Rhonda has recently become the team leader of more than a dozen teaching assistants at this inner-city primary and spends much of her time supporting a Year 2 class, which this month is right in the middle of SATs.

While class teacher Emma Evanson is working on the tests with small groups, Rhonda keeps everyone else on task. She is an old hand at coping with the tests and according to Emma, who nominated her, “helps children through this stressful time with ease. She is extremely patient and caring, incredibly organised with an in-depth knowledge of all our pupils and the challenges they face.”

The school has 420 pupils and, as a local resident, Rhonda knows many parents, and has her ear to the ground. Headteacher Alison Clark says she often seeks Rhonda’s wise counsel and was delighted when she agreed to become the team leader for the TAs, organising their training and induction. “She has all the skills and could easily train to be a teacher if she wanted to.”

Emma is thrilled to have such a great helper who’s got a “great personality and sense of humour - I don’t know what I’d do without her as a listening ear and source of friendly advice.” Thank you Rhonda.