A new teacher has been so successful in her first year in the classroom that her colleagues have nominated for one of the Telegraph & Argus Schools Awards.

Fellow teachers at Marshfield Primary School, on Thornton Lane, nominated Sofia Yaqub, 34, for the Newcomer of the Year award, created to highlight the achievements of people new to the profession.

Mrs Yaqub made such an impression that she was fast tracked through her Graduate Teacher Programme, meaning she completed the year-long course in seven months.

And fellow teachers at the school say Mrs Yaqub is such a natural that it seemed she had been teaching for years rather than just getting started in her career.

She started her teaching career after raising her three children, and has juggled her teacher training with being mother to a 14, 12 and ten-year-old.

Her colleague Claire McDonald nominated Mrs Yaqub, who teaches Year One students, saying: “Due to her outstanding practice she was fast tracked through her GTP qualification. Her classroom looks like that of a highly experienced teacher and she always provides the children with inspirational teaching techniques and hands on experiences that enable their learning to be accelerated.

“Watching Sofia teach isn’t like watching an ordinary NQT. She makes learning fun not only for the children but for the support staff also. It is truly amazing. The children gravitate towards her because she is so supportive, caring and exciting to be around.

“Her support doesn't just end with the children, she extends her caring and approachable attitude towards other teachers and support staff. She works so hard in all areas of school life and contributes to wider aspects of the community being a keen member of the staff choir and beyond. She does all this whilst being a fantastic mum to her three children.”

Mrs Yaqub, who started at the school as a volunteer before beginning her training, said: “I was told I had the qualities of a good teacher and started my GTP in December. I was told I was going to be fast tracked.

“I started quite late - I went back into education after I had children and did an access course at Bradford College. I was a full time parent and started after my youngest went into reception.

“I think I’ll be at Marshfield for a long time, I love it here.

“I was absolutely shocked to be nominated. It is really nice to be appreciated, it’s great that my colleagues think I’m worthy of the award.

“I’ve picked up a lot of pointers on how to be a good teacher on the way. I’ve got three children of my own but sometimes it feels like I’ve got 33.”