Cuts in support staff ‘hitting school standards and morale’

SCHOOL standards are plunging because of cuts to support staff, a report claims.

One of the largest surveys of nonteaching staff included classroom assistants, cleaners, pupil support workers, janitors and librarians.

They complained about heavier workloads, job cuts, lack of educational supplies and grubbier school buildings.

Fears have also been raised about the closure of libraries damaging the SNP’s ability to tackle the ‘attainment gap’.

Scottish Government figures show that, while the number of pupils has increased by 6,707 since 010, the number of support staff has declined by 1,841 and teacher numbers have declined by 1,389. The results of the Unison trade union poll, published today, indicate that 54 per cent of staff say budgets have been cut, 40 per cent carry out unpaid work to meet workloads, 60 per cent say morale is low and 80 per cent say workloads are heavier.

Many complained that schools are dirty due to cleaning staff cuts, libraries have been closed, textbooks are old and in poor condition and paper towel supplies have been reduced.

The Unison survey said staff reported feeling ‘exhausted’, ‘undervalued’ and ‘stressed’.

Unison spokesman Carol Ball said: ‘Staff try to maintain a quality service to give children the best start in life but this is difficult when schools are short of supplies and staff workloads continue to increase; and libraries, sports, lunch and afterschool clubs and music tuition have been cut. This hurts the poorest kids the most.’

Scottish Labour inequalities spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘This exposes the crisis in schools, with dedicated support staff under pressure like never before. This is the direct result of SNP cuts.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We want all young people to receive the support they need in school. Staff are key to providing this.

‘While the numbers of children with additional support needs is rising, so too is the financial support allocated for additional support for learning. In 015, the amount spent amounted to £579million, an increase of £ 4million on 014.’