The King's Birthday Honours 2026: Dedicated nursery manager at Children's Learning Centre in Emsworth recognised with BEM after 38 years of service
Nursery manager ‘overwhelmed and honoured’ after initially thinking it was a scam
A nursery practitioner that has dedicated 38 years of her life to supporting children and their families has been named on The King’s Birthday Honours list.
Jacqueline Burton is well-known in the Emsworth community having worked at the Children’s Learning Centre on New Brighton Road for nearly four decades. Receiving the letter saying that she had been appointed a Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) For services to Early Years Education still came as a shock, so much so she initially thought it was a scam.
Having been on holiday, she also only opened the letter a day before the deadline to respond meaning there was a quick rush to the post box. With her name now confirmed on the list, she is delighted and “humbled”.
The 57-year-old from Waterlooville said: “I have a deep sense of needing to help people above and beyond. It isn't just me, it is my colleagues as well. I’m really humbled to get this reward but it is a reflection of years of working alongside incredible families, colleagues, to help support all of the children I have come across and give them the best start in life.
“I have a passion for it. We run an amazing nursery school that has been embedded in the Emsworth community for a very long time.”
While delighted with the award, Jacqueline wanted to accept it as recognition of the hard work put in by people within the sector up and down the country.
She said: “Everyone I have been associated with in early years, including my team, go above and beyond every day to support the children, their families and the community. I have loved every minute of it. I think early educators often get overlooked, yet we nurture, teach and support the most precious things there are, and that is our children.
“I am overwhelmed and honoured but I feel like I’m accepting it for everyone else, I don’t feel like I should be singled out but I accept on behalf of all those amazing, dedicated individuals out there that work with early years everyday across the country. I feel a bit humbled by it all to be honest. I do it because I love it, not for any credit for it.”