Nursery World - Unions keep critical eye on reforms

Unions representing teachers and school support staff in England and Wales have warned the Government that a new national agreement over reforming the school workforce was only 'the first step'. John Edmonds, GMB general secretary, who signed the agreement last week on behalf of the union's teaching assistant members, said it gave them 'long overdue recognition'. But he warned, 'It must be followed with intense negotiations on career development, and improved terms and conditions for teaching assistants' and said 'the outcome of these further negotiations will determine how long we stay on board'.

John Edmonds, GMB general secretary, who signed the agreement last week on behalf of the union's teaching assistant members, said it gave them 'long overdue recognition'. But he warned, 'It must be followed with intense negotiations on career development, and improved terms and conditions for teaching assistants' and said 'the outcome of these further negotiations will determine how long we stay on board'.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said his union, which represents school support staff, saw the agreement 'as only the beginning'. He said, 'Teaching assistants are a key group of professionals, many of whom have highly valued special needs expertise. They are not a mums' army, and it is only right that their skills and expertise should be recognised and developed.'

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