A TEACHER'S excellence in helping special needs pupils has won her national recognition.

Julie Levy, a teacher at Westleigh High School in Leigh, was one of just 10 winners from across the country to receive an award at the "Oscars" of the teaching profession -- the National Teaching Awards.

At a ceremony held at the London Palladium, Mrs Levy, of Westhoughton, was presented with a golden Plato Trophy and rubbed shoulders with celebrities such as Eamonn Holmes, Sir Bobby Charlton, newscaster Moira Stewart and actress Zoe Wanamaker.

The winners had been chosen from 3,892 nominees from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The 49 year-old mum of two who lives in Daisy Hill said: "I was completely overwhelmed when I found out that I had won. I was very surprised to win having met the the other nominees, who are all really good at what they do."

Mrs Levy was nominated for the award by Westleigh headteacher John Pout.

In the two years since Mrs Levy joined the school from Halewood Community Compre- hensive, she has been credited with transforming the special needs education delivered by the school. The top teacher has also started a successful nurture group to help students adjust from primary to secondary school.

Mrs Levy said: "We aim to build confidence in all children and to ensure that every child who comes to Westleigh is fully included in all the activities and the curriculum that the school has to offer."

Mr Pout said: "Prior to Mrs Levy's arrival I think our special needs education was not a strong point in terms of what service was being delivered to the kids.

"Within two years she has taken us from that to a point where we are getting local and national recognition for the quality of our work ."

Mrs Levy, from Devon, has worked in schools all over the country.

In 1999 another Westleigh teacher, Michelle Dunning, was named as the North West Young Teacher of the Year.