School staff supporting children with special educational needs (SEN) in Essex are calling for recognition and pay to match their jobs, UNISON says today.
Specialist workers at three schools run by the Lift Schools multi-academy trust – Columbus School & College in Chelmsford, Pioneer in Basildon and Lift Clacton – are asking to be paid a SEN allowance, says UNISON. They’ve now launched a petition to show the strength of feeling.
Teaching assistants, pastoral support workers and other support staff point out that SEN teachers already get an allowance of up to £5,500 because of the extra skills and responsibilities that come with SEN teaching.
Support staff often take on the bulk of behaviour management, as well as having responsibility for personal – and sometimes medical – care. Without them, teachers would be unable to do their jobs, says UNISON.
Workers say they’ve tried to ask Lift managers to consider paying the allowance, but have been given the cold shoulder.
After months of cancelled meetings, managers finally discussed the issue with staff on 8 October, promising to respond to the request for a special allowance by 17 October. Since then, there has been silence, says the union.
Staff hope the launch of their petition will encourage Lift bosses to talk to their employees and get the process in motion, says UNISON.
UNISON Eastern area organiser Bea Bartilucci said: “SEN support staff face the same additional challenges as SEN teachers, but don’t get the recognition or pay to match it.
“Instead of talking to employees, Lift managers have left them on hold.
“Workers feel disrespected and many are burnt out, with increasing numbers forced to look elsewhere for work. Lift needs to act or the quality of children’s education and care will suffer.
“Parents, carers, teachers and students value support staff. It’s high time Lift did the same.”
