A CARING teacher who has been a huge help to a girl with Down's syndrome has been presented with the Evening Mail's Bouquet of the Week.

Joanne Keenan, who works at Walney School as a senior teaching assistant and key worker, was presented with the special flowers on Friday from Year Ten pupil, Katy Herbert, who she is paired with and offers support to.

Katy attends Walney School two days a week and George Hastwell School, an academy for young people with additional needs, three days a week, but from next month will be at George Hastwell full-time. This is due to the specialist support it can offer her across the syllabus and socially.

To say thank you for all the help and support Mrs Keenan has provided in her role at Walney School, Katy and her family nominated her for the Bouquet of the Week.

Speaking after being presented with the flowers, Mrs Keenan said: "My heart melted.

"I've had Katy for three years. She's progressed a lot.

"The first year she was in all lessons but from the second year we did more one-to-one work.

"Her family are so supportive. I can't thank them enough.

"There's going to be a hole in my heart when she leaves."

Mrs Keenan has worked at Walney School for eight years and said she loved the diversity of her role and the variety of children she offers extra support to the most.

She said: "I love it. Every day is different.

"It can be a tiring job but if you have got kids like Katy then it's really rewarding - she's just an inspiration.

"All the kids are unique in their own way."

Katy's mother, Tracy O'Connor, said she was extremely grateful for the one-to-one support Mrs Keenan has given.

She said: "It would be a lovely to show Jo how much I appreciate all she has done.

"It's also nice to show others in the Barrow area that Katy's disability didn't stop her from having a normal school life as she has always had to prove she is able to do it, which makes me so proud of her."

Previous Bouquet of the Week winners

Barrow mother battling cancer praised for her bravery with Bouquet of the Week gesture

Hugs all round! Walney nursery thanks retiring Brenda in style with Bouquet of the Week

Barrow supermarket worker with inspiring weight loss tale awarded Bouquet of the Week