The Government says they are crucial to lifting the burden from teachers and helping to ensure that children receive a better education. Yet teaching assistants (TAs) in many areas of the country are up in arms because they feel their contribution is being devalued by not being paid enough.
While a framework for job profiles for TAs has been agreed at national level following the school workforce remodelling agreement, the Government has refused to negotiate pay on the same basis, insisting that it must be the subject of local bargaining between unions and local authority employers. However, faced with growing evidence of wide disparities in pay between local authorities, education secretary Ruth Kelly has indicated that the Government may perform a U-turn on this issue.
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