A teaching assistant from Portland has won a prestigious award.

Royal Manor Arts College member of staff Janet Tizard is in the running for a national accolade after being named Teaching Assistant of the Year in the South West by the 2012 Pearson Teaching Awards.

Janet was set to be surprised by her colleagues today with her award and the news that her short-listed entry was chosen from a record number of nominations.

She will now join other winning teaching assistants, headteachers, teachers and school teams from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the prestigious UK Ceremony which will be aired on BBC2 this autumn.

Each nomination to the Pearson Teaching Awards was received in the form of an online Thank You message to a teacher who has made a real difference and considered by a judging panel.

Janet was nominated to the award by no fewer than eight students.

She works with students in the classroom specialising in maths, she is one of the lead professionals in the Learning Support Centre (LSC) and also contributes as an emotional literate support assistant (ELSA).

Janet works closely with students and families, overcoming difficulties and challenges that are often barriers to learning and plays a key role in guiding and supporting young staff.

She deals with outside agencies and also provides a holistic approach to the needs of those who are in her care.

Teaching Awards judges visited Janet at the Portland school and said: “Speaking at length to the pupils nurtured and encouraged by Janet over the years, it was obvious that she has been a life saver for so many and that they think the absolute world of her.”