Classroom assistants face axe as councils try to cut costs

CHILDREN could be sent home and schools closed amid staff shortages caused by council education cutbacks.

local authorities are looking at cutting back on classroom assistants and support staff as they attempt to balance their books.

the threat of extra responsibilities for teachers as a result of the cuts comes at a time when unions are already complaining of unprecedented workloads.

Perth and Kinross Council has warned in an official budget report that the loss of funds for supply cover – teachers who stand i n when full-time staff are off – means pupils may have to be sent home and schools temporarily closed.

Greg Dempster, general secretary of primary school heads’ body the association of headteachers and Deputes in Scotland, said: ‘Perth and Kinross is clearly responding to a dire budget situation. For the council to accept a proposal which makes explicitly clear that the result may be classes being sent home and schools closing is telling.’

Overall, councils say they must cut £350million, or 3.5 per cent, from 2016-17 education budgets.

a spokesman for council umbrella body Cosla said it would have ‘a serious detrimental impact on services’.

the number of school support staff north of the border has fallen by 10 per cent in five years and is likely to drop further, putting more pressure on remaining staff.

in North lanarkshire, 42 classroom assistants will be cut to s ave £750,000, while in the borders the number of additional needs assistants – who help with issues such as learning difficulties – will be reduced by 40 as part of a drive to save £1.4 million.

the City of edinburgh Council’s budget shows it will find £223,000 of savings by cutting its support for pupils who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Falkirk Council plans to claw back £1.34 million by reducing support-for-learning assistants plus manage- ment, administrative and clerical posts.

Fife Council, meanwhile, has rejected a proposed cut to classroom assistants, saying they ‘fulfil a vital role in our schools’.

Stirling Council said its target of up to £200,000 in cuts could leave heads over-reliant on parents for funds.

Dougie atkinson, professional officer for the Voice Scotland union, which represents many support staff, said: ‘We are becoming concerned atanecdotal evidence that the pressure on education budgets i s causingsupport numbers to collapse.’

‘Responding to dire budget situation’