A DEDICATED swimming teacher who has helped scores of little ones take to the water has become the first in Oxfordshire to win a national award for her efforts.

Felicity Goldsmith, of Finstock, has made a splash at pools across West Oxfordshire as a senior teacher for national swim academy Puddle Ducks.

The 37-year-old was selected from around 300 teachers nationwide to win the firm's National Teacher of the Term prize.

Mrs Goldsmith said: "I'm really touched. We've never had a win in our franchise before; there's a lot of competition so it was lovely for Oxfordshire."

At present the mother-of-two, who has worked for Puddle Ducks for five years, runs classes in pools at the Four Pillars Hotel in Witney, Eynsham Hall and Lincoln Farm Park in Standlake, as well as a private pool.

About 700 youngsters are signed up at the Oxfordshire franchise, for baby and toddler groups and primary school sessions.

Mrs Goldsmith said: "It's a massive range. We have had four-year-olds who are terrified when they first get in and will cling onto me, so I have them hanging off me during the lesson, but most of them have fun. I had a little girl nearly doing five metres now who was absolutely petrified of the water when she started.

"It's so rewarding. I love kids enjoying the water and being safe in the water, and having lots of fun."

In March this year Mrs Goldsmith led a delegation of 20 Puddle Ducks learners to victory at the Sport Relief Swimathon at Kidlington & Gosford Leisure Centre.

She said: "They all had the chance to swim in a proper 25-metre pool, which most had never done before, and we raised about £2,500 between us.

"To be a good teacher you need lots of patience and enthusiasm. You don't have to be a brilliant swimmer, but just love being in the water."

The mother-of-two was nominated by parent Anna Poole, whose five-year-old daughter Isla is now swimming with gusto in spite of her early nerves.

In her submission she said: "[Felicity] has amazing patience with the children in her swim groups and their parents. Her natural ability to engage the children in her swim group is outstanding.

"My daughter started from 18 months - she didn't progress very quickly due to a fear of water. Felicity supported us through this by encouraging her, persevering with her and building her confidence at an appropriate pace. Felicity's continued efforts meant last year she swam 25m.

"She also took part in the Puddle Ducks Swimathon swimming a very impressive 150+ metres. This achievement is the result of having such a fantastic teacher."