Move to save jobs thwarted

SNP want to reverse axe decision

The SNP believe they have been prevented in their attempts to safeguard classroom assistants posts in North Lanarkshire schools.

A number of classroom assistants sat in the public gallery, as the Nationalists moved a motion to safeguard current Additional Special Needs Assistants at current levels.

They also tried to suspend the local authority’s standing orders to allow the council to consider re-instating 198 classroom assistant posts which had been cut in February’s budget.

The SNP’s Tom Johnston said: “Council decisions can’t be changed until after six months have elapsed. You have to suspend council standing orders if you wish to reconsider a decision within the six-month period.

“The SNP group wants to reverse the February budget move to get rid of 198 classroom assistant posts. We are disappointed our move was blocked 41- 32, with the Tory councillors backing Labour. The SNP Group’s first aim is to reinstate the 198 classroom assistant posts.

“Our second aim is to ensure that no Additional Special Needs Assistants on temporary posts are not put out of their posts to make way for in- coming former classroom assistants. “Redeployment of classroom assistants should be additional to current ASNA numbers.

“It is simply wrong to cut classroom assistant and ASNA posts. Modern schooling is hugely demanding.

“There has been a big rise in the number of Additional Special Needs diagnoses in recent years and a legal ‘presumption of mainstream’ right for all pupils.”

The fiery council meeting also had its more comical moments with Provost Jean Jones banning the use of the phrase ‘classroom assistants’ during the debate leading to some creative use of language with one SNP councillor continuing to refer to them as ‘apprentice additional support needs assistants’.

However, speaking to the Wishaw Press following the meeting, NLC leader Jim Logue insisted the move was the correct one and was confident that any training that classroom assistants would need in their new roles would be completed before the new school term started.

Councillor Logue said: “Just over 150 out of the 198 have been advised, with 100 staying in the same school and just over 50 will have their first preference honoured.

“Over the last few days I haven’t had one email from any classroom assistant. Most people will see no change.

“The majority will be going into early years helping the transition from nursery to primary school.

“They come with transferable skills. I have always said we don’t recognise support staff as much as we should.

“They come with loads of skills and I do think that’s important.

“The SNP are smelling blood. I had an email from a classroom assistant who said she realised the SNP were using this for political gain.

“Tom Johnston was even on the budget sounding board who agreed to this proposal.”

The Conservative Group in the council chamber voted with Labour in opposing the SNP’s proposals.

Tory leader Meghan Gallacher said: “The budget was set in February before there was a Conservative Group within the council. We did not feel we could support the SNP motion but we need to look at a number of issues. I understand there has been discussions with New College Lanarkshire to implement training courses for the classroom assistants.”