Category: education

Local government education wins and woes

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Focus turned to education on Monday afternoon at local government conference with a series of motions on further education, the crisis in schools, and the school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB).

Mike Short national secretary for local government and education opened the session with a speech outlining the achievements over the last year and the challenges they will face in the years to come.

Moving a motion on further education (FE) pay Carl Greatbatch spoke of the “vital role” FE played in his life. crediting his ability to become a trade union officer to the vital support he was given by FE, adding that he was proud that FE had also enabled his daughter to follow in the same path.

The motion highlighted that the real value of pay in further education FE colleges has fallen dramatically by around 35% in recent years and called on the service group executive (SGE) to review UNISON’s strategy for FE pay and to develop a new one if it is no longer fit for purpose.

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Schools in crisis

A motion on the crisis in our schools noted that UNISON is the largest union for school support staff representing over 250,000 members but that real terms cuts to school funding has left the education sector in crisis.

Moving the motion, Cath Lewis (pictured above) from Leicester said: “There is a school support staff recruitment and retention crisis driven by low pay – 46% of staff are looking for better paid jobs.

“It’s time we fought back and demand more than just the crumbs off the bosses table.”

Jess Powell from Dorset branch said “When I started working in schools 32 years ago, my wages compared favourably with other jobs in the market place, saying after 14 years of Tory government, they no longer do.

“School support staff pay has been 24% cut and a recent study discovered half of school support staff are struggling with their workloads. Every day members tell me about how they are struggling to make ends meet.”

As an example of this, Tom Baker (pictured top), from Leicester branch who took part in the Ash Field strikes spoke to a rapturous reception from the conference floor.

In the Ash Field dispute members took a total of 43 days of strike action over 8 months. Their action won between 18 and 25% pay rises for classroom-based staff, a £2,000 one-off payment for all support workers and a commitment from the employer to follow the NJC pay settlements from now on.

The motion laid out a detailed action calling upon the SGE to take action on the issue.

School support staff negotiating body

Debate carried on with a motion recommitting UNISON’s support of and detailing priorities in negotiation around a school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB). It noted that the Labour party has pledged to introduce a distinct negotiating body for school support staff if elected to government.

Delegates spoke about the need for the body to truly and effectively represent everyone in the sector and spoke to the priorities set out in the motion.

Diana Leach moving the motion for the SGE said: “Around a third of our members in local government work in schools – with the general secretary recently reporting this has increased to 40% – they are covered by local government bargaining but this doesn’t work for many who work in schools.

“They are predominantly women, in low-paid, part-time jobs. Their job profiles are out of date, opportunities for professional development are poor, and the work they do goes unrecognised and unnoticed.

“The last Labour government started the process of bringing in the SSSNB but the Tories showed how little they valued support staff and got rid of it before it even started.”

The article Local government education wins and woes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Local government education wins and woes

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Focus turned to education on Monday afternoon at local government conference with a series of motions on further education, the crisis in schools, and the school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB).

Mike Short national secretary for local government and education opened the session with a speech outlining the achievements over the last year and the challenges they will face in the years to come.

Moving a motion on further education (FE) pay Carl Greatbatch spoke of the “vital role” FE played in his life. crediting his ability to become a trade union officer to the vital support he was given by FE, adding that he was proud that FE had also enabled his daughter to follow in the same path.

The motion highlighted that the real value of pay in further education FE colleges has fallen dramatically by around 35% in recent years and called on the service group executive (SGE) to review UNISON’s strategy for FE pay and to develop a new one if it is no longer fit for purpose.

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Schools in crisis

A motion on the crisis in our schools noted that UNISON is the largest union for school support staff representing over 250,000 members but that real terms cuts to school funding has left the education sector in crisis.

Moving the motion, Cath Lewis (pictured above) from Leicester said: “There is a school support staff recruitment and retention crisis driven by low pay – 46% of staff are looking for better paid jobs.

“It’s time we fought back and demand more than just the crumbs off the bosses table.”

Jess Powell from Dorset branch said “When I started working in schools 32 years ago, my wages compared favourably with other jobs in the market place, saying after 14 years of Tory government, they no longer do.

“School support staff pay has been 24% cut and a recent study discovered half of school support staff are struggling with their workloads. Every day members tell me about how they are struggling to make ends meet.”

