Reported lay-offs at Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard will harm pupils with special educational needs, trade union fears

Almost half of the teaching assistants employed at a Suffolk village school could face the sack, according to a trade union, which believes that such action will 'seriously damage' the education of pupils.

Unison reported that 15 of the 36 classroom assistants and midday supervisors currently working at Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard are set to be laid off, due to an 'unforeseen' budget shortfall of approximately £75,000.

The union stated that the school had attributed the lay-offs to a significant projected drop in income, with the number of pupils enrolled there expected to fall by 8 per cent over the next four years.

The school, in Butt Road, has also reportedly stated that its ratio of assistants to students at present is higher than other schools.

However, Unison described the 40 per cent cut to support staff as a “massive overreaction”, adding that the decision is “bound to disrupt students’ learning”.

It further argued that the school had above the average number of students with special educational needs (SEN), whom would be adversely affected by these redundancies, because many of the assistants worked on a one-to-one basis with them.

Winston Dorsett, Unison’s Eastern regional organiser, insisted that teaching assistants and the children they support should not be made to pay to the price.

“Pot Kiln seems to expect its loyal teaching assistants and midday supervisors to carry the can for the school’s financial failings,” he said.

“School leaders couldn’t get their sums right as they ran up this deficit, and their figures don’t add up now that they’re trying to fire staff.

“Cutting these jobs will inevitably harm children’s education, especially given how many of these roles are solely based on supporting pupils with special educational needs.

“We hope the head, governors, and whole Pot Kiln community will think again.”

SuffolkNews has contacted Pot Kiln Primary School for comment.