Teaching Assistants in schools & special schools are having their pay cut which means a loss of possibly up to £350-£450 a month, this is just about half their wage!For those who critised us and said Teaching Assistants are not needed, do you really know what we do?? For most who dont know what we do we are essential to the development and care of each and every child we work with, some schools could not run without us, we are definatly NOT pot washers! It has been stated we have no qualifications heres a few we have; NNEB, BTEC, NVQ 3, risk assessor, Autism training ,PEC Training, Speech and Language,Heath and Safety,Emergency medication administration,Post grad certificate in Autism,Dynavox, Braille, Touch Typing, British Sign Language, Makaton, Team Teach the list is endless! Not to mention our dedication to the children, im sure as parents you would feel safe in the knowledge your child is being cared for by a highly skilled member of staff that cares, not an unqualified one thats only there because its a job! we love our jobs but now feel wothless and de-moralised by this horrendous re structure. we can not be put on single status like other council workers as we are not allowed flexi time or holidays when we want them, we do not work 37 hours and have never been paid for 37 hours a week and are not paid for our holidays as it was stated recently. If you feel passionate about the fact that TAs are being treated unfairly for the fantastic job they do then please sign our petition, we are far from over paid for some of the skilled tasks we undertake every day. To those who are helping us now, keep it coming,and to those who are going to.. we thank you & so will the children who will be cared for correctly when we dont have to leave because we cant live on the ridiculous pay! thank you for your support from Teaching Assistants & Special Needs Teaching Assistants everywhere! xx