Helen has been a Teaching Assistant at our school for over 10 years now and continues to develop and grow with passion and commitment. She has worked with a variety of students including those with complex and high needs and does so with ease and vigour. Helen is one of the most supportive, approachable and proactive members of our team and no job or task is ever too much for her. She is always available to support the other TAs and is a valuable and well thought of member of our team. She is great at supporting her colleagues and offering advice to newer staff members including our Apprentices.
Helen mainly works in our CC (Core Curriculum) provision with students of varying ages on a ‘stage not age’ provision’ with a number of difficulties and SEND. Helen consistently sets high expectations for her students so that they can achieve their best at their pace. She goes above and beyond to get to know each student and find the right intervention for them to progress.
Helen is not only an asset to our Learning Support Team but our school. She joins in an element of school life that she can and always does so with a smile on her face! Helen is a regular on our Y7 Residential out on ‘Bushcraft’ and as a Girlguiding Leader, has tips and tricks ready to put our more vulnerable students at ease during what could potentially be a new situation and environment for them. Helen is fantastic at supporting trips in school and particularly with our CC class to make sure every student is catered for according to their individual needs.
As well as being a fantastic practitioner and support to teaching staff in the classroom, Helen goes above and beyond in the wider school setting where she is a First Aider and also a Blood Pressure Champion. Helen regularly works with another colleague to organise staff ‘check-in points’ where they can come for a blood pressure reading. Helen has undertaken additional training for this and again, no job is ever too much to support her staff team.
After winning the award Helen said “I am over the moon to win the Educate School Support Star of the Year 2020 Award which is an amazing achievement for me, and I am so overwhelmed and proud to have won. I was shocked when I received the news that I had been shortlisted for the award, but even more shocked when they announced I had won. I am so grateful to all the staff and students at Rainford High for giving me the many opportunities and for the recognition of this award. I will display my award with pride.”