A TEACHING assistant who was named the best in the South West has said goodbye to her school.

Hilda Beddard has been a TA at Sylvan First School in Parkstone for 16 years and was a volunteer for four years before that.

She recently won the Pearson Teaching Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year in the region and is due to travel to the national finals in London in the autumn term.

Sylvan’s head teacher Sarah Lee said her departure had been an emotional occasion.

“We had a celebration for her when all the old staff came to wish her all the best in her retirement,” she said.

“We’ve also had a leavers’ assembly where the staff and children have presented her with gifts and flowers.”

One of Hilda’s achievements has been running a recorder group which introduced many young people to playing music.

“So many of our year three children started not being able to play a recorder and finished playing in a concert,” said Mrs Lee.

“She’s been a stalwart of the school for many years. She’s always had the children at the forefront of whatever she does.”

Hilda also bought the school a gift before her departure – a membership of the Nature Detectives Club so children can find out more about the natural world on the school premises.

Hilda, who has also been a support staff governor, was selected from more than 24,000 nominations for the Pearson Teaching Awards. The final will take place on October 20 and will be broadcast by the BBC.