THOUSANDS of teaching assistants (TAs) are set for pay rise of up to £1,350 after the Welsh government ended the use of level-one roles.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle confirmed today that the government will fund the salary increase for level-one teaching assistants to move to level two subject to local consultation. Future teaching assistant roles will also be recruited at a minimum of level two.

She said that the uplift “is the first step towards the long-term goal of pursuing fairer pay and conditions for all teaching assistants.”

Unison Cymru head of schools Rosie Lewis said: “This is fantastic news for teaching assistants across Wales. For too long, level-one roles have been used to keep down the pay of staff who do skilled and demanding work.

“Too often teaching assistants cover lessons, help with planning and deal with disruption in class for poverty pay.  

“This important change is all down to the campaigning work by the staff. They’re the ones who made the case and brought the evidence.

“Scrapping level-one roles is an important first step to be celebrated. But it’s also time for fairer job evaluations, action to tackle excessive workloads and a focus on proper career progression.”

The announcement comes on the same day the Strategic Education Workforce Plan for Schools was published.

It outlines plans for developing a “confident, resilient and well supported education profession, responding directly to feedback from practitioners, unions, local authorities, Estyn, the Education Workforce Council and other key partners,” said a spokesman for the Welsh government.