LIFT SCHOOLS, a multi-academy trust in Essex, has been urged to pay its support staff the £5,550 allowance that special education needs (Sen) teachers receive to reflect the extra skills and responsibilities of their jobs, Unison said today.

Managers discussed the issue with staff at Columbus School & College in Chelmsford, Pioneer in Basildon and Lift Clacton on October 8, promising to respond to the request for a special allowance by October 17.

Since then, there has been silence, says the union.

Unison eastern area organiser Bea Bartilucci said: “Workers feel disrespected and many are burnt out, with increasing numbers forced to look elsewhere for work. Lift needs to act or the quality of children’s education and care will suffer.

“Parents, carers, teachers and students value support staff. It’s high time Lift did the same.”A spokesperson for Lift Schools said: “Like the majority of academy trusts, we pay our staff in line with national pay and conditions and we are subject to national pay negotiations.

“We respect the union’s position to request additional pay for their members and have been in discussions for a number of months.”