Unison - Halton Branch

07/03/2026

UNISON has warned that the government needs to make it crystal clear exactly what role teaching assistants will be expected to play in the upcoming SEND reforms.

Reflecting on the long-awaited Schools White Paper, UNISON welcomes the vision – stronger mainstream offer, earlier intervention and clearer graduated support.

However, the union – acknowledging that ‘teaching assistants are pivotal to inclusion’ – states that SEND reform cannot be delivered without addressing structural questions.

Read more in today's 👇
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/ol09z

07/03/2026

UNISON statement on NEU vote to withdraw from school support staff agreement.

05/03/2026

Schools have faced difficult times in recent years but support staff shouldn’t have to pay the price. Whatever your role, you are stronger in UNISON 💜 Learn more about how UNISON supports school support staff via national negotiations on pay, terms and conditions, as well as training and development: https://unsn.uk/3Ov5Yeh

04/03/2026

“Strong, properly funded public services aren’t a luxury. They’re the engine of growth," says UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan, commenting on today's spring statement.

UNISON response: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2026/03/nows-the-time-to-invest-in-public-services-and-go-for-growth/

04/03/2026

250,000 of you are already in UNISON – the largest union negotiating national pay and conditions for school support staff. Teaching unions like the NEU cannot do this. Make sure you and your colleagues are protected at work and join today! https://unsn.uk/2JqPfmC

02/03/2026

UNISON and Ipsos have launched a national survey to build a ‘clear, up-to-date picture’ of the responsibilities of teaching assistants in England.

The survey findings will directly inform the union’s work on the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), which is currently being re-established. The survey is open now until 16th March 2026, takes about ten minutes to complete and survey responses will be anonymous.

It’s open to support staff in England, as that is who the SSSNB will cover.

Find out more in today's 👇
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/s5bkq

02/03/2026

01/03/2026

School support staff in UNISON campaign for better pay, conditions, funding and working hours at all levels, and across all school types. We are part of national negotiations on these issues which teaching unions like the NEU cannot take part in. The more support staff involved, the stronger our collective voice 💜 Find out more at: https://unsn.uk/3Ov5Yeh

15/02/2026

Our members working in councils and schools go above and beyond every single day. It's time to stand together and demand fair pay.

28/11/2025

23/10/2025

New TUC judgment agrees who can, and cannot, recruit and represent school support staff