A FRENCH language teacher from Ashurst has been rewarded for the quality of the lessons and teaching she provides.

Claire Holland teaches extracurricular French classes to children, through the La Jolie Ronde programmes at local nurseries and primary schools in the New Forest area.

Claire was recently honoured with the La Jolie Ronde licensee of the year award for the South West and Wales region.

She said: “I am absolutely shocked yet delighted.

"It’s a real honour and great to be recognised.

"It’s wonderful to see the children making such excellent progress and to see them chatting in French, so confidently, is a real bonus.”

Claire was born in France to a British father and French mother and lived in the Brittany and Vendée regions of France.

Her love of languages continued throughout her education studying at Collège Jeanne d’Arc in Montaigu, France, then onto the Collège Carcouët in Nantes, France.

Moving and travelling around England, Claire worked for 10 years in various roles in customer service, administrative and reception roles using her multilingual and customer service skills.

By chance a friend, who was teaching the La Jolie Ronde French programme, asked Claire to tutor for her.

Eventually Claire took over her friend’s classes and now employs an additional tutor to help with the teaching of some of her classes.

Starting with 36 pupils, today Claire teaches 140 youngsters in five schools and a nursery.

General manager for La Jolie Ronde Steve Baker said “Claire's love of being a licensee simply radiates from her and this evidently shows in her lessons.

"Her lessons are professional yet characterised by good humour and lots of laughter and joy.

"She is extremely enthusiastic plus hardworking across all areas and a shining example of what can be achieved.”

Claire was presented with her award by Mr Baker at the La Jolie Ronde annual meeting in Bristol.