As an example of this, Tom Baker (pictured top), from Leicester branch who took part in the Ash Field strikes spoke to a rapturous reception from the conference floor.

In the Ash Field dispute members took a total of 43 days of strike action over 8 months. Their action won between 18 and 25% pay rises for classroom-based staff, a £2,000 one-off payment for all support workers and a commitment from the employer to follow the NJC pay settlements from now on.

The motion laid out a detailed action calling upon the SGE to take action on the issue.

School support staff negotiating body

Debate carried on with a motion recommitting UNISON’s support of and detailing priorities in negotiation around a school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB). It noted that the Labour party has pledged to introduce a distinct negotiating body for school support staff if elected to government.

Delegates spoke about the need for the body to truly and effectively represent everyone in the sector and spoke to the priorities set out in the motion.

Diana Leach moving the motion for the SGE said: “Around a third of our members in local government work in schools – with the general secretary recently reporting this has increased to 40% – they are covered by local government bargaining but this doesn’t work for many who work in schools.

“They are predominantly women, in low-paid, part-time jobs. Their job profiles are out of date, opportunities for professional development are poor, and the work they do goes unrecognised and unnoticed.

“The last Labour government started the process of bringing in the SSSNB but the Tories showed how little they valued support staff and got rid of it before it even started.”

The article Local government education wins and woes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are

The annual UNISON school support staff seminar took place recently in Cardiff, providing the chance for activists in schools to develop their skills and knowledge in the sector, through a combination of speaker presentations and workshops.

General secretary Christina McAnea told those attending: “You are a really important group within our union. About one in five of our members are school support staff – that’s how big a group you are in our union.

“And that’s really important, because it means we have a real voice within the schools in this country.

“We need to build up our representation in schools, so that we have a strong voice in schools to stop the exploitation that we see of support staff, and make sure you get the recognition and the reward you deserve for the really important jobs that you do.”

Catherine McKinnell MP address the school support staff seminar in Cardiff

Catherine McKinnell MP (pictured above), the shadow minister for schools told the seminar: “School staff have been badly let down. We’ve got a staffing crisis in our schools, we’ve got turnover higher than before the pandemic. Staff feel overworked, overstretched and undervalued”.

She continued: “We need to attract the best and hold onto the best staff and part of this would involve reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which would make sure support staff have a voice and seat at the table.

“Too many support staff are leaving our schools, leaving jobs they love to find pay and conditions that are better elsewhere.

Of a future Labour government, she added: “We will listen and work with schools to deliver that change that we know our schools and our children need to see”.

The seminar also heard from Karl Hopwood, an independent e-safety expert, who sits on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre and the education advisory board for The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

He said: “All staff, regardless of their role in their school, need to have some sort of online safety induction, which needs to be updated year-on-year.

“We have to address and talk about online safety in schools.

“Every school should have a clear policy on the use of mobile and smart technology in schools for the professionals and children.”

UNISON members attending the school support staff seminar in Cardiff marking the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools

Those attending the seminar co-ordinated group photos to celebrate 2024 being the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools (above).

Topics that were discussed in the workshops included the impact of teaching assistants covering classes, tackling racism in schools, UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, online safety and more.

The day also offered the opportunity to network with fellow reps and discuss issues that matter to school support staff across the UK.

The article Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are

The annual UNISON school support staff seminar took place recently in Cardiff, providing the chance for activists in schools to develop their skills and knowledge in the sector, through a combination of speaker presentations and workshops.

General secretary Christina McAnea told those attending: “You are a really important group within our union. About one in five of our members are school support staff – that’s how big a group you are in our union.

“And that’s really important, because it means we have a real voice within the schools in this country.

“We need to build up our representation in schools, so that we have a strong voice in schools to stop the exploitation that we see of support staff, and make sure you get the recognition and the reward you deserve for the really important jobs that you do.”

Catherine McKinnell MP address the school support staff seminar in Cardiff

Catherine McKinnell MP (pictured above), the shadow minister for schools told the seminar: “School staff have been badly let down. We’ve got a staffing crisis in our schools, we’ve got turnover higher than before the pandemic. Staff feel overworked, overstretched and undervalued”.

She continued: “We need to attract the best and hold onto the best staff and part of this would involve reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which would make sure support staff have a voice and seat at the table.

“Too many support staff are leaving our schools, leaving jobs they love to find pay and conditions that are better elsewhere.

