A READING primary school teaching assistant has won a prestigious award for all her hard work.

Caroline Conway from Sonning Common Primary School has been awarded ‘Teaching Assistant of the Year’ as part of the Community Education Awards.

As well as being a dedicated teaching assistant for the foundation stage, she is a member of the PTA, helps to organise fundraising events, attends governors’ meetings and arranges all the trips and visits for pupils.

She was unknowingly nominated by staff and managed to beat almost 600 other nominees.

Charlotte Hogan and Annabel Worlock are the two foundation stage teachers that nominated Mrs Conway for the award.

They said: “Mrs Conway is a passionate, creative member of staff who can always be depended on, no matter what the situation.

“Spending her evenings preparing resources for the children is a common event in her day.

“When she is not making aliens from tights or collecting tea pots as planters, she spends weekends at jumble sales, rummaging through for hidden treasures to enthuse and inspire our children.

"Her evenings are regularly spent at PTA meetings and events, helping to raise vital funds for our school.

“Mrs Conway is the type of teaching assistant that every teacher wishes for.

“As she is modest, she brushes off compliments and thanks and does not truly understand how valued she is. Every school needs a 'Mrs Conway'.”

Mrs Conway was shocked but very happy to receive the award, explaining she felt “very lucky to be part of Sonning Common Primary”.