The award is one of ten Teaching Awards which recognise and reward excellence within the profession. National winners receive a prize package worth £25,000 including cash and ICT equipment for their schools and regional winners receive a prize package worth £3,000 as well as taking part in a weekend of best practice.

Ralph Tabberer, Chief Executive of the TTA, said:

'The TTA is delighted to be sponsoring the Outstanding New Teacher Award. It's important to recognise the contribution new teachers make from day one in the classroom - engaging with children, stimulating them intellectually and using their creativity to make learning enjoyable for all.

'Winning a Teaching Award can really boost a sense of achievement within a school as well as leading to a range of professional opportunities to share good practice. Ofsted has recognised the quality of new teachers is the best ever. I hope there will be a flood of nominations. '

Anyone can nominate a teacher - parents, pupils, governors and colleagues - by logging on to the teaching awards website by 31 January 2004.
Notes for editors

The Teaching Awards are run by the Teaching Awards Trust to highlight excellence and to encourage best practice in teaching and in doing so to raise the profile and public perception of the teaching profession.

Regional award ceremonies take place in June 2004. National award winners will be announced in October 2004 during a ceremony televised for the BBC.

The Teacher Training Agency was created in 1994 to raise standards in schools by attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training and induction.