School celebrates Moroccan links

The treats were cooked by the children for a reception to celebrate the first visit from their partner school in the Spanish territory of Melilla in Morocco.

Three children, one teacher and three parents made the journey from northern Africa to experience life in the village.

They took part in lessons in each of the school's classes as well as being taught traditions such as Maypole dancing.

They also enjoyed special tours of Arundel Town Hall, thanks to the town mayor, and Arundel Castle. Help for the visit was provided as well by Arun District Council's chairman, Cllr Stephen Haymes.

The arrival of the visitors followed a ground-breaking trip to Melilla by the Yapton school's headteacher, Mary Ramacciotti, four teachers and ten children last October funded by the British Council.

Mrs Ramacciotti said the new links were a further step towards the North End Road school gaining international status to reflect its worldwide contacts.

It already hosted a American student teacher each year as well as a Dutch and a French teacher.

June will see two Japanese teachers arrive for a stay for the first time.

The Yapton children also sponsor a child in Nepal and a community in Senegal to further expand their global contacts.

'It all helps to educate the children about other cultures,' explained Mrs Ramacciotti, ' with their diversity and differences from ours so they can value and appreciate them rather than view them with suspicion.'