More than one in three (35%) school support staff witness verbal abuse at work every day, according to a survey released today (Friday) by UNISON.
The report comes as official figures show the number of school suspensions has almost doubled since before the pandemic and the number of pupils permanently excluded has risen by nearly a third*.
A third (34%) of school support workers say they see pushing on a daily basis and a quarter (26%) report kicking and the throwing of objects as day-to-day issues.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of school support staff say they have witnessed violence at work in the past year.
The UK-wide survey of almost 8,000 school workers – including teaching assistants, caterers and cleaners – paints a bleak picture of an underappreciated workforce facing daily abuse, yet still doing unpaid overtime and struggling to pay their bills.
Top of their concerns is the cost of heating and eating. More than seven in 10 (78%) say they are worried they won’t have enough money to pay their energy bills, with a similar percentage (79%) concerned about food costs.
Two-thirds (67%) say they put in extra unpaid hours every week, but almost three in five (59%) say they don’t feel their school leaders value them. More than four in 10 (46%) say they are looking for another job.
The findings show staff are seeing workloads rise, but support dwindle. Four-fifths (80%) say their workload has increased over the past year and three in five (60%) say the number of support staff at their school has fallen in the last 12 months.
Staff speak of being regularly expected to perform additional duties, listing behaviour management, one-to-one support and looking after children with complex needs as the most common.
UNISON says extra support for pupils is essential to tackle the violence and abuse suffered by staff and to stop them from leaving the profession.
UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “Nobody should face abuse or witness violence at work. Sadly, for a staggering number of school support staff that is their daily reality.
“Tackling bad behaviour in school requires funding and extra staff, but this survey shows the opposite has happened in recent years.
“The generosity and dedication of school support staff are to be applauded. But it is truly shocking that many are putting in extra unpaid hours and struggling to make ends meet. This can’t continue.
“The report identifies thousands of staff who are considering quitting the profession. But support staff are vital to the smooth running of schools and the experiences of pupils. Their pay and working environment should better reflect the invaluable help they provide.
“The government’s decision to reinstate the school support staff negotiating body will finally mean recognition for the vital contribution made by teaching assistants, school meals workers and technicians. Importantly it should lead to improved pay and conditions, backed up by increased funding for schools.”
Note to editors:
– The report is available here.
– The findings have been released to coincide with Stars in our Schools, UNISON’s annual celebration of school support staff, which is celebrating its tenth year and is being marked in schools across the UK today.
– *According to figures from the Department for Education, in the autumn term of 2023, 346,000 pupils were suspended compared with 174,000 before the pandemic in autumn 2019. Over the same period, the number of children permanently excluded rose from 3,167 in 2019 to 4,168.
– UNISON carried out the survey of 7,811 school support staff members between 10 and 25 October 2024.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article Verbal abuse and violence are daily issues for one in three school staff, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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