Reject proposals to make teaching assistants redundant at James Peacock Infant and Primary School. Other sustainable cost-saving options are available and should be explored.
Why is this important?
James Peacock School in Ruddington is proposing to make a significant number of its most experienced and highly-qualified teaching assistants redundant. The head teacher claims that cuts are needed to save money but there are other ways to solve the problem. Nevertheless, the School’s governors are being asked to approve damaging plans to target teaching assistants.
Making teaching assistants redundant will cause long-lasting harm to children, to the school and to the Ruddington community. Those whose jobs are at risk have firm roots in the village and are well-known to children and parents having worked in the school for many years.
Teaching assistants provide vital support, supporting teachers in managing class behaviour as well as ensuring children with special needs receive additional care and attention. Reducing the number of teaching assistants would deprive children of support and restrict teachers' ability to teach effectively.
Not only are there other ways of balancing the School’s books, but it is likely that schools funding will increase over the next year. The government schools minister for England, Nick Gibb, has said that school funding will be a priority for the autumn spending review. Now is not the time to get rid of teaching assistants who are indispensable for the children and teachers of James Peacock.