Of a future Labour government, she added: “We will listen and work with schools to deliver that change that we know our schools and our children need to see”.

The seminar also heard from Karl Hopwood, an independent e-safety expert, who sits on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre and the education advisory board for The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

He said: “All staff, regardless of their role in their school, need to have some sort of online safety induction, which needs to be updated year-on-year.

“We have to address and talk about online safety in schools.

“Every school should have a clear policy on the use of mobile and smart technology in schools for the professionals and children.”

UNISON members attending the school support staff seminar in Cardiff marking the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools

Those attending the seminar co-ordinated group photos to celebrate 2024 being the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools (above).

Topics that were discussed in the workshops included the impact of teaching assistants covering classes, tackling racism in schools, UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, online safety and more.

The day also offered the opportunity to network with fellow reps and discuss issues that matter to school support staff across the UK.

The article Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Struggling schools forced to rely on teaching assistants as cheap cover for teachers

Pupils are missing out on essential support as teaching assistants increasingly provide cover for absent teachers, without lesson plans or help from other colleagues, according to a report released by UNISON today (Saturday).

The report Teaching on the Cheap? is based on survey responses from almost 6,000 teaching assistants covering classes in England and Wales. It suggests ongoing teacher shortages mean support staff are increasingly having to lead lessons and manage whole classes by themselves.

The research finds 45% say they are covering more classes now than they were the previous school year (2022/2023).

The report, commissioned by UNISON and written by researcher Rob Webster, found three quarters of survey respondents (75%) say looking after an entire class means they end up teaching rather than supervising pupils.

This is despite national guidance stating school support staff should not ‘actively teach’ any classes they cover, says the research. This will also come as a surprise to many parents, says UNISON, who will assume their children are being taught in the classroom by teachers.

UNISON says too many low-paid teaching assistants end up performing roles for which they are neither trained nor paid. This results in pupils being taught on the cheap, as three quarters (75%) of support staff say they receive no additional money for stepping up.

According to the findings, almost two in five (39%) report covering classes for at least five hours per week. That, says the research, is equivalent to roughly one school day a week, or half a term’s cover over a school year. Additionally, another 15% say they lead full classes for at least 11 hours a week.

Half (51%) of the teaching assistants in both secondary and special schools have been deployed to cover classes because their schools don’t have enough teachers. In primary schools, this was the case for almost a quarter (24%) of support staff.

But providing cover for teaching colleagues means teaching assistants’ normal tasks are not being done. Three quarters (74%) say this is the case and leaves the pupils they support without any assistance.

In primary schools, almost half the teaching assistants (49%) say they rarely or never have support to help them cover classes, even though teachers would usually have an assistant on hand in the classroom.

And only half (51%) of the support staff who cover classes are provided with lesson plans. Eight in ten (81%) teaching assistants believe their deployment to cover classes is having a negative impact on the quality of special educational needs provision in their schools.

Six in ten (63%) of those based in primary schools say pupils are missing out on critical catch-up sessions, as well as on literacy and numeracy support.

Assistants describe regularly being told to lead classes ranging from nursery to year 6, with just minutes to spare.

Those working in secondary schools report planning and teaching subjects at GCSE level where teachers have left and not been replaced. Many feel they are used as cheap substitutes for teachers and are unable to give pupils the quality lessons they need.

Adding such intense duties and responsibilities to their workloads is pushing many to think about leaving education for jobs elsewhere, warns UNISON.

The union is calling for a review of the role of teaching assistants as they’re now providing cover in circumstances way beyond what has been nationally agreed. Their skills must also be better recognised and their pay negotiated by a new, independent body, it adds.

UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “The strain imposed on teaching assistants is both unacceptable and exploitative. When they’re leading full classes, teaching assistants are being diverted from what they do best and pupils who need additional support are missing out.

“Schools’ budgets are so tight that, instead of getting in supply teachers to cover classes, heads are having to use teaching assistants on the cheap. Ministers are entirely responsible for the funding crisis that’s putting schools in this impossible position.

“Many children can’t grasp the basics without the critical assistance of teaching assistants. Redeploying them to other roles is unfair on everyone. Parents will rightly assume their children are being taught by teachers, not teaching assistants.

“The government must ensure all schools have the budget and staff to provide the education they’re meant to deliver. This over-reliance on unsatisfactory stopgap measures and overburdening teaching assistants in this way has to stop.”

