Nursery World - Editor's view (220)

Education secretary Ruth Kelly attracted some positive attention last week when she declared that she was kindly disposed to considering the introduction of national pay scales for teaching assistants and school support staff (see News, page 4). Such a move could be beneficial in several ways. It would put an end to inconsistencies across the country, where rates of pay and conditions differ wildly, particularly in terms of whether support staff are paid for term-time only or 52 weeks a year.

Such a move could be beneficial in several ways. It would put an end to inconsistencies across the country, where rates of pay and conditions differ wildly, particularly in terms of whether support staff are paid for term-time only or 52 weeks a year.

It would override the endlessly drawn-out process of implementing the single status agreement in each local authority. It would help in smoothing the introduction of the workload agreement. And it would help in professionalising the role of teaching assistants, putting their pay scales on the same system as teachers' and easing the way to better career paths.

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