Time to pay school support staff their due

The debate about schools, pupil attainment and changes to our education system rages on. Yet there is one group of workers who are rarely discussed or heard in the debate, despite playing a fundamental role in almost every aspect of school life – school support staff. UNISON has almost been a lone voice in championing this overlooked group. School support staff help children learn, keep them safe and healthy and ensure schools run smoothly. They help provide the holistic attention vital to the rounded development of children and young people.

Last autumn hundreds of schools across the UK joined UNISON to hold a celebration day to recognise the work of teaching assistants. This year UNISON is expanding the celebration to recognise the contribution of all support staff. They are the caterers and janitors, the caretakers, the cleaners, the teaching and classroom assistants, the librarians, the ICT technicians, the parent support advisers, the admin staff, the finance officers and more. They are vital to the effective running of a school but this is not often recognised.

Nowhere is this lack of recognition more evident than in their pay and terms and conditions. Recently UNISON conducted a survey of school support staff, which received more than 15,000 responses. It reveals a dedicated but demoralised workforce. Almost 90% of respondents are concerned about low rates of pay, with 17% so low that they are forced to supplement their income with in-work benefits. One respondent said, “The pay will never equal a living wage due to the part-time, term-time only nature of school contracts. Job security will always be an issue until school support staff are valued by society”. The survey showed the real impact low pay and job insecurity is having on lives. Another respondent commented, “I am unable to meet my financial responsibilities and have exhausted my savings. My situation and outlook is now very grim”. Another said, “I earned more when I was an apprentice”.

Unsurprisingly the second highest concern was workload, with 80% telling us they were concerned about it. For 81% the only way they can keep on top of their work is by doing unpaid overtime and working out of hours. Additionally, many were forced to work second jobs to make ends meet including bar work, waitressing, delivering free newspapers, sweeping roads and packing internet orders. Others told us that they were dependent on pensions or their partner’s wage. One said, “it bothers me that without my husband’s earnings, I could not manage financially. I love my job. It’s what I do well. I have always worked in education with the more vulnerable youngsters. I feel that something is amiss when people like myself, committed to the role with years of experience and qualifications, are not rewarded financially.”

The low pay that support staff receive is in stark contrast to the value they add to schools. The evidence given by support staff about the effect they have on pupils’ lives stands as testimony to their dedication and importance. In their own words, “we change lives forever”. They told us, “sometimes we are the only stable influence in children’s lives. We make a difference by supporting them both academically and emotionally. We give them unconditional care. We listen to them, give encouragement, teach them to respect themselves, each other, their school and community. We encourage them to think for themselves and to make good choices”.

Another told us “Over the years, I have seen some spectacular support staff who have transformed the lives of children to make them more equipped for adult life ahead, whether that be through additional sport, tapping into extra-curricular activities for those harder to reach children or simply being someone to listen and give a little attention.” One respondent simply said, “I never give up on a child”.

Support staff play an essential role supporting children with special needs, from acting “as a buffer between a stressed child on the autistic spectrum and the confusion and unpredictability of the school day” to “without us, our special needs children could not come to school as they need personal care and one to one support in the classroom”. Our support staff members are motivated by a commitment to pupils and to education, whether they have a classroom-based role or not. One characteristic comment highlighted their ability to connect with pupils precisely because they aren’t teachers: “I am around for students to approach throughout the day. I try to support them, to maintain their wellbeing and put things in place to support their ability to learn”. Another respondent said, “We are someone who the children can relate to without being a teacher”.

From librarians who spoke about their efforts to provide good resources for children despite budget cuts, to school meals staff who highlighted their role tackling bullying and teaching children how to use knives and forks, to caretakers and janitors who talked about their role keeping children safe, support staff work together as a whole school team. It is a labour of love: 80% of respondents told us that they loved their job – but over 50% said they did not feel valued. This has to change.

The abolition of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, set up by the last Labour government and abolished by the Coalition in England, was a huge step backwards in developing much needed consistency in pay, conditions and job roles for school support staff. As increasing attention is being paid to children’s attainment, safety, emotional welfare, nutrition and health, it’s time to focus on the professionals who are already making a difference every day – against the odds. One member told us, she felt “undervalued, disregarded and more dumped on than ever”. It is not possible to create an environment which nurtures the talents and aspirations of all children on the backs of a shadow army of workers, often paid below the living wage.

With school support staff being UNISON’s fastest growing membership area, their voice is getting stronger and it will be heard. To find out more about UNISON’s campaign, visit www.starsinourschools.uk, or follow us on @UNISONinSchools

Jon Richards is the national secretary of Education and Children’s Services at UNISON.