Classroom Assistants deserve proper recognition and support, says Alliance Education representatives.

Alliance Education representatives Nick Mathison MLA and Michelle Guy MLA have said the Education Minister needs to set out a clear plan of action for how his department will support, develop and reward Classroom Assistants (CAs).

Education Nick Mathison Michelle Guy

Speaking following the launch of an Ulster University report into Classroom Assistants in Northern Ireland, they reasserted that the workforce deserves greater investment.

 

Nick Mathison, Chair of the Education Committee has said: We have known for years that schools are finding it hard to recruit experienced Classroom Assistants, and this report outlines both the wider challenges CAs are experiencing and their dedication to the children they support.

 

There have also been troubling reports of the temporary recruitment of Classroom Assistants becoming standard practice, and even some found not to have completed Access NI checks.

 

This is coming at a time when our SEN crisis is getting worse and the role of CAs is increasingly complex and demanding. SEN support staff are fundamental if we are to start meeting the needs of our children. The Department of Education needs to do much more to support and develop the role, and ensure the terms and conditions of their employment are put onto an equitable footing."

 

Lagan Valley MLA, Michelle Guy said: “It’s clear that Classroom Assistants have felt increasingly undervalued. This isn’t a new development, and it has been allowed to happen under successive DUP ministers and Assembly collapses.

 

CAs are doing complicated jobs, with dedication and commitment, and deserve, at the very least, recognition for how important their role is and clarity on how the role will be developed.

 

The Minister needs to set out a plan, including the development of career pathways, the outline of what training is available to CAs, and how distinction will be created for different specialities. Most importantly, as this vital research highlights, the Minister needs to listen to the views of these essential education staff as a first step in addressing a workforce crisis and delivering SEN transformation.”