A TEACHING assistant in Fordingbridge has retired after 25 years and says she has “loved” her time at the school.

Jan Elkins, who was given the nickname Mrs Elkibobs, started working part time at Fordingbridge Junior School in September 1997 and fell in love with the job.

She said: “I just loved it. I can’t tell you how much I’ve loved it. It was so rewarding. I got up every morning wanting to go to work.”

Jan started as teaching assistant in Year 6 but has also worked across different year groups. Prior to working at the school she worked as a dinner lady in Damerham and was encouraged by a colleague to make a switch to the classroom, which is what she did.

Moments she has especially cherished during her time at the school has been those “light bulb moments” in their learning and also helping them “grow into independent, confident young people”.

“Watching their journey through the school it is lovely. How they grow in front of your eyes,” adds Jan, who has seen the next generation of families come through the school after teaching their parents.

She says “no day was ever the same” and she has felt “privileged” to work with her different colleagues over the years.

Her nickname Elkibobs also seems to have stuck and she recalls hearing it shouted across an airport in Turkey when she was on holiday.

As her career progressed she became a general learning support assistant and then onto providing one-to-one support for pupils.

“I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been great,” said Jan, who admits she was “sad to leave” but wanted to end her career on a high.

In her retirement the 66-year-old hopes to have more time doing her favourite activities, including getting her “homework” done on time for her writing group, and just “enjoying life” and catching up with friends.

She is also involved in an amateur archaeology group and enjoys going walking.

Fordingbridge Infant and Junior School Federation head teacher Kim Robertson presented gifts to Jan at a special celebration assembly.

A statement from the school said: “We all wish Jan a long and happy retirement and thank her for her contribution in supporting hundreds of children in their learning journey.”

 

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