A TEACHING assistant at Croft Primary School was surprised with an assembly to mark 30 years of service.

Lesley Brown, 61, joined the school on November 2, 1987, as a teaching assistant in reception.

She is now the manager of the teaching assistants’ team.

The mum-of-two was treated to an assembly, where the children performed a song about Mrs Brown written by the deputy head teacher while photos from her time at the school were being shown on a presentation.

Mrs Brown said: “I’ve never wanted to do anything else. This is my reward – being able to stay in the same lovely school for this length of time.

“I absolutely love the school. It’s such a wonderful, caring place, and the children are of prime importance here.”

Mrs Brown began her career at Croft Primary School after she had been out of work for some time raising her children, who studied at the school while she was working there.

She said: “When the children started school, I decided I wanted to be me again and not just somebody’s mum.

“Croft came up, and I applied and got it. I came here, and didn’t want to go anywhere else.”

The song that the children performed at the assembly included the lyrics: “We don’t need to worry here, our fears will disappear because she works beside us every day.”

Mrs Brown is based in year four, alongside the deputy head teacher, and covers other classes when the teaching staff are planning their lessons.

She said: “I like it when the children’s light goes on, when suddenly they’ve got it. That’s what makes it worthwhile.

“We have a strong community feel, we take on charities and things to help out, just to try to teach the children how lucky we are in this area.”

Mrs Brown was presented with gifts from current and former colleagues.

She said: “At the beginning, you don’t think you’re going to do this long, but I just love it, and why would I want to do anything else?”

Having worked alongside four head teachers during her time at Croft, Mrs Brown has seen a lot of change there.

She said: “I’ll be here until I retire.”