Researcher and expert on teaching assistants Rob Webster said: “This study reveals the hidden costs of deploying teaching assistants to plug gaps in the teacher workforce.

“It disrupts support for pupils who need it, and prevents teaching assistants from doing their essential work.

“The special educational needs system in England is already at breaking point. Parents of children with additional needs will wonder what effect this considerable loss of teaching assistant capacity is having on their child’s provision.

“The current situation is having a detrimental effect on teaching assistants’ workload and wellbeing too. Left unaddressed, it could exacerbate the existing recruitment and retention crisis facing schools.”

Notes to editors:
– Teaching on the Cheap?  is based on the survey responses of 5,989 teaching assistants in England and Wales located in primary/infant (84%), secondary (5%) and special schools (11%). The survey was conducted online between January and February 2024.
– An executive summary of the findings is available here.

– Quotes from the report include:
“My role has become increasingly one of cover for absent teachers in my department. Last year about 50% of my time was spent doing this.” Secondary higher level teaching assistant 

“It is an expectation. If a teacher is off and has provided work, the teaching assistants are expected to teach the lesson.” Special school support assistant

“I’m told I have to plan and deliver a lesson every Monday as our class teacher does not work on this day. I am given no time to plan lessons, nor am I confident in doing this as I’ve not been trained. But I was told it’s in my contract.” Special school teaching assistant

“I’m having to cover an average of 3 to 4.5 days a week on a regular basis. This is partly because of the lack of funds to employ the extra staff needed or a supply.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“I have led reception class every afternoon since November. The head implied that another member of staff would be taken on, but they haven’t been.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“My school has used agency teachers to fill vacancies. The agency teacher in my class left so I was asked to step up and teach my class until a new teacher can be recruited. I am teaching my class on a full-term basis for the foreseeable future.” Special school teaching assistant

“I have been given a teaching timetable. Some was to cover maternity leave, some to fill a gap where a teacher had left and no one had been recruited to fill the space.” Secondary cover supervisor

“My school cannot afford supply teachers, so more teaching assistants than ever before are having to step in for teaching colleagues.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“Teaching assistants should not be used to cover teachers’ lessons. We are not qualified teachers and the students deserve a good quality education. This can’t happen if lessons are being covered by support staff.” Special school teaching assistant

“I don’t think parents have any idea about how much of their children’s education is being delivered by unqualified teaching assistants.” Primary/infant higher level teaching assistant

“I only get 20p per hour more than my basic teaching assistant pay for covering lessons. I receive a total of 74p extra for covering a whole afternoon. The additional payment for this morning is approximately £2.50 net. Supply staff would have been paid £150 for the same work.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“A supply teacher would get sometimes in excess of £100 per day, whereas we get barely £1 an hour extra. For about 30 hours of cover a month, I earned about £40 more. It doesn’t seem fair.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Struggling schools forced to rely on teaching assistants as cheap cover for teachers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Struggling schools forced to rely on teaching assistants as cheap cover for teachers

Pupils are missing out on essential support as teaching assistants increasingly provide cover for absent teachers, without lesson plans or help from other colleagues, according to a report released by UNISON today (Saturday).

The report Teaching on the Cheap? is based on survey responses from almost 6,000 teaching assistants covering classes in England and Wales. It suggests ongoing teacher shortages mean support staff are increasingly having to lead lessons and manage whole classes by themselves.

The research finds 45% say they are covering more classes now than they were the previous school year (2022/2023).

The report, commissioned by UNISON and written by researcher Rob Webster, found three quarters of survey respondents (75%) say looking after an entire class means they end up teaching rather than supervising pupils.

This is despite national guidance stating school support staff should not ‘actively teach’ any classes they cover, says the research. This will also come as a surprise to many parents, says UNISON, who will assume their children are being taught in the classroom by teachers.

UNISON says too many low-paid teaching assistants end up performing roles for which they are neither trained nor paid. This results in pupils being taught on the cheap, as three quarters (75%) of support staff say they receive no additional money for stepping up.

According to the findings, almost two in five (39%) report covering classes for at least five hours per week. That, says the research, is equivalent to roughly one school day a week, or half a term’s cover over a school year. Additionally, another 15% say they lead full classes for at least 11 hours a week.

Half (51%) of the teaching assistants in both secondary and special schools have been deployed to cover classes because their schools don’t have enough teachers. In primary schools, this was the case for almost a quarter (24%) of support staff.

