A TEACHING Assistant described as a “reassuring rock” has been nominated for a Worcestershire Education Award.

Pat Jones, from Hollymount School, has received a nomination for Support Staff of the Year Award.

Mrs Jones, aged 60, said: “I am shocked – I do my job like everybody else to the best of my ability.”

Mrs Jones has worked at the school in Hollymount Road, Worcester, for 27 years and says she is passionate about her job, adding: “I try to be positive, you have to be, if you’re negative nothing gets done. The only way to enthuse others is to be passionate.”

In her role as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant she regularly organises performance management meetings as well as briefings for teaching assistants.

Mrs Jones began her teaching journey in the school’s nursery for five years, before moving to mainstream school.

She has taught up to Year 6 during her time at Hollymount School, however claims her favourite age group to teach is Year 2 - children aged six or seven.

She added: “They are on the cusp and I can see a direct progression. The best part of my job is seeing the children develop.”

Emma McGorman, who nominated her, said: “Pat is the reassuring rock of Hollymount School. She has been a wonderfully, positive role model for the thousands of children who she has assisted throughout the years.

“She shows a desire to improve the lives around her with her positivity and wants them to be the best people they can possibly be.

“Pat takes the children she works with on a fun and exciting educational journey every day and the children respond with enthusiasm. Education is never boring with Pat.”

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