Awards honour the ‘unsung heroes’ of school

EVENTS to honour the work of support staff have been held in schools across Wales.

Awards were held and cakes and goody bags distributed to classrooms by Unison, the largest union for school support staff, as part of its Stars in our Schools day.

“The unsung heroes, teaching assistants, administrators, caterers, midday supervisors and cleaners are part of the whole education team which makes our schools the success they are,” the union said.

Unison’s Cardiff County branch asked head teachers to encourage children to show their appreciation by drawing or writing about what makes support staff so special to the school.

The winning drawing was of Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Davis at Baden Powell Primary, and the highly commended efforts were of Deb at Sure Start Ely and Caerau Children’s Centre and Miss Price and Mrs P at Adamsdown Primary (all as they are known by the children).

Rhian Hartwell, teaching assistant and Unison Cardiff County schools convenor, said: “We approached all schools in Cardiff encouraging them to invite children to draw or write about what made the school admin staff so special.

“Seeing how hard the children have worked on their wonderful pictures and poems, shows the affection the admin staff are held in.”

A number of schools elswhere in Wales also welcomed in local Assembly Members to share their celebrations.