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.

Branch to review policy on the administration of medications by PSAs at AGM in Feb. Come along and have your say.

Aberdeenshire branch will be putting together a motion for our Branch AGM (Wednesday 26th February at 7pm, Kintore Arms, Inverurie) to strengthen current UNISON policy on the administration of medications by PSAs locally.


Susan Kennedy

The Branch congratulated Glasgow City branch, who after a long dispute over administration of medication in schools have successfully balloted and voted on a new structure for dealing with the administration of medication. Negotiations will continue over the next few months to agree on and finalise policy and procedures.

Susan Kennedy, Assistant Branch Secretary said, "We have been watching this development carefully.

"Administration of medicines under current UNISON and Aberdeenshire Council policy remains on a voluntary basis but we do need to address the current situation.

"We need to carry out an assessment of what is actually being carried out across the authority and work towards a clearer understanding of what is acceptable practise for the role of a PSA and for that we will need the support of our members."

Susan added, "We would encourage all our PSA and other members to come along to join the debate at the AGM and put your views across."

If you need any advice on administration of medications please contact the Grampian Resource Centre on 01224 620624

Branch celebrates School Support Staff

On November 29th Meldrum Academy, working in partnership with UNISON, celebrated all School Support Staff.

During the day both teaching staff and pupils thanked and praised the work that support staff undertook to enable and enhance the learning experience of the pupils.

A special break time treat was put on for all the staff and tea and coffee was served by some of the senior pupils.

Meldrum’s Head Boy told the staff how invaluable the support staff were in the school and that in-class support was very much appreciated and has benefited many pupils at the academy.

Susan Kennedy, Assistant Branch Secretary said, “I would like to thank all the staff and pupils who have made today’s celebration a success.

"We need to highlight the importance of school support staff and work together to protect their roles within Aberdeenshire schools.

"We will be running a programme of school meetings in the New Year to follow on from our School Support Staff survey, so I look forward to coming along to discuss all the issues and move forward with our campaign”

A Class Act - Aberdeenshire UNISON celebrates the “unsung heroes” in our schools

On Friday 29th November the Branch will be celebrating all school support staff, as part of UNISON’s National Day of Celebration for Pupil Support Assistants.

The Branch will work in partnership with Meldrum Academy and for the whole of the previous week, the school will be holding special assemblies as part of that celebration.

UNISON will provide the refreshments for a special celebration at tea break in Meldrum Academy on Friday, the National Day of Celebration.