PUPILS often face a number of challenges when accessing education, and our ‘Breaking Down Barriers Award’ aims to recognise the hard work done to help children succeed.

Claire Peach nominated Angela Stephens from the ASD Resource Base at The John Frost School because of the work she has done with her autistic son Samuel. “I cannot praise enough the difference she has made to him, but also the above and beyond effort she made for him and us.”

Sam was a struggling student, but with Ms Stephens’ help he left school with nine GCSE and GCSE equivalents from grades A to C. She also encouraged him to speak at an autism awareness event for recruiters at a conference on employability in the Celtic Manor.

When she heard about her Gwent Schools Awards nomination Ms Stephens said: “It’s a complete surprise, I’m absolutely thrilled to be recognised for anything I can do to help any student access education.”

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I was a mainstream teacher and found that enjoyed working with children with learning difficulties. I did a masters in area of autism, the area where I eventually worked. This is a dream job, running a team of committed support assistants.”

Many of the children that enter the ASD Resource Base have struggled in their early years of education. Ms Stephens says that tailoring the support to the individual needs of a pupil is of vital importance:

“You can help assist any child reach their potential using the right support and right approach. They are all individuals and taking an individual approach you can help a child achieve their potential and get best out of life.”

Ms Stephens says that her area of work is one of the most rewarding and would encourage anyone to enter into it. “This is a fantastic area of work to be involved in. It’s a team effort and everyone can share in success of the school, and Mr Wilson the head is supportive of us and our work.”

Time is running out for nominations in the South Wales Argus’ Gwent Schools Awards. Exceptional teachers from the region will be celebrated when the awards are announced at a presentation evening on March 10 at the Coldra Court Hotel. All entries must be submitted by January 13.

There are 13 categories in total and anyone can send in a nomination for free at southwalesargus.co.uk/gwentschoolsawards.