Call for action to stop violence and abuse against TAs

Nearly half of all teaching assistants experience violence or abuse at work, according to a trade union.
A Unison survey of TAs accross the UK found that nearly one in four had been physically attacked, and 47% had experience a physical threat or verbal abuse. One in fourteen needed medical attention following violence.
Unison's head of education Christina McAnea said, "Many of our members work with children with special educational needs, often with challenging behaviour.
"Schools must have very clear policies and procedures in place to deal with this and to support staff.
"There should also be more comprehensive risk assessments to anticipate dangerous and difficult situations."
"Teaching assistants work long hours, often on low pay. It is shameful that they should also be expected to put themselves at risk of being attacked or abused."
535 teaching assistants responded to Unison's Time for Change local government survey.

Learning Support is investigating violence against teaching assistants.
Click Here to complete our survey