But providing cover for teaching colleagues means teaching assistants’ normal tasks are not being done. Three quarters (74%) say this is the case and leaves the pupils they support without any assistance.

In primary schools, almost half the teaching assistants (49%) say they rarely or never have support to help them cover classes, even though teachers would usually have an assistant on hand in the classroom.

And only half (51%) of the support staff who cover classes are provided with lesson plans. Eight in ten (81%) teaching assistants believe their deployment to cover classes is having a negative impact on the quality of special educational needs provision in their schools.

Six in ten (63%) of those based in primary schools say pupils are missing out on critical catch-up sessions, as well as on literacy and numeracy support.

Assistants describe regularly being told to lead classes ranging from nursery to year 6, with just minutes to spare.

Those working in secondary schools report planning and teaching subjects at GCSE level where teachers have left and not been replaced. Many feel they are used as cheap substitutes for teachers and are unable to give pupils the quality lessons they need.

Adding such intense duties and responsibilities to their workloads is pushing many to think about leaving education for jobs elsewhere, warns UNISON.

The union is calling for a review of the role of teaching assistants as they’re now providing cover in circumstances way beyond what has been nationally agreed. Their skills must also be better recognised and their pay negotiated by a new, independent body, it adds.

UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “The strain imposed on teaching assistants is both unacceptable and exploitative. When they’re leading full classes, teaching assistants are being diverted from what they do best and pupils who need additional support are missing out.

“Schools’ budgets are so tight that, instead of getting in supply teachers to cover classes, heads are having to use teaching assistants on the cheap. Ministers are entirely responsible for the funding crisis that’s putting schools in this impossible position.

“Many children can’t grasp the basics without the critical assistance of teaching assistants. Redeploying them to other roles is unfair on everyone. Parents will rightly assume their children are being taught by teachers, not teaching assistants.

“The government must ensure all schools have the budget and staff to provide the education they’re meant to deliver. This over-reliance on unsatisfactory stopgap measures and overburdening teaching assistants in this way has to stop.”

Researcher and expert on teaching assistants Rob Webster said: “This study reveals the hidden costs of deploying teaching assistants to plug gaps in the teacher workforce.

“It disrupts support for pupils who need it, and prevents teaching assistants from doing their essential work.

“The special educational needs system in England is already at breaking point. Parents of children with additional needs will wonder what effect this considerable loss of teaching assistant capacity is having on their child’s provision.

“The current situation is having a detrimental effect on teaching assistants’ workload and wellbeing too. Left unaddressed, it could exacerbate the existing recruitment and retention crisis facing schools.”

Notes to editors:
– Teaching on the Cheap?  is based on the survey responses of 5,989 teaching assistants in England and Wales located in primary/infant (84%), secondary (5%) and special schools (11%). The survey was conducted online between January and February 2024.
– An executive summary of the findings is available here.

– Quotes from the report include:
“My role has become increasingly one of cover for absent teachers in my department. Last year about 50% of my time was spent doing this.” Secondary higher level teaching assistant 

“It is an expectation. If a teacher is off and has provided work, the teaching assistants are expected to teach the lesson.” Special school support assistant

“I’m told I have to plan and deliver a lesson every Monday as our class teacher does not work on this day. I am given no time to plan lessons, nor am I confident in doing this as I’ve not been trained. But I was told it’s in my contract.” Special school teaching assistant

“I’m having to cover an average of 3 to 4.5 days a week on a regular basis. This is partly because of the lack of funds to employ the extra staff needed or a supply.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“I have led reception class every afternoon since November. The head implied that another member of staff would be taken on, but they haven’t been.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“My school has used agency teachers to fill vacancies. The agency teacher in my class left so I was asked to step up and teach my class until a new teacher can be recruited. I am teaching my class on a full-term basis for the foreseeable future.” Special school teaching assistant

“I have been given a teaching timetable. Some was to cover maternity leave, some to fill a gap where a teacher had left and no one had been recruited to fill the space.” Secondary cover supervisor

“My school cannot afford supply teachers, so more teaching assistants than ever before are having to step in for teaching colleagues.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“Teaching assistants should not be used to cover teachers’ lessons. We are not qualified teachers and the students deserve a good quality education. This can’t happen if lessons are being covered by support staff.” Special school teaching assistant

