Unions accuse schools of teaching on the cheap by using classroom assistants told to cover lessons
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Schools have been accused of teaching on the cheap by using unqualified staff to take lessons.
Teaching assistants as well as cover supervisors are being drafted in to take classes ahead of qualified teachers, according to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
The union claimed that many support staff are being asked to provide cover for absent teachers, with some asked to take lessons for three days or longer. It questioned more than 1,435 support staff of which a quarter (25.4 per cent) of the teaching assistants and almost half (49 per cent) of higher level teaching assistants, said they are asked to cover lessons. Around 96 per cent of cover supervisors said the same.
Of all of those surveyed, 40 per cent said they had been asked to provide more or the same amount of cover for absent teachers in 2012/13 than the year before.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments