UNISON, the UK’s largest education union, is today highlighting the huge value that teaching assistants (TAs) play in delivering top-class education to children in schools. A recent survey of school leaders showed that more than 95% said TAs added value to pupils’ learning experience and enhanced the learning environment.
The union is warning that plans to sack teaching assistants and ask teachers to pick up their work would turn the clock back on the improvements that have been made, by distracting teachers from their main focus – teaching.
Michael Gove, secretary of state for education, has written to the School Teachers Review Body asking it to review the rules around what teachers are responsible for in schools. Currently some tasks, such as short term cover for teachers and administrative tasks, are reserved for teaching assistants and other support staff. Removing this work could lead to these staff losing their jobs.
Jon Richards, UNISON’s national secretary for education, said: “UNISON will be seeking an urgent meeting with Michael Gove over these potentially damaging plans.
“Asking teachers to do the work of support staff will mean they have less time to focus on teaching, and pupils will have fewer support staff to help support their other needs. This would turn the clock back, hitting standards in a self-defeating move that is a lose-lose situation for pupils.
“Sacking teaching assistants will only add more women to the UK’s growing dole queues – making our economy even worse.”