Nick Smith MP did his bit to recognise the unsung stars who help in our schools as part of a special celebration day.

UNISON’s Stars in Our Schools campaign is aiming to draw attention to support staff across the country who work to give children help to achieve their potential.

Penycwm School joined Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in recognising their support staff with a celebration day full of events and presents.

Staff were presented with goodie bags while pupils got the chance to write their own personal ‘thank you’ on boards around the school.

Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith, who went to Penycwm on the day to see the hard work going on at the school, said it was a great way to make sure support staff didn’t go unnoticed.

“UNISON’s campaign is a fantastic idea for a group of people who are sometimes forgotten in the scrabble over school results and curriculums.

“School support staff have an incredibly important role in making sure our schools run smoothly and I’m proud to celebrate their work as part of this year’s national Stars in our schools day.

“I encourage all my constituents to support this fantastic campaign.”

Jo Pritchard, UNISON representative at Penycwm, said support staff made a massive difference every day.

“Stars in Our Schools is a way of showing that we care. We all make a difference and this is saying we achieve together and go forward together”, she said.

“Support staff are the biggest team here at Penycwm. It’s important to be able to say well done to them, and the children have been saying thank you as well.

“It recognises support staff make a real difference to the school and children here and that everyone cares and notices that.”

For more information visit http://www.starsinourschools.uk/