Polly Rorison-Jones - Gymboree Play & Music, Bristol
Sarah Davies - Tots Play, Conwy Coast
Sophie Milner - Baby Sensory, Cardiff
Terri Manuel - Baby Sensory, Dudley
Vicky Woodings - Baby Sensory, Lichfield

East England
~

Sponsored by British Franchise Association

Abigail Franklin - babyballet, Suffolk
Anna Coggan - Caterpillar Music, Newark & Lincoln
Beth McNeil - Little City, Braintree Essex
Cara Chittenden - Baby Sensory, Nottingham
Emily Kerrison - Kidslingo, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds & Diss
Emma Hilditch - Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense, Mansfield
Jacqui Davis - Twistin Tots, Derbyshire
Laura Gadsby - Baby Sensory, Derby
Leah Stead - babyballet, Nottingham North, East & South
Lyndsey Ward - ARTventurers, Lincoln
Sarah Walker - Baby Sensory, Northampton
Vicky Hughes - Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense, Potters Bar

South East England
~

Sponsored by British Franchise Association

Aisha Barut - Little Learners, North West Kent
Angela Hannaford - Kidslingo, South East
Anna Richardson - Sing and Sign, Caterham, Coulsdon, Croydon & Purley
Carla Carroll - Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense, Harlow
Jen Hawkins - Little City, Milton Keynes
Jo Urquhart - Baby Sensory, Crawley
Lauren Sanchez-Salmonte - Baby Sensory, Camberley, Farnborough & Yateley
Nici Sedgwick - Tots Play, Bexley
Sara Marchesi - Baby Sensory, East London
Sarah Harding - Baby Sensory, Greater London
Suzie Franck - Baby Sensory, Sutton & Wimbledon
Vicky Jackson Hill - Baby Sensory, Coulsdon, Reigate & Redhill





Open to any individual activity leader, teacher or coach providing structured children's activities operating anywhere in the UK or business manager of a children's activities business or organisation operating anywhere in the UK.  A map of the regions can be found here.

Judged Awards

The Steve Franks 'Shining Star' Award for Excellence and Innovation
~

Sponsored by Children's Activities Association

Amber Leigh Mitchell - Abstract Dance & Performing Arts
Anna Coggan - Caterpillar Music Newark
Anna Neville - Kidslingo Ltd
Becky Hoare - Pop Up Play Village
Gem Allen Khan - PopGems® Academy & PopTots®
Jane James - Little Voices
Melanie Buck - Little Movers
Rachel Peebles - Estrellas Brillantes

Judges will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate examples of innovation and excellence but also those who have gone above and beyond for the greater good , those whose contribution reaches beyond their own business and impacts the broader sector/community too - either directly or with innovative 'best practice'. 

In memory of Steve Franks who contributed so significantly to the children's activities sector.  Steve sadly passed away in April 2020 from COVID-19 complications.  Steve's legacy lives on through many initiatives to improve the lives of children across the UK and our thoughts remain with his family, friends and colleagues.

Remarkable Achievement
~

Sponsored by Trustist

Amanda Frolich - Amanda's Action Club
Claire Munday - Tappy Toes and Rise Studios
Emma Bell - Kalma Life North Durham & Gateshead West
Jessie Lilley - babyballet Dartford, Bexley, Bromley
Lynn Hammel-Randall - Clart About Ltd
Rachel Peebles - Estrellas Brillantes




This is a judged award. Open to any individual working in the sector who has demonstrated remarkable achievement - this could be a significant business achievement, community or charity achievement or a personal battle - or a combination.  

Most Loved New Activity
~

Sponsored by Morton Michel

Baby Birds
Bloom Toddler Classes
Dance Cirque / Circtastics
Fayes Music Dots®
Imaginary Role Play Cafe
Little Bees with Alison
The Nature Play Patch
The Story Tent (LTD)
Train Time UK
Zozimus Drama

Open to any children's activity programme running in the UK that started after 1st January 2021.

Diversity & Inclusion Champion
~

Sponsored by Little Learners

Anne-Marie Martin - diddi dance
Claire O'Connor - babyballet Franchising Ltd
Rebecca Reynolds - The Signing Company
Ryan Moclair - Mini Athletics Cambridge & Saffron Walden
Sarah Earis - Brilliant Bricks




For any children's activities provider who demonstrates good practice within the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion

Awards for All Activities by Type

Most Loved
Sport or Physical
Activity
FRANCHISE or LICENSE TERRITORY
~

Sponsored by Sharesy

Gymboree Play & Music, Bristol
Gymboree Play & Music, Solihull
Kalma Life, North Durham & Gateshead West
Rugbytots, SE Cheshire & Staffordshire Moorlands
Toddler Sense, Glasgow South
Toddler Sense, Harlow
Toddler Sense, Isle of Man
Toddler Sense, South Liverpool
Tumble Tots, Glasgow
Water Babies, Central Scotland


Most Loved
Sport or Physical
Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with up to 14 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by Kalma Life

Baby Swimmers
Dinkies Swim School
Forest Adventurers
Little Ballers
Sports 4 Tots
The Warrior Academy


Most Loved
Sport or Physical Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 15+ Leaders
Overall
~

Sponsored by Little Movers

Barracudas Activity Day Camps
Bloom Toddler Classes
Gymboree Play & Music
Kalma Life UK
Toddler Sense
Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd


Including archery, athletics, baseball, basketball, canoeing, cheerleading, circus skills, climbing, cricket, cycling, fencing, fitness, football, goalball, golf, gymnastics, hockey, horseriding, ice skating, judo, karate, karting, kayaking, kickboxing, laser tag/quest, mayorettes, martial arts, motor sports, movement, netball, active play, rugby, sailing, scuba diving, skate parks, skating, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, swimming, sword fencing, table tennis, tampoline, water sports, yoga.

