School Support Staff play a vital role in the effective running of our education system. They are teaching assistants, librarians, caretakers, kitchen associates, and other important roles. Unfortunately, these integral staff members are often hired on term-time contracts. This means they are only paid for the weeks students are in school, leading to insignificant income.

According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), as many as 1.3 million educational sector workers in the UK are on term-time contracts (2016 figures). Furthermore, research led by the National Education Union (NEU) found that two thirds of support staff are thinking about leaving their jobs due to financial strain.

Such contracts not only negatively impact their living standards, but also affect retention rates and overall staff morale. All of these factors ultimately detract from the quality of our children's education experience.

It's time our education system provides fair employment practices for all. Let us advocate for a change in policy to remove term-time contacts for school support staff, ensuring stable income and palpably improving our education system.

The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) are looking to start looking into pay 2027/28 however this is years away and the problem is now. By removing the term time contacts now it will help the staff and retention crisis until the SSSNB is set up and ready to support us. 

Please join us in signing this petition, moving towards an era of fair and equitable treatment for every School Support Staff.