A childcare volunteer from Trumpet has overcome great odds to earn a NVQ level 2 certificate in Early Years Care and Education, despite lacking numeracy and literacy skills.

Now Kelly Bicknell, aged 24, who has special needs and lives at the Keeper's Cottage residential home, is looking forward to a life-long career in childcare as a respected and qualified professional.

For three years, Miss Bicknell has been a regular volunteer at the Much Marcle Nursery School, where she so impressed owner Jane Kibble with her dedication, it was decided that she should have her chance to study and achieve on the City and Guilds course.

Mrs Kibble said: "Kelly is invaluable. She is very good with children, good with parents and will do anything that is asked of her.

"The fact that she has no literacy or numeracy skills means her achievement is all the greater. As far as I know, or anyone I know can say, she is unique in the country."

To help Miss Bicknell qualify, the Ledbury-based Acorn to Oaks education centre set up a special system in December 1999, whereby two of her colleagues at the nursery, Natasha Andrews and Sally Edwards, both trained to be her assessors, unit by unit.

Joan Morris, manager of Acorn to Oaks said: "There was a lot of assessment work, helping her to build a portfolio. There were photographs of her at work, proving what she was capable of, plus the use of question and answer sessions.

"It's the first time I've heard of anyone with Kelly's difficulties achieving this and I have been doing this for eight years. She has been very consistent. Getting this qualification is quite an achievement. Countywide, as far as I know, Kelly is unique."

"She's a very special person. She is just very natural with the children."

Miss Bicknell said she was the first resident of Keeper's Cottage to "get a qualification".

"I really enjoyed doing it and I'm proud. This is want I want to do," she said.