Survey Reveals Daily Abuse for School Support Staff

A recent survey has revealed that over one-third (35%) of support staff in schools across Yorkshire and Humberside experience verbal abuse on a daily basis. The study, conducted by the trade union Unison, gathered responses from nearly 800 school employees in the region, including teaching assistants, caterers, and cleaners, between October 10 and October 25. Among the findings, 34% of school support staff reported daily incidents of pushing, primarily from pupils, while 26% witnessed daily occurrences of kicking and the throwing of objects and furniture. The Department for Education (DfE) commented that school staff “should feel supported” and expressed its expectation for school leaders to “take appropriate action to tackle any issues.” Of the survey participants, 64% were staff from primary schools, 23% from secondary schools, and 1% worked with children in both primary and secondary educational settings. Additionally, the survey encompassed 11% of staff from special schools and 1% from pupil referral units. Separate data released on November 21 indicated that the number of school suspensions in primary schools has almost doubled since before the pandemic. According to the DfE, the number of pupils permanently excluded has also increased by a third. Mike Short, Unison’s head of education, stated: “Our members don’t do these jobs just for money they do it because they love them, but the amount of verbal abuse that are daily occurrences is really troubling.” He added: “We don’t blame children, young people and learners for this. The problem is the system.” Karen Loughlin, the regional secretary for Unison Yorkshire and Humberside, commented: “Nobody should face abuse or witness violence at work. “Sadly, for a staggering number of support staff in schools in Yorkshire and Humberside that is their daily reality.” She further remarked: “Tackling bad behaviour in school requires funding and extra staff, but this survey shows the opposite has happened in recent years.” A spokesperson for the DfE responded by saying: “School support staff make a huge contribution to children’s education and the smooth running of our schools, and are crucial to our mission to drive high and rising standards across our schools, helping all children achieve and thrive.” The spokesperson continued: “All school staff should feel safe and supported at work, and confident in being able to report concerns – and we expect school leaders as employers to take appropriate action to tackle any issues that are raised.” They also added: “We recently reinstated the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which aims to make sure they are properly valued and respected as the professionals they are.”