So the Prospect woman was surprised to learn they had nominated her for a national award.

Mrs Burr, who runs her own business as part of the Northern Children's Network, has been announced as the Tasmanian Family Day Care Australia Educator of the Year.

She is now in the running for the national award, which will be announced at the Family Day Care International Conference in Brisbane on Friday, July 20.

Mrs Burr said she was touched that her ``care families'' had nominated her for the award.

``I am very overwhelmed and really humbled by the appreciation. It has probably brought it home that what I do means a lot to families,'' she said.

``It is challenging and rewarding work. You are working with so many different personalities and families who have different ideas of how their children should be raised - so you really need to work with them to achieve positive outcomes.

``Some of the children come to me as babies and they leave when they go to school, so it is just as emotional for me to see them off for their first day.''