Devon Teaching Assistant celebrated for excellence in prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards

Award-winning teaching assistant (TA), Kelly Terlikowski, from The Greater Horseshoe School, Newton Abbot, has received a coveted Pearson Teaching Assistant of the Year Certificate of Excellence 2024, in recognition of her inspirational work supporting autistic pupils aged 8-18. The school, part of Acorn Education, caters for pupils with complex needs. The prestigious awards recognise TAs from across the UK who go the extra mile to make a difference to their pupils, helping them thrive and learn, and in Kelly’s case - making learning both in and out of the classroom, engaging and meaningful.

Kelly’s role as a TA includes working both as a Forest School Leader encouraging the younger pupils to explore their natural environment and engage in outside activities, and working on an important part of the school’s innovative careers programme, organising work placements and accompanying the older students to their work experience.

Commenting on the presentation, Kelly said, ‘Receiving the award was a complete surprise - I had no idea I had been nominated. I feel extremely proud, it’s a great achievement and its really special to be recognised for my work. This is my third year at Greater Horseshoe, and I love my job. Previously, I spent eight years as a TA and Forest School teacher in a mainstream primary school.

‘The best thing about working here is watching the pupils achieve. It can be a long path to success. Many pupils starting at our school have spent long periods out of education, and seeing them gradually re-engage with their learning is wonderful. Supporting them to reach where they want to be, and do things they thought they wouldn’t have a chance to do, is really rewarding.

‘Last year one of our older pupils really wanted to work with horses. We managed to secure work experience at a professional show-jumping stables, and after a very successful placement, she is now an employee there. Nothing beats that feeling of helping young people achieve their dreams.

‘If you enjoy working with children and young people, I would say being a TA is one of the most rewarding and satisfying roles you can choose.’

The Pearson Teaching Awards Trust is an independent charity established over 25 years ago, to celebrate the transformative impact of education, shining a spotlight on the pivotal roles teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators play in inspiring young people, every single day.

Michael Morpurgo, President of the Trust, and best-selling children’s author, said, ‘Becoming an inspirational teacher is a serious, admirable commitment. And memorable, outstanding teaching should be celebrated by educators, pupils, parents and throughout society. With these awards we’re taking the time to recognise the remarkable, often unappreciated efforts of fantastic teachers up and down the country.’

For more information about The Greater Horseshoe School please visit  https://www.thegreaterhorseshoeschool.co.uk/.