Rhona Grant

First job: Primary teacher in Manchester.

What it taught me: It taught me patience, the importance of working as part of a team and the need for resilience.

Family/status: Married with three children.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Be prepared for everything but be flexible with your plans.

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Find an area in teaching that you love or you are passionate about. If you enjoy your teaching, this will come across to the children and will be incredibly beneficial to you and your pupils.

I have been a primary teacher for 21 years, initially in Manchester then Kircubbin. I joined Oakwood School and Assessment Centre in 2002. It was an opportunity that I was very grateful to get, as I had always wanted to work with children with special educational needs. I have taught a variety of classes and age groups, but for the last six years I have taught nursery aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is an incredibly rewarding job and I love working with the children. Each year the class is so unique and I have loved every class I have taught. I also get to work with an amazing team of people every day, who give their all to the children. I have helped to organise First Holy Communion for Oakwood and a number of other special needs schools for the past 12 years. It is a privilege to be part of their very special day.

I am married with three children. I love spending time with my family. In my spare time I enjoy Pilates and going for long walks.