School staffing shortages are harming children’s education and safety, a survey by UNISON warns. More than three quarters (78%) of support staff in schools said there were not enough workers to meet pupils’ needs, with a similar number (77%) warning reduced staffing made it harder to keep pupils safe. Almost three in five (59%) reported […]
stars in our schools

Last week, Lisa Smith from UNISON Sheffield local government branch attended a special Stars in Our Schools event in Parliament. Here’s her report back on the evening… UNISON members working in, or representing members in schools, were recently invited to a parliamentary event to celebrate 10 years of UNISON’s Stars in Our Schools. While I […]

More than one in three (35%) support staff witness verbal abuse in schools across Yorkshire and Humberside 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 […]

School support staff across Yorkshire and Humberside are using their own money to help pay for pupils’ food and clothing, even though many are struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis themselves, says UNISON today (Friday). A survey of more than 1,000 school workers reveals that staff – including teaching assistants, caterers and cleaners – are buying food, clothes […]


