Last updated 15:43, Wednesday, 19 November 2008

A WORKINGTON teaching assistant was rewarded last month for the hard work she does to help her pupils learn.

CFM DJ Robbie Dee presents Jane Stephenson with her prize for being voted Cumbria's best loved teacher by pupils, after being nominated by Sophie McConaghy

Jane Stephenson, who helps out in Seaton Junior School’s Year 5 class, won Cumbria’s best-loved teacher award as voted for by the listeners of CFM Radio.

Jane beat hundreds of applicants to the award that she was nominated for by one of her pupils.

Pupil ten-year-old Sophie McConaghy put her favourite teacher forward after she had spent lots of time helping her learn.

“I’m over the moon to have won the award,” said Jane.

“I had no idea I had been put forward and it was such a touching gesture from Sophie. She is a little star.

“I spend time with Sophie helping her out with her work and it is very kind of her to do this for me.”

CFM Radio presenter Robbie Dee turned up to the school to give Jane a certificate and a bunch of flowers.

He said: “It is a tough competition and the panel that made the decision decided that Jane was the best because of the letter Sophie wrote.

“It was lovely that someone can have such an affect on another person. There were some very good candidates but Jane stood out.”

Pupils dressed in Halloween costumes and gathered in the main hall to meet the breakfast show host.

A tearful Sophie was overjoyed with the award for her favourite teacher and said she nominated her because she was friendly and very helpful.

She said: “Miss Stephenson is kind. She’s like a sister to me and I’m very happy that she won the award.”