Teaching assistants are professionals and should be seen as such. A survey by the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses has revealed that a large majority of teaching assistants already have qualifications in early years care and education at Level 3 - which is a far cry from the ignorant and insulting comments by some union chiefs and others who have referred to us as a 'mums' army'.
Many of us are studying for a Foundation Degree in Early Years Education, which is equivalent to a Level 4 qualification, and are quite capable of supervising a class of children from reception to Year 2 to ensure that work set by the teacher is carried out successfully. Indeed, many of us have personal experience of this already.
In addition, many nursery nurses already plan alongside teachers in a team approach. So what's new? The three-tier system model being implemented by Nottinghamshire County Council does not recommend that everyone work at the advanced level.
I am sure many of the NUT's fears will be proven unfounded when they realise that senior management in primary schools are unlikely to employ inexperienced and unqualified teaching assistants who are lacking in confidence and place them in a position of great responsibility.
It is about time that the tremendous contribution that all teaching assistants make to the early years team in schools is recognised, especially those who have studied child development at an advanced level.
Paul Rothera Worthing, West Sussex
