THE best of the Bolton school community have been given a chance to shine.

Behind classroom doors are thousands of teachers, pupils and staff working hard every day to bring top class education to the community.

And here we honour the achievements of those people and places that make up all that’s good in the borough’s schools at the second Bolton News School Awards.

Teaching Assistant of the Year, sponsored by Parr Group: Janet Higginson

“ANY child that is helped by Janet Higginson is very fortunate indeed”.

Those are the words of parent Jessica Wood who says the teaching assistant at Westhoughton High School has gone “above and beyond her duties” to help their son develop into a young man.

She wrote: “Mrs Higginson has been such a good role model to our son over the last four years and we would like to show our gratitude by nominating her for this award as she has gone above and beyond her duties.”

Luke, aged 15, was born 15 weeks early and faced “many struggles”, and was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum.

Mrs Wood added: “Mainstream high school has presented lots of problems, for Luke as is the struggle for many children on the spectrum, but with the help, guidance and the teaching of Miss Higginson, Luke has managed to overcome many of these difficulties both socially and academically.

“Mrs Higginson has all the right attributes to be a brilliant teaching assistant, she is caring, engaging, extremely passionate about her role in school, she is firm when needed but also fair and she is a well respected members of staff.

“And we are aware that other parents feel the same way as us too.”