SETTLE classroom assistant Alison Balsamini has been named the best teaching assistant in the North at the regional finals of the National Teaching Awards.

Mrs Balsamini, who works at Settle Middle School, won a prize package worth more than £3,000 for the school, which included £2,000 cash and ICT equipment.

She will now go on to the national finals on October 26 which will be screened by the BBC in November.

The judges described Alison as "the kind of person everyone wants to be around, be it part of the teaching team, in the classroom, in the technology suite or in the sports hall. Staff members throughout the school acknowledge what a privilege it is to work alongside a teaching assistant of such calibre."

Judges also praised her genuine love of children, her work with children with special needs and her ability to be a good listener.

Special educational needs co-ordinator Janet Lassey nominated Alison for her dedication to her work.

Described as an integral part of the team, Alison contributes to all aspects of school life, including singing in the school talent show, coaching athletics and creating a "sewer's drivers licence" for members of the after school sewing club.

As an Italian speaker, she is a vital asset on school skiing trips to Italy.

Mrs Balsamini, who has three sons Daniele, Marco and Alan, lives in Settle and has worked at the middle school for the last four years.

She said: "It's nice for the school and for the children. I kept meeting them over the weekend and they all wanted to know if I'd won! The children here are brilliant and what I love about the job is just being with them."

Headteacher James Mansley said: "Alison is one of many very valued employees at the school.

"Alison in particular does a lot of work in the community, with the swimming pool, helping out with the playgroup and as a governor of the primary school so the award is not just recognition of her work at the Middle School."

A special celebration assembly was held in school on Monday where Alison thanked all the children for their help and support.

Also featuring in the awards was Ingleton Primary School teacher Gillian Walton who won a special commendation in the Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Mrs Walton has worked at Ingleton for more than 20 years without a day off and was nominated by her headteacher Dawn Harvey.

Miss Harvey said Mrs Walton was an extremely talented and popular teacher who thoroughly deserved the accolade.

She said: "We are all very proud of Gillian, especially when she was invited onto the stage to collect the special commendation. The whole afternoon was a celebration of education and was very uplifting."

Mrs Walton, who has been teaching for 25 years, said: "It was such a good day for teachers.

"The awards raised morale and the overwhelming feeling was what a lot of talent there is in the teaching profession and how modest those teachers were about their abilities.

"No-one was talking about targets but their influence on the whole child and the child's life."

Commenting on her award she said: "I just love being part of the children's world and I suppose I do like the fact that, although it's a clich, you do touch their 'hearts and minds'.

"Teachers can really have a tremendous influence."