PAT welcomes announcement on school support staff

26 September 2007

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) – which represents support staff in its Professionals Allied to Teaching (PAtT) section – has welcomed the latest announcement from the DCSF on the role and status of support staff.

PAT General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "We are  delighted that the Government has made a commitment for a start date for the new body, although many support staff will be disappointed that they will have to wait nearly a year for it to  begin work. We look forward to contributing to this significant development. 

"PAT has been calling for a national pay and conditions structure for support staff for some time. School support staff play a vital role and deserve to be given a proper and professional career structure.

"At our 2006 Conference, members called for ‘a national pay and career structure that is commensurate with qualification, skills and ability and the huge responsibility undertaken when caring for and educating children’."