15-05-2025
Union calls for end to ‘precarious' temporary contracts for NI school support workers
More than 2,500 general and special needs classroom assistants are also not moving to permanent contracts despite more than four years of service.
The union Unite has called on Education Minister Paul Givan to intervene to end precarious 'temporary' working among school support workers.
Unite has made public figures that were supplied to trade unions by the EA, which has revealed widespread reliance on temporary working for staff such as nursery, general and classroom assistants in schools.
Many of those working under these contracts do not receive pay during school holiday periods and have little job security from one year to the next.
Given the predominant female composition of the workforce, the union highlighted major concerns that women workers were being treated in a problematic manner.
More than two-thirds (14,930 of 21,815) of those working as assistants in schools are on temporary contracts.
Reliance on temporary workers is greatest among general assistants (85%). Twelve per cent of the total workforce were temporary workers despite having four years of service.
That figure includes more than 2,500 classroom assistants of which more than 1,800 have responsibilities for special educational needs children.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'The scale of this issue raises real questions about why a predominantly female workforce in our schools – including those with responsibilities for children with special educational needs – are being treated so poorly by a public body.'
The union's regional officer Kieran Ellison added: 'In previous months, Unite revealed the extent of reliance on school support staffing by those without relevant qualifications or even child safety checks being in place.
'This latest evidence now shows the long-term and widespread use of temporary workers in the sector.
'That more than 2,500 classroom assistants – including more than 1,800 special educational needs classroom assistants – find themselves still in precarious temporary work despite having four years of service is disgraceful.
"The Education Minister needs to intervene quickly to end this unfair treatment of low paid school support workers.'
News Catch Up - Thursday 15 May
A spokesperson for the EA said: 'Classroom assistants play a critical role in our schools, providing invaluable support to some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
'EA is aware that a range of complex issues impact our ability to recruit and retain classroom assistants. The delivery model for support for children and young people with additional needs is in need of reform. This includes the employment model for classroom assistants.
'In line with the DE SEND Delivery Plan, the Education Authority is progressing a strategic review of the classroom assistant employment model which includes job descriptions, contracts and a range of other employment-related matters including qualifications, professional standards and professional development.
'Whilst at an early stage, we are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as this work progresses, including classroom assistants, school leaders, trade unions and children and young people.
'We are firmly committed to improving the support model for children and young people and will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders as we progress this work.'
