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Teaching assistant controls urged | Teaching assistant controls urged |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The use of teaching assistants in schools should be subject to much tighter controls, a union has said. | The use of teaching assistants in schools should be subject to much tighter controls, a union has said. |
Unison says assistants are being used for cheap teaching across the UK. | Unison says assistants are being used for cheap teaching across the UK. |
Christine McAnea, of Unison, said the practice was "endemic" as it cost less to use support staff to cover teacher absence than to buy supply teachers. | Christine McAnea, of Unison, said the practice was "endemic" as it cost less to use support staff to cover teacher absence than to buy supply teachers. |
Schools Minister Jim Knight said teaching assistants eased the burden on teachers, but they should not lead classes "for more than a short period". | Schools Minister Jim Knight said teaching assistants eased the burden on teachers, but they should not lead classes "for more than a short period". |
It costs about £150 a day to employ a supply teacher, but about £50 to pay support staff. | It costs about £150 a day to employ a supply teacher, but about £50 to pay support staff. |
They're being used as cut-price teachers Rosemary PlummerUnison | They're being used as cut-price teachers Rosemary PlummerUnison |
Rosemary Plummer, a Unison representative, said in the last few months more than 40 teaching assistants from a small area of London had told her they felt they were being asked to do more than they were qualified for. | Rosemary Plummer, a Unison representative, said in the last few months more than 40 teaching assistants from a small area of London had told her they felt they were being asked to do more than they were qualified for. |
"They're delivering maths, they're delivering literacy and marking work - that's a teacher's job... they're being used as cut-price teachers," she said. | |
On covering teacher absences, she added: "It's very easy to use teaching assistants on lower rates of pay - it would cost an awful lot to bring in a supply teacher." | On covering teacher absences, she added: "It's very easy to use teaching assistants on lower rates of pay - it would cost an awful lot to bring in a supply teacher." |
Ms McAnea, Unison's head of education, said schools were often "putting people in front of children who may not have the right qualifications or experience to do this". | Ms McAnea, Unison's head of education, said schools were often "putting people in front of children who may not have the right qualifications or experience to do this". |
The practice had to be much more tightly regulated, she said. | The practice had to be much more tightly regulated, she said. |
'Not interchangeable' | 'Not interchangeable' |
In the last decade the number of teachers in England has risen by around 10% - from 399,000 in 1998 to 440,000 now. | In the last decade the number of teachers in England has risen by around 10% - from 399,000 in 1998 to 440,000 now. |
The number of teaching assistants, however, has risen by almost 200% over the same period, from 61,000 to 177,000. | The number of teaching assistants, however, has risen by almost 200% over the same period, from 61,000 to 177,000. |
Unions are working closely with schools and the government to update the job descriptions of support staff in an effort to prevent the exploitation of assistants. | Unions are working closely with schools and the government to update the job descriptions of support staff in an effort to prevent the exploitation of assistants. |
The government and teaching unions agree that teaching assistants are crucial to the smooth running of schools. | The government and teaching unions agree that teaching assistants are crucial to the smooth running of schools. |
Their role was initially outlined as being to help and support the classroom teacher, and they were expected to be adept at working one-on-one with pupils or small groups. | Their role was initially outlined as being to help and support the classroom teacher, and they were expected to be adept at working one-on-one with pupils or small groups. |
But the guidelines on the exact role of teaching assistants are vague, and much of the role they do is at the discretion of their headteacher. | But the guidelines on the exact role of teaching assistants are vague, and much of the role they do is at the discretion of their headteacher. |
However, the government is clear that support staff should not be teaching classrooms of children unsupervised. | However, the government is clear that support staff should not be teaching classrooms of children unsupervised. |
Mr Knight said teaching assistants are doing an incredibly good job, but should not be seen as "interchangeable with qualified teachers". | Mr Knight said teaching assistants are doing an incredibly good job, but should not be seen as "interchangeable with qualified teachers". |