The 4m 'pathfinder' project to try out ways of cutting teachers'
hours involves 32 schools in England, some of which have been awarded as much as 300,000 to take part, and kicks off in September.
Participants will explore options such as having teaching assistants supervise small groups or even whole classrooms. Some schools have expressed an interest in using teaching assistants to provide cover for absent teachers.
Christina McAnea, Unison's national officer for school staff, said, 'We are planning to monitor this very closely. We are going to send out a questionnaire to the branches that cover the pathfinder schools, asking whether the schools are planning to recruit new support staff or change their existing staff's terms and conditions, and whether schools have consulted the support staff and the union.
'We are not opposed to support staff being involved in providing cover or supervising groups or classrooms, but we are concerned that support staff should not be taking on a whole range of additional work without being paid for it. We support the pathfinders project, but my worry is that some headteachers and senior staff will zoom ahead and impose their plans.
'These things should be properly discussed with support staff. There should be safeguards in place, it shouldn't be compulsory and there should be consultation on any changes to terms and conditions.'
The teaching unions have also expressed some concerns about an expanded role for teaching assistants. NASUWT deputy general secretary Chris Keates said, 'The NASUWT is seriously considering the circumstances in which teaching assistants may supervise classes for short periods of time and what qualifications they must have before they can take on such a role.'
Alison Johnston, senior professional officer for the Professional Association of Teachers, said, 'We are not in favour of teaching assistants undertaking a supervisory role as a major part of their work, and the people who are going to do an element of this must be appropriate in terms of experience, skills, and perhaps qualifications, and work in close partnership with the teacher. We would not recommend that teaching assistants provide cover for absent staff.'
She said a clear career structure for teaching assistants, with different levels and responsibilities linked to remuneration, would clarify what types of work they could undertake.
