School staff fear frontline 'while teachers work from home'

It is believed that in some school settings - support staff have been asked to come in every day whilst teachers conduct lessons over video platform Zoom.

A Higher-Level Teaching Assistant who lives in Merton and works in Surrey says teachers are being prioritised over support staff.

She said: "Support staff are being exposed to contact children while teachers are working from the comfort of their home and show up only for a couple of days during the whole half term, if so.

"I do not want to minimalise teachers efforts during the pandemic but at the end of the day we are all human beings, all equal therefore our lives should be risked just as much."

In July last year, the education secretary announced that teachers will receive the biggest pay rise in fifteen years. It was confirmed that the starting salary for new teachers will increase by 5.5% and increase the upper and lower boundaries of the pay ranges for all other teachers by 2.75%. 

The Government has committed to increasing teachers’ starting salaries to £30,000 by 2022/23, with a 5.5% increase worth between £1,341 and £1,677, depending on location.

Commenting on the pay rise, the Surrey teaching assistant said: "Teachers got a pay rise after the first lockdown for their hard work but no one mentioned support staff.

"We all know how much they contribute to school life. 

"I think it is unfair that although we were not good enough to get a couple of extra pounds, but hell we are good enough to be exposed most of the time.

"No one stood up for support staff when it came to a pay rise for working hard during the first pandemic. 

"No one thought it would be important that we get a share from the good things too but when it comes to using us no one has a problem with that.

"We are just as vulnerable as teachers and health should be paramount."

Have you been affected by schools staying open? Contact us at monica.charsley@newsquest.co.uk