Stalybridge educator wins national award for outstanding dedication

A High-Level Teaching Assistant from Silver Springs Primary Academy in Stalybridge has won the national ‘Teaching Support Staff of the Year’ award for her dedication, initiative, and impact on reading within her school.

Karen Allen received this recognition as part of the annual Reading Plus Awards – an event organised by Reading Solutions UK to celebrate the achievements of students, teachers and schools nationwide for their academic achievements using the online reading development programme DreamBox Reading Plus.

Olivia Hardy, Assistant Principal at Silver Springs, said: “Karen leads on the implementation of Reading Plus and works tirelessly to promote reading both inside and outside of school – managing this commitment alongside her already monumental timetable.”

Olivia was one of the members of a team of staff who came together to nominate Karen.

Olivia continued: “She has created her own celebration display, weekly recognitions, awards, and regularly shares successes with the wider community. Without the dedicated support from Karen, we would not have seen such a positive impact on reading achievement in our school.”

Karen received a trophy, a certificate and a £25 Amazon voucher in recognition. She said: “For them to take the time out of their very full day to nominate me for this award is such a nice gesture. I'm absolutely over the moon. 

“We don't say ‘well done’ to each other every day – we just get on with it because it's part of our job. So to actually be pulled to one side in a way and know you're doing a good job, that really meant a lot to me.” 

Under Karen’s guidance, three pupils at Silver Springs finished the Reading Plus programme this academic year and were awarded the role of Reading Plus Champions. Only 20 out of 130,000 students enrolled on Reading Plus have completed the programme this academic year.

Jessica Holstein, Year 6 Teacher at Silver Springs, said: “I struggle to think of another programme out there that we would get the same impact from as Reading Plus. We do use other programmes in school, but I've never seen anything that tracks the reading speed and that makes such a difference to children as readers. 

“As a whole school, it really does tick all the boxes. That's why we like using it and the children love it.”

Matt Lewis, Reading Development Consultant at Reading Solutions UK, said: “Karen consistently goes above and beyond for her students, and we’re so pleased it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the school. This award is incredibly well deserved and a testament to all of the effort Karen puts into making a difference.”

For more information about Reading Plus, visit https://www.readingsolutionsuk.co.uk/.