I worked with Pembrokeshire LEA as a nursery nurse looking after a hearing-impaired child for about ten years and was then made redundant, as the secondary school the pupilwas due to attend already had a team of nursery nurses to look after this child. I was disappointed but, because I have two children and this job would have meant a lot more travelling, I took my measly 1,900 redundancy cheque and went in search of a new post. I registered with three local authorities and heard nothing for six months. In the meantime I went to work for Marks and Spencer.
Then one day I had a phone call from my son's school asking if I'd be interested in working as a nursery nurse with another special needs child. I said yes, without hesitation. I was fortunate to be offered this post as NNEB school jobs are few and far between in Wales.
When I left my previous position I was on the top of my pay scale at Pounds 12,695 pa, but in my first pay cheque I had been given the monthly equivalent to 10,096. I asked the headmaster and authority, who said that as I had joined a new authority I had to drop down four pay scales and start again.
With ten years' experience behind me I have had to go back to earning the same amount as a 21-year-old with no experience. I argued with the authority and was eventually given a special classroom allowance on top of my monthly salary, but as it is 'authority policy' there is nothing I can do about it.
Have other readers found themselves in this situation?
Tracy Jones, Llandysul, Ceredigion