“I don’t think parents have any idea about how much of their children’s education is being delivered by unqualified teaching assistants.” Primary/infant higher level teaching assistant

“I only get 20p per hour more than my basic teaching assistant pay for covering lessons. I receive a total of 74p extra for covering a whole afternoon. The additional payment for this morning is approximately £2.50 net. Supply staff would have been paid £150 for the same work.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

“A supply teacher would get sometimes in excess of £100 per day, whereas we get barely £1 an hour extra. For about 30 hours of cover a month, I earned about £40 more. It doesn’t seem fair.” Primary/infant teaching assistant

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Struggling schools forced to rely on teaching assistants as cheap cover for teachers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

MPs celebrate college support staff

UNISON is asking MPs to visit their local colleges tomorrow, 9 February, to celebrate Champions in Our Colleges as part of the ongoing campaign to fully recognise the importance of support staff in education.

On Tuesday, the union held a drop-in event at Westminster, where MPs discussed their local colleges and the funding problems in the sector.

As well as listening to issues which affect the sector nationally, MPs were keen to talk about what they could do to support their local colleges.

There was a particular focus on the apprenticeship system, its importance and how to make it work better – highlighting the benefit, as part of a well-rounded education system, of quality apprenticeships to individuals and to the economy as a whole.

Labour MP Kim Johnson showing support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Kim Johnson

The event also gave UNISON officers the opportunity to tell MPs of the union’s concerns with pay bargaining in England, the outsourcing of support staff jobs on worse pay and conditions, and poor staffing levels.

The MPs who attended included Ben Bradshaw, George Howarth, Kim Johnson, Justin Madders, Toby Perkins, Virenda Sharma, Liz Twist, Beth Winter, Christian Wakeford and Daniel Zeichner (all Labour), Munira Wilson (Lib Dems) and Chris Stephens (SNP).

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner showing support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner

Champions in Our Colleges celebrates the important role of support staff in colleges and aims to raise awareness of the issues they face.

UNISON encourages all stakeholders, leaders, teachers, other support staff, learners, MPs and the local community to show support staff how much they are valued. The event was run nationally for the first time in February last year.

Labour MP Liz Twist shows her support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Liz Twist

National officer Leigh Powell said: “It was great to hear from MPs how keen they were to get behind the campaign to recognise the importance of support staff and the importance of the FE and sixth form college sector as a whole.

“We were particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to make MPs aware of the issues around a lack of proper national bargaining (in England) which led to huge differences in funding levels for colleges this year. I’m sure this event will help us make improvements for many staff in the sector, and that’s what we fight for every day.”

Find out more at the campaign webpage

The article MPs celebrate college support staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

MPs celebrate college support staff

UNISON is asking MPs to visit their local colleges tomorrow, 9 February, to celebrate Champions in Our Colleges as part of the ongoing campaign to fully recognise the importance of support staff in education.

On Tuesday, the union held a drop-in event at Westminster, where MPs discussed their local colleges and the funding problems in the sector.

As well as listening to issues which affect the sector nationally, MPs were keen to talk about what they could do to support their local colleges.

There was a particular focus on the apprenticeship system, its importance and how to make it work better – highlighting the benefit, as part of a well-rounded education system, of quality apprenticeships to individuals and to the economy as a whole.

Labour MP Kim Johnson showing support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Kim Johnson

The event also gave UNISON officers the opportunity to tell MPs of the union’s concerns with pay bargaining in England, the outsourcing of support staff jobs on worse pay and conditions, and poor staffing levels.

The MPs who attended included Ben Bradshaw, George Howarth, Kim Johnson, Justin Madders, Toby Perkins, Virenda Sharma, Liz Twist, Beth Winter, Christian Wakeford and Daniel Zeichner (all Labour), Munira Wilson (Lib Dems) and Chris Stephens (SNP).

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner showing support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner

Champions in Our Colleges celebrates the important role of support staff in colleges and aims to raise awareness of the issues they face.

UNISON encourages all stakeholders, leaders, teachers, other support staff, learners, MPs and the local community to show support staff how much they are valued. The event was run nationally for the first time in February last year.

Labour MP Liz Twist shows her support for Champions in Our Colleges

Labour MP Liz Twist

National officer Leigh Powell said: “It was great to hear from MPs how keen they were to get behind the campaign to recognise the importance of support staff and the importance of the FE and sixth form college sector as a whole.

