A PRIMARY school teacher has been nominated for the York Community Pride awards after helping to improve the quality of life for children with additional needs.

Jennie Dulling, a teacher at Hob Moor Oaks School for children with additional needs has been put forward for Teacher of the Year by a pupil's parent.

The school is specifically for young people who require specialist teaching, and Mrs Dulling has been nominated for the impact she has made with Year 1 pupil Leyton, who has Autism.

Leyton's mum, Alison Collop, said that they are "eternally grateful" for the help Mrs Dulling has given to both her son and the family.

She said: “We have got to know Jennie over the last few years.

“Our son is a non-verbal autistic child so he has difficulty communicating and struggles with his social skills.

“When Leyton received his diagnosis we, as parents, struggled as we felt lost and had no idea how we could help and improve his quality of life.

“But thanks to Jennie we now feel a lot more knowledgeable about autism.

“She is an amazing person and such an outstanding teacher.

“The impact she has had not only with our son but with us as a family has made us eternally grateful our paths crossed.”

CLICK HERE FOR A GALLERY OF 62 PHOTOS FROM HOBMOOR AND HOBMOOR OAKS

Mrs Dulling said that she was honoured to have received recognition from a parent.

She said: “I would like to say what an honour it is to receive that kind of recognition from a parent, it is truly very humbling.

“At Hob Moor Oaks Special Needs School we work as a close team.

“One which consists of the most amazingly skilled people, from fellow teachers, teaching assistants, lunch staff, health care professionals, admin and very importantly the parents themselves. So I am just a small part of it.

“The true shining stars, the absolute heroes, are the children themselves.They overcome so many challenges to do things that typically developing people take for granted. It is inspirational to share in their accomplishments and to watch them achieve their best.”

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press and City of York Council, and the principal sponsor is Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in the City of York Council area.

You can make a nomination online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride or post to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN. Entries must be submitted by July 26.

Nominations must include a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4 with each entry and should include a photo, which unfortunately we will be unable to return.