Ms Gabbitas, 39, works at Kisimul special school in Swinderby, Lincolnshire “Even as a child I wanted to work in special education. When I was about 13 I did a week of work experience in a special school and I knew this would be my future. I even chose my A-levels on that basis: English, art and music - all useful skills for the job. I did a BEd in what was then called mental handicap. And I’ve never regretted it.

“My first job was at Kisimul school, where I am now. I gave it up when my family came along, but even then I felt the need to be with those children. I was doing respite care for a neighbour’s grown-up daughter, and that led to my husband and me training as respite carers. I looked after five children at that time. The youngest was five months old; the oldest (who spent six years with me) was 19.

“After that, I did special school supply, and I worked for social services, providing day care for children with a range of severe learning difficulties. I also learned sign language. Then, two years ago, I saw the advertisement for Kisimul school.

“This is a residential special school. It’s special in lots of ways. There are 31 students but more than 150 staff; students here need 24-hour, one-to-one attention. They have all been rejected by their previous schools, and often their parents simply can’t cope.

“I have one pupil, Lawrence, who is 15. When I met him he was angry and self-harming. He spoke only snatches of nursery rhymes but warned you when he was about to lose control. ‘Danger imminent,’ he would say. It meant that, unless you could distract him, a thump was coming. You have to read his every movement, tell him exactly what you’re going to do and continually reassure him. To begin with, Iwas afraid I couldn’t manage. But I knew that being Lawrence’s hope was what I was meant to be. So I did all I could to find out what made him tick.

“Suddenly, he began to trust again. Now he’s a different boy. He can spend an hour at a time doing maths or writing his diary, and I can relax. He took part in sports day and at the school concert Lawrence and I and our classroom assistant sang a trio, ‘Circle of Life’ from The Lion King. He’s happy now, and is enjoying his teenage years.

“I think ‘kisimul’ is a Scottish word that means ‘safe haven’ - that’s what Lawrence and his peers need most, and I’m pleased that I’ve been able to help him find it. For me, the award is a means of helping more people to understand what autism really means.”

Interview by Michael Duffy. The Teaching Awards 2002 national ceremony will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday, November 3. For further information and to register your nomination for 2003, visit www.teachingawards.com