Marvellous Maisie-Jayne and Ellie, both 12, win Christmas Hero awards for helping mum

By Jill Dando News reporters

Marvellous Maisie-Jayne and Ellie, both 12, win Christmas Hero awards for their inspirational care for teacher mum diagnosed with breast cancer.

Good Samaritan students Maisie-Jayne and Ellie who have selflessly helped their mum have become real-life Christmas Heroes.

Maisie-Jayne and Ellie, Year 7 students at Worle Community School Academy, part of The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT) in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset were awarded certificates and prizes after demonstrating selfless superb acts of kindness and outstanding character.

They were nominated by mum Natasha, a teacher at The King Alfred School Academy in Highbridge – an 11-18 academy also part of TPLT.

Last year Natasha was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer and the 10 year old heroes stepped up to the mark, becoming young carers for their mum. 

Supporting their mum so she was still able to work as much as possible with their support at home where she could rest. 

Maisie-Jayne and Ellie were made Christmas Heroes because they have supported their mum at home since that time. 

They have been doing more and more around the house as their mum has gone through cancer diagnoses and treatment including surgery before Christmas last year. Maisie-Jayne and Ellie have been responsible for some light cooking, washing and general household duties as mum was out of action. Their most important jobs were being able to make mum nice hot drinks and watching movies with her, cheering her up with their funny stories and senses of humour. 

Natasha said “MJ and Ellie were my rocks while I was going through treatment, they supported me to still function. 

“They enabled me to still be able to be a teacher as well as a mum as they looked after me, supporting me in roles including running the Rotary Young Chef competition held at TKASA in February while I was undergoing chemo.

“The girls attended on a Saturday and followed all my instructions leading young chefs around the school and supporting me while I sat down, really being amazing daughters as at the time they were in primary school.” 

The wonderful students even supported their mum through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and never slipped back on their school work, still sitting their SATs continuing with school work and homework, always giving 110% even when they did not feel like it. 

They have also become fabulous young football players for their team and primary school, 

Ellie was top scorer last season with Maisie-Jayne supporting her sister in defense playing for Weston Mendip FC.

The students were winners in the Christmas Heroes campaign at Worle Community School Academy, part of The Priory Learning Trust, in partnership with the Grand Pier.

Principal Mark Tidman and Director of Secondary Education at the Priory Learning Trust, Gregg Morrison, helped present the prizes.

Mark said: “We are super proud of Maisie-Jayne and Ellie. They sum up everything this school is all about.”

WCSA celebrates heroes every day as part of their PROUD plan to inspire students to be Prepared, Respectful, Optimistic, Understanding and Determined. 

The Christmas Heroes initiative saw them rewarded with prizes sponsored by the Grand Pier including a free rides pass. 

WCSA has a wide array of opportunities to improve students’ character, talents and interests with clubs including music, drama, art and sports. They also have a thriving careers programme.

The school was the first to set up a Jill Dando News Centre in 2017 in memory of former student, Jill Dando. The young journalists find, write and publish positive good news as well as modelling kindness, humility and positivity.