UNISON will continue to speak up for teaching and classroom assistants after a successful UK-wide celebration day on Friday.
“Although the celebration day was full of cakes, flowers and superhero outfits, the reality is that teaching assistants have a raw deal,”said UNISON national officer Joanna Coates.
“They are poorly paid for the responsibility they take, usually on term-time contracts, and with increasing workloads and unpaid hours.
“In a recent survey of nearly 8,000 teaching assistants:
- 95% expressed concern about low pay;
- 83% about working unpaid hours;
- 75% expressed concern over lack of training opportunities.
“Teaching assistants, classroom assistants and other learning support staff deserve to be valued and appreciated, properly trained and paid, and able to progress through a proper career structure,” added Ms Coates.
“UNISON’s campaign to speak up for TAs continues.”