Open to any company or organisation with a significant part of their programme based on physical activity operating in any part of the UK.
Leaders refers to activity leaders, teachers or coaches delivering one or more of the activity programmes across the whole of the UK.

Most Loved
Music, Dance
or Performing Arts Activity
FRANCHISE or LICENSE TERRITORY
~


Sponsored by
Institute of Children's Activity Providers

babyballet, East Herts & West Essex
babyballet, Suffolk South
Caterpillar Music, North West London
diddi dance, Central & North Liverpool & South Knowsley
Little Movers, Chester-le-Street & Durham North
Little Movers, Selby, South York & Garforth
Little Movers, Warrington
Little Movers, Washington, Sunderland North & South Tyneside
Stagecoach Performing Arts, Fleet & Basingstoke
Tappy Toes, Fleet & Farnborough

Most Loved
Music, Dance
or Performing Arts Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with up to 4 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Ambitious Rewards

Abricabeats Ltd
Beat Feet Academy of Dance
Boogie Tots
Empower Arts Ltd
NN Cheer & Dance Academy
Rock Out Baby
The Stage Door Academy of Performing Arts
Twistin Tots


Most Loved
Music, Dance
or Performing Arts Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 5 to 14 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
ThinkSmart Software

Francesca Jandrell Dance Company
PopGems® Academy
Rascals
RISE Studios
Shona Halford MTDA
StreetNation Dance School

Most Loved
Music, Dance
or Performing Arts Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 15+ Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Sunshine Strategies

babyballet®
Caterpillar Music Ltd
Drama Tots
Jo Jingles Ltd
Little City UK
Little Movers
Tappy Toes

Including choir, dance, drama, film making, music, music and movement, music lessons, performing arts, role play, singing.

Open to any company or organisation with a significant part of their programme based on music and/or the performing arts operating in any part of the UK.

Leaders refers to activity leaders, teachers or coaches delivering one or more of the activity programmes across the whole of the UK.

Most Loved
Academic
or Creative Activity
FRANCHISE or
LICENSE Territory

~

Sponsored by
Drama Kids

ARTventurers, Sunderland West & Washington
Kalma Life, Teesside
Kidslingo, Northants S&W, Towcester & Olney
Little City, Cambridge
Little Learners, South Colchester
Little Learners, South Liverpool & Knowsley
Mini Professors, Huddersfield
Reading Fairy, Sutton

Most Loved Academic or Creative Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with up to 4 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Stagecoach Performing Arts

Les Petits Pois Fun French
Little Splodgers
Messy Play
Number Train
Story Rangers
Tiny Tasters

Most Loved Academic or Creative Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 5 to 19 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Book That In

Arty Explorers
Bloom Toddler Classes Ltd
Mess Around Ltd
Mini Professors
TechyTots Ltd
The Code Zone

Most Loved
Academic or Creativty Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 20+ Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Bloom Baby Classes

ARTventurers
Kidslingo Ltd
LCF Clubs
Little Learners
Phonics with Robot Reg
Popolo Ceramico
Reading Fairy

Including arts and crafts, messy play, pottery painting, languages, academic classes, science, computing, photography, reading, storytelling, gardening
Open to any company or organisation with a significant part of their programme based on academic or creative activities in any part of the UK.
Leaders refers to activity leaders, teachers or coaches delivering one or more of the activity programmes across the whole of the UK

Most Loved
Baby Activity
FRANCHISE or
LICENSE Territory

~

Sponsored by
UK Nanny

Baby Sensory, Aberdeen South
Baby Sensory, Chester-le-Street
Baby Sensory, Guildford & Godalming
Baby Sensory, Harlow
Baby Sensory, Lanarkshire
Baby Sensory, South Liverpool
Baby Sensory, Sutton & Wimbledon
Kalma Life, North Somerset
Moo Music, Widnes, Runcorn & Halewood
Swimkidz, Berkshire
Tots Play, Bexley
Water Babies, London

Most Loved
Baby Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with up 10 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
NatWest

Abricabeats Ltd
Baby Birds
Baby Brews
Baby Glowbugs
BABYLOVE Groups
Dinkies Swim School
Munchkin and Me
Pip & Harris
PopTots®
Spa Babies Ltd

Most Loved
Baby Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 11 to 34 Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Trimz & Tantrumz Children's Salon

Adventure Babies
ARTventurers
Basking Babies
Gymboree Play & Music
Kalma Life UK
LullaBaby

Most Loved
Baby Activity
FRANCHISOR or INDEPENDENT
with 35+ Leaders Overall
~

Sponsored by
Daisy First Aid

Baby Sensory
Bloom Baby Classes
Jo Jingles Ltd
The Little Sensory Co
Tots Play UK Ltd
Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd
Water Babies

Leaders refers to activity leaders, teachers or coaches delivering one or more of the activity programmes across the whole of the UK.
Open to any company or organisation with a separate programme specifically for children under 18 months old operating in any part of the UK.


Awards Info





Advertise on What's On 4 Kids

Sign-up here for a free account to advertise or login here.

Quick Sign-up

Or

Already have an account? .

Looking to ADVERTISE AN ACTIVITY? Click here to sign-up as an ADVERTISER.
X

MEMBER Login

Or

Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google

Not registered yet? .

Forgot you password? Click here.

Whoops, I was looking for ADVERTISER login.