A fair deal for class assistants

6th October 2006, 1:00am

Share

A fair deal for class assistants

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/fair-deal-class-assistants-0
Apparently we are to play a “complementary role” to the teacher, rather than be “para-teachers” (“Qualifications raise class assistants above ‘pond life’”, TES, September 22).

Oh dear. We do seem to pose a conundrum to those peering into the murky abyss of our job descriptions. So after all the hoo-ha of the higher-level teaching assistant, when we were only offered “status” and nothing more, we are now being offered another qualification. What I would like to know is: if we run our schools with a “national” curriculum and a national pay scale for teachers, can we not be offered training and pay that is similarly nationally structured?

By the way, if I was to compare the Government’s treatment of teaching assistants to a pond life organism, I’d choose the water bear. This little chap has eight stumpy legs but moves very slowly.

Marian Colyer

Teaching assistant

Turnfurlong junior school Aylesbury, Bucks

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared