Support staff struggling to maintain standards for pupils because of cuts, says UNISON's "Hard Lessons" report

Lack of time, resources and heavy workloads mean support staff are struggling to maintain standards for pupils in Scotland. That is the finding of a wide ranging UNISON report released on Monday 16 January 2017

In probably one of the biggest surveys of school support staff ever in Scotland, staff report heavier workloads, jobs cuts, lack of educational supplies, and dirtier schools. This is while pupil numbers and education support needs are increasing.

There are 6707 more pupils since 2010 in Scottish schools, but there 1841 less support staff and 1389 less teachers. This report confirms the enormous stress this puts on support staff.

54 per cent of support staff say budgets have been cut, 40 per cent carry out unpaid work to meet workloads, 60 per cent say morale is low, and 80 per cent say workloads are heavier. And services like school libraries are closing. Many report stress from the lack of training and support they receive for the tasks they are asked to carry out – like administering medicines or caring for pupils with challenging behaviour.

The report reveals a dedicated workforce committed to supporting children to reach their potential. Staff skip breaks and work late to meet their pupil’s needs. But they are exhausted, undervalued and under enormous pressure.

Stars in our Schools - Celebrating the role of school support staff

On Friday 25 November 2016, across the country schools will be celebrating the people behind the scenes who help children learn, keep them safe and healthy and make sure schools run smoothly.
Susan Kennedy, Assistant Secretary is encouraging schools across Aberdeenshire to take part.

"This allows those schools to thank all the support staff who are very often forgotten, for all their hard work supporting our children through their educational years,” she said.

Click here for the Stars in Our Schools website

Susan added, "A whole team of people – from IT technicians, caretakers, lunchtime supervisors, receptionists, administrators, teaching assistants and many more – work together to make a great school.

"These people have a huge impact on children’s education, but they’re often forgotten. Which is why UNISON organises Stars in Our Schools day, a day to celebrate them. And the day is almost here!"

Click on the link for more ideas of what you can do

Stars in our Schools - Celebrating the role of school support staff

UNISON in Schools celebrated the work carried out by all of our school support staff on Friday 27th November as part of the Stars in our Schools event which is celebrated around 29th November.

Susan Kennedy

Susan Kennedy, Assistant Branch Secretary enabled several schools across Aberdeenshire to take part.

"This allowed those schools to thank all the support staff who are very often forgotten, for all their hard work supporting our children through their educational years,” she said.

Susan added, “I would personally like to thank all those Head Teachers who welcomed and joined in with this event.

“I was able to visit the new Alford and Ellon Campuses where all of the school staff have been busy over the past few months in preparation for the pupils.”

Neil Morison, Head Teacher at Portlethen academy said it was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with all his support staff and thank them for their hard work.

“Hopefully we will be able to get more schools involved with this event next year, so I look forward to that next autumn,” said Susan.

UNISON Personal Learning Development Grants for school support staff members

Are you a Schools Support worker? Do you want to learn something new? Or are you keen develop your career?

UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Development Grants for Schools Support Staff and is offering 10 awards of up to £300 each to help pay for course fees.

Hurry apply now! Click here for an application form. Applications must be in by 27th August.

Susan Kennedy

Susan Kennedy, Aberdeenshire UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary said, "We know how difficult it is to afford training to improve your job prospects due to huge increases in course fees and the withdrawal by many employers of financial support for career development. 

"Our Schools Support Staff members make up an increasing proportion of our union’s membership. 

"To help you get on at work and develop your career, UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Development Grants for Schools Support Staff.  10 awards of up to £300 each are offered to help pay for course fees.

Join together and fight to protect public services and public service workers

#uLGC15 UNISON's Local Government Conference held in Glasgow from 15-16 June 2015, was all about the protection of public services and public service workers as delegates heard horror stories of the impact of the cuts on our members and on the people to whom they provide services.


Branch delegates,
Kate Ramsden and Ann Gray

We heard that huge numbers of our members are not paid the living wage and many are struggling to survive on low pay, insecure employment and zero hours contracts.

The effect of the cuts has meant that those in work are having to do more with less, affecting their work life balance with many going off with stress. Austerity has also had an impact on health and safety at work, and has had a huge impact on equalities with gains for women, black, disabled and LGBT workers being eroded daily. Young people have taken a terrible hit with unemployment higher amongst the 16-25 year olds that in any other age group.

Aberdeenshire UNISON to visit school support staff "You support children, we'll support you"

UNISON will visit schools across the authority to meet with school support staff to discuss issues affecting Nursery Nurses, PSAs and Admin & Clerical staff.

Susan Kennedy

Susan Kennedy, Assistant Branch Secretary, who has arranged the visits said, "There are a number of issues affecting our support staff in schools across Aberdeenshire,from changes to pre-5s provision to the administration of medications.

"UNISON is very clear that support staff are absolutely fundamental to our children's education. They support the children in their schools and we support them.

Branch AGM says “We’re Worth it”

Members at the 2014 AGM threw their weight behind actions to protect members in the workplace and to support their standards of living at a time of cuts and change for the workforce in the council and the voluntary sector.

The AGM unanimously supported calls to campaign for affordable housing and for decent pay, alongside measures to monitor the effect of cuts and to press for fairer funding for local government. Members heard of the new threats to social workers and others working to protect children; and of the unreasonable expectations on some of our lowest paid staff to administer medications to children.