Birmingham city council's chief education officer, Tim Brighouse, has sent out a letter to heads outlining short-term measures they could take to fill in for teachers who are absent, one of which was to ask learning assistants to cover.
A Birmingham city council spokesperson was unable to confirm whether teaching assistants would be in sole charge of classes and whether they would be in a teaching or a supervisory role, although she said they would be paid at a special rate for the work.
At least five headteachers have reportedly acted on this advice, prompting concern that more may follow, particularly if shortages are exacerbated by industrial action currently being taken by the National Union of Teachers and NASUWT, which involves teachers not providing cover for unfilled vacancies or if colleagues are absent.
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