A delegation of hundreds of union members will march through Blackpool today [Wednesday 10 June] to demand improvements to the School Support Staff negotiating body from the Government.

School Support Staff, including teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors and other curriculum support, do a vital job within schools supporting learning.

But the long-promised School Support Staff negotiating body, which was planned to improve standards of support and pay for these workers, has been watered down by government.

Kim Marshall, a Teaching Assistant in South London, said:

“School support staff are the people who keep our schools running.

“The teaching assistants supporting children with special educational needs, pastoral workers helping children through family breakdown, bereavement and mental health crises.

“They are often the first person a frightened child speaks to and the last person a vulnerable child sees before going home.

“Yet year after year they have been overlooked. Told there is no money.

“Watched others receive recognition while they are expected to simply carry on. We say: enough.”

ENDS

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