DO widzenia – pupils bid ‘goodbye’ to their Polish teaching assistant at a Weymouth primary school.

The youngsters said their farewells to Anna Borowska after she finished her eight months placement at St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School in Hardy Avenue.

The children, including the school’s 16 Polish pupils, presented her cards, flowers and gifts.

Headteacher Stephen Mason said Anna surpassed their expectations.

“We had high hopes for Anna and she even exceeded those.

“She was particularly good with the children. She fitted in and very quickly became a member of the team.”

Anna, from Warsaw, started at the school last September on a placement from university.

St Augustine’s applied for a Polish teaching assistant under a European Union scheme.

Mr Mason said that the school was the only primary in Weymouth to succeed with an application, and that Anna was keen to come to the town.

Anna has helped teachers in general in lessons but has also focused on the Polish children.

She developed individual programmes of support for new Polish children at the school.

Mr Mason said the pupils had made ‘terrific progress’.

He added that Anna was also very helpful in translating in parent-teacher consultations.

Anna’s university English course will allow her to follow a career in such areas as teaching or interpreting.

Mr Mason said: “She particularly liked being in the town, so much so that she will be staying in Weymouth until September until her university course resumes.”

He added: “The children liked Anna and we gave her a big send off with lots of cards and gifts.”

The school intends to apply for another teaching assistant.