This is a blatant attempt at cheap labour to save money by combining appalling conditions - term-time, hourly rate of pay, short-term contracts - with low pay. The practice is unacceptable to classroom assistants and nursery nurses.
What is the point of doing a two-year, full-time nursery nurse course, only to find these jobs in schools are simply not available or have been re-introduced as classroom assistants with a rate of pay which does not reflect the professional qualification? If a school advertised for a nursery nurse but attached a BEd/PGCE stipulation, teachers would be up in arms at the insult. No doubt this would not be allowed, but nor should this. At the very least it should be illegal to advertise in this way.
The Government says it wants to increase standards in schools. Then it should provide enough money for the schools to pay people in recognition of their professional qualification. A structured pay scale, rising for people who gain further qualifications to enhance professional development, would be a start.
Imagine how Government ministers would react to their titles and pay being downgraded - 'Instead of Prime Minister we are going to call you Junior Gofer and, by the way, Tony, the pay is only one-third of your current salary, you'll have to find your own accommodation in London and you won't get paid for holidays. Oh, and yes, you will still have to work your socks off.'
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