“We were particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to make MPs aware of the issues around a lack of proper national bargaining (in England) which led to huge differences in funding levels for colleges this year. I’m sure this event will help us make improvements for many staff in the sector, and that’s what we fight for every day.”

Find out more at the campaign webpage

The article MPs celebrate college support staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Stars in Our Schools goes to Parliament

On Tuesday 21 November, MPs from across the political spectrum joined UNISON at a parliamentary event celebrating the work of school support staff.

The event was hosted in the run-up to the union’s annual celebration day, Stars in Our Schools, on Friday 24 November.

Stars in Our Schools highlights the vital role of support staff in helping children learn, keeping them safe and happy, and ensuring schools run smoothly. These are roles including caterers, cleaners, admin staff, finance officers, teaching assistants, librarians and technicians.

The drop-in event, hosted by Kim Johnson MP, gave politicians the opportunity to show their support for schools staff and hear about the problems they face.

UNISON members Sue Ryles (pictured above, left) and Claire Stanhope (pictured above, right) shared their experiences with MPs including John McDonnell (centre) and Paula Barker (pictured below). Sue is a teaching assistant in Great Yarmouth and Claire is a nursery nurse and schools convenor in Oxfordshire.

Paula Barker MP holding a 'Stars in Our Schools' sign

Claire said: “It was great to speak not only to my own MP, but to MPs from across the UK. We talked about the crisis with SEND schools, that there is a lack of places for the children that has a knock-on effect on SEND children being in mainstream school where, although the support staff do a wonderful job, they haven’t had adequate training.

“Mental health problems are on the rise in schools but the training for staff to help the children isn’t adequate. The schools budgets have been cut and it’s normally the support staff that are the ones that the schools cut first.

“I was happy to hear from some MPs that they would fight for more funding for school and support staff, and adequate training for staff to be able to support SEND children and children struggling with their mental health”

UNISON national officer Joanna Parry said: “Stars in Our Schools is about recognising and celebrating the huge contribution support staff make in schools and it was great that MPs were able to join us to mark the occasion.

“More importantly, it gave an opportunity for MPs to hear firsthand about the urgent issues that need addressing in schools. It is crucial that schools – and those who work in them – have the investment they desperately need”

Find out more about Stars In Our Schools

The article Stars in Our Schools goes to Parliament first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Stars in Our Schools goes to Parliament

On Tuesday 21 November, MPs from across the political spectrum joined UNISON at a parliamentary event celebrating the work of school support staff.

The event was hosted in the run-up to the union’s annual celebration day, Stars in Our Schools, on Friday 24 November.

Stars in Our Schools highlights the vital role of support staff in helping children learn, keeping them safe and happy, and ensuring schools run smoothly. These are roles including caterers, cleaners, admin staff, finance officers, teaching assistants, librarians and technicians.

The drop-in event, hosted by Kim Johnson MP, gave politicians the opportunity to show their support for schools staff and hear about the problems they face.

UNISON members Sue Ryles (pictured above, left) and Claire Stanhope (pictured above, right) shared their experiences with MPs including John McDonnell (centre) and Paula Barker (pictured below). Sue is a teaching assistant in Great Yarmouth and Claire is a nursery nurse and schools convenor in Oxfordshire.

Paula Barker MP holding a 'Stars in Our Schools' sign

Claire said: “It was great to speak not only to my own MP, but to MPs from across the UK. We talked about the crisis with SEND schools, that there is a lack of places for the children that has a knock-on effect on SEND children being in mainstream school where, although the support staff do a wonderful job, they haven’t had adequate training.

“Mental health problems are on the rise in schools but the training for staff to help the children isn’t adequate. The schools budgets have been cut and it’s normally the support staff that are the ones that the schools cut first.

“I was happy to hear from some MPs that they would fight for more funding for school and support staff, and adequate training for staff to be able to support SEND children and children struggling with their mental health”

UNISON national officer Joanna Parry said: “Stars in Our Schools is about recognising and celebrating the huge contribution support staff make in schools and it was great that MPs were able to join us to mark the occasion.

“More importantly, it gave an opportunity for MPs to hear firsthand about the urgent issues that need addressing in schools. It is crucial that schools – and those who work in them – have the investment they desperately need”

Find out more about Stars In Our Schools

The article Stars in Our Schools goes to Parliament first appeared on the UNISON National site.