The London Assembly expressed its concern about the impact of cuts to teaching assistance and support staff today.
In a motion, Members called on the Mayor to voice his support for all teaching staff in London.
Len Duvall AM, who proposed the motion said:
“Teaching assistants are often the backbone of the classroom and provide vital support for some of the most vulnerable children in our capital, preventing them from slipping through the cracks.
“That’s why I am so concerned about the cuts to teaching assistants and other support staff, particularly at Halley Academy in my constituency. We urgently need the Mayor to reaffirm his support for teaching assistants in London, and for the Assembly to investigate what can be done.
“We cannot ignore the fact that the Government’s devastating cuts to education have left many schools across London struggling to make ends meet. Over the coming years, over £1 billion of funding is needed to make up the shortfall in mainstream school places.
“The Government will be failing London’s children, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities, if it does not make up this gap at the earliest opportunity.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly values the role of teachers, but also teaching assistants and support staff across London’s schools, who are often overlooked. A good education improves children’s life chances and contributes to London’s economy, increasing skillsets and innovation. Teaching assistants and support staff play a vital role in supporting London’s most vulnerable children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They are also some of the lowest paid workers in the education sector.
Therefore, this Assembly expresses its concern about the impact of cuts to teaching assistants and support staff, with particular reference to those that have recently taken place at Halley Academy School in the borough of Greenwich. Cuts to these roles prevent vulnerable children from receiving the support that they are entitled to, restrict opportunities for Londoners and go against the Mayor’s ambition to create a fairer and more equal city.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor to add his voice and support to all teaching staff in London. The Assembly also requests the Education Panel to consider an investigation into the value and contribution of teaching support staff in London, particularly children with SEND, taking evidence from employers, workers representatives and Ofsted, as a matter of urgency.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- Len Duvall AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.