Nursery World - Relative values (1)

I have been a teaching assistant for ten years and my responsibilities have grown during that time. Last year I completed my Specialist Teacher Assistant Certificate (STAC) through the Open University. I agree with other correspondents on your Letters page that there is a need to have correct training and a career structure within this role. I also believe that teaching assistants should be paid more for the work that they do.

I agree with other correspondents on your Letters page that there is a need to have correct training and a career structure within this role. I also believe that teaching assistants should be paid more for the work that they do.

However, let us not forget the nursery nurses through all this. Last September I joined the Foundation Stage team as their nursery nurse. My workload and responsibilities have increased, which I am more than happy with, but my salary is less per hour now than it would have been had I been working as a teaching assistant. If it wasn't for the fact that I get paid on a full-time scale like all the teaching staff and that teaching assistants get paid term-time only, I would be worse off financially.

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