SOME school support staff in Wales are earning less than the minimum wage due to how their salaries are paid, with some turning to food banks, Unison Cymru warned today.

The union said pay rates also vary depending on where staff live, and many are routinely asked to cover classes during teachers’ absences, meaning they are working above their pay grade and beyond their skill set.

Unison Cymru highlighted that, unlike teachers, teaching assistants are only paid for working nine months of the year, with their salaries stretched over 12 months.

Many are also on fixed-term contracts, raising fears over job security.

Pay disparities between local authorities were also flagged, with support staff in some Welsh councils earning significantly less than those in others.

Rosie Lewis of Unison Cymru said the long-term issue of low pay has left some support staff effectively earning less than the minimum wage, pushing them into severe financial hardship.

“Members are having to use foodbanks in the school to be able to put food on the table for their children,” she said. “Now to be in work poverty in that way … is a horrible situation for our members to be in.”

Plaid Cymru education spokesman Cefin Campbell said the Labour Welsh government “hasn’t done nearly enough to show that their work is valued or how crucial it is to attract the best support staff into the sector with good pay and conditions.

“Bold steps are needed to make teaching assistant roles more attractive as part of a wider package of measures to address the recruitment and retention issues facing this key sector.”

The Welsh government said a forthcoming strategic education workforce plan would outline measures to ensure that teaching assistants receive the “recognition and support they deserve.”