School assistants ‘seen as mums’ army’

 Teaching assistants are wrongly dismissed as a “mums’ army” who “wash paint pots and create displays”, a union is expected to warn.

There is a “gross misunderstanding” of school support workers – such as teaching assistants, caretakers, bursars and administrative staff – and many feel undervalued, members of the National Education Union will argue.

Delegates at the NEU’S (ATL section) conference in Liverpool will debate a motion that argues: “Support staff members are still not being respected as a valued and professional part of the education workforce.”