Page 12


Education cuts


 


The real cost of education cuts...


Government spending cuts are forcing local councils to shed staff and slash services. The impact on NUT members in council-run education services - and on the children, families, schools and communities they support - will be devastating. Here, four teachers explain why.


 


... to school sports


R has been a school sports partnership development manager in the South East for seven years.






What impact are spending cuts having in your area?


The School Sports Partnership (SSP) team is being wiped out, with five people losing their jobs.






How are they affecting you?


I believe I'll be losing my job - although my employer hasn't officially informed me of this yet.






What sorts of services are affected?


We support schools with their PE and school sport. We organise competitions, staff training, after-school activities, sports leaders' courses, volunteer placements and specialist instructors for cycling and swimming. We also offer advice and guidance on PE. All of this will go.






What impact will this have on local teachers and schools?


Teachers will feel isolated and demotivated, and will be over-burdened. They simply won't have the support or resources to set up the same number of clubs and competitions.


I am saddened that my six-year-old daughter will probably never have the chance to take part in a Key Step gymnastics competition again, as teachers won't have the time, equipment or personnel needed.


 


What kinds of pupils and families will suffer?


All will suffer. My understanding was that SSPs were introduced to increase children's physical activity, which would, down the line, reduce the NHS bill. The SSPs have been a huge success at primary level, but need more resources - not less - to have a greater impact in secondary schools.


SSPs work across areas such as health, crime-reduction, inclusion and citizenship as well as sport - they're worth every penny.






What's your message to the Government?


Forget the politics - start listening to people who know what's going on in our schools. Do what's right for our children.






NB Vigorous campaigning has forced the Government into a partial U-turn on school sports funding - see page 5.






... to family and education support


J, a teacher for 34 years, has been manager of a school excellence cluster in the Home Counties since 2004.






What impact are spending cuts having in your area?


A team of 12 who support schools are being made redundant, and there is no more funding to support vulnerable pupils and parents.






How are they affecting you?


I'm losing my job. It's also a challenge as a manager having to support colleagues being made redundant.






What sorts of services are affected?


We're losing the Family and Education Support Team (FEST), which promotes emotional wellbeing, mental health and positive behaviour at our 24 partnership schools. Team members work to improve school attendance, while identifying and supporting those with, or at risk of developing, emotional, social and behavioural problems. We've established strong multi-agency links, through which we provide appropriate support for young people, their families and our target schools.


FEST works mainly with children aged five to 11. We've also developed programmes to support pupils and their families, including psychotherapy for parents, peer mentoring and promoting wellbeing in schools.






What impact will this have on local teachers and schools?


There will be less support for vulnerable children and families.






What kinds of pupils and families will suffer?


Children and families in deprived areas will be particularly hard hit.






What's your message to the Government?


I have a wife and daughter to support. George Osborne says "we are all in it together", but I don't think he will be suffering.






The NUT is opposed to all cuts to education services, and will be working with other unions to provide the strongest campaign in defence of central services. Find out more at www.teachers.org.uk/notocuts. If you're affected by cuts, email your story to teacher@nut.org.uk.


 


Continued on page 13

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