A WIRRAL teaching assistant described by her colleagues as the human "search engine" has won a national teaching award.
Mandy Skillen, 46, from Woodlands Primary School in Birkenhead was crowned Teaching Assistant of the Year at a glitzy ceremony in London last night.
Mrs Skillen, who has worked at the school for 28 years, was chosen from entrants across the country for her dedication and commitment to children with family or behavioural problems.
Her colleagues describe her as a "search engine" – if she doesn’t know something, she will find out.
Her changing roles as clean- er, lunchtime supervisor, class- room assistant and home liaison officer have seen her picking up children from home to make sure they attend and brought her into contact with landlords and courts.
She set up the ‘Nurture Class’ to support emotionally depriv- ed children and is known for her rapport with pupils and parents alike. She temporarily took one young boy into her own home because his own mother could not cope and arranged a programme in the school holidays with social services for the most vulner- able families.
Mrs Skillen said: "I’m over- whelmed. I’ve always looked for the best in pupils and because I live locally they know they can call in if they need any help.
