THE search is on for the best childcare professionals of 2005 in Swindon for this year's Childcare Stars Awards.

Organised by childcare charity 4Children and sponsored by the Government's Sure Start Unit, the national awards are presented to outstanding nursery and pre-school staff, playworkers, registered childminders or any professionally qualified childcarers.

Cherie Booth QC, the vice-president of 4Children, said: "Juggling the demands of home-life with children and, for many, also combining this with work, is never easy.

"But our lives can be made so much less pressurised when we know that we are also able to draw on the support of a range of committed and talented childcarers."

The winners will be announced at gala dinner at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, in London, on June 29.

For a nomination form visit the website www.4Children.org.uk/Stars. The final deadline for nominations is March 31.