Cash-strapped school support staff are paying for pupils’ essentials

School support staff are using their own money to help pay for pupils’ food and clothing, even though many are struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis themselves, says UNISON today (Friday).

UNISON urges government to make schools safe now

‘We now have the absurd situation of government departments ringing schools days before term begins, telling them to prepare for potential building closures’

Council and school staff begin strike ballot over pay, says UNISON

More than a third of a million council and school support staff across England and Wales will begin voting today (Tuesday) on whether to strike over pay.

Low-earning school support staff are paying for pupils’ food, skipping meals and taking on multiple jobs to survive

Cash-strapped school support staff are using their own money to help pupils and their families cope with the cost-of-living crisis, says UNISON today (Friday). A ​UK-wide union survey of more than 6,000 school workers reveals staff – including teaching assistants, catering and cleaning workers, librarians and sports coaches – are buying food for hungry pupils, and contributing towards the cost of […]

Aspirations Academy Trust’s outsourcing blow to cleaning and catering staff is ‘appalling timing’, says UNISON

Cleaners and catering staff at two schools in Dorset are facing an uncertain future as Aspirations Academy Trust push through plans to outsource their employment to private contractors.   

School support staff fear ‘big bang’ return’ to school is a safety risk

Half of school support staff ​in England ​have been anxious about the return to classrooms ​this week, with many fearing measures to keep them safe are inadequate, according to a survey published today (Friday) by UNISON.

Nominate a Star in our Schools ⭐️

UNISON is celebrating Stars in our Schools on Friday 27 November 2020 and we need your help.

Clearer guidance still needed on face coverings in schools in England, says UNISON

Parents and staff are still confused over the wearing of face coverings in schools, says UNISON. The union has now written to secretary of state for education Gavin Williamson urging him to allow all school staff to be allowed to wear face coverings if they choose. UNISON also supports calls to let pupils wear face coverings too, given emerging evidence […]

Staffing, safety and vulnerable children must be priority for schools’ return, says UNISON

Responding to plans published today (Thursday) by the government for the full return of schools from September, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “Everyone wants all children to return to the classroom as soon as possible. There are still issues, though, around staffing and safety. “Test and trace must get a whole lot better for social […]

Support staff have little confidence in government school safety plans, says UNISON

An overwhelming majority of school support staff don’t feel reassured by government claims that English schools are safe to open to more pupils from the beginning of June, according to a UNISON survey published today (Friday).

Education unions’ agree statement on the safe reopening of schools

Ministers should step back from 1 June target and put safety first.

Plym Academy Trust on strike in pay dispute

Teaching assistants, administration staff and meal time assistants in five Plymouth schools are on strike over pay.

Pupils protest in Plymouth after headteacher threatens Golden Time

With Golden Time under threat, students from Pennycross Primary in Plymouth staged a protest with the help of UNISON.