A UNION has met education officials to highlight the “dire” financial situation of a school which is considering cutting its teaching assistance staff.

Sussex GMB had talks with the Brighton and Hove local education authority yesterday over West Hove Infant School’s staffing levels and the possibility of redundancies.

The school, which is one of many in the county facing financial difficulties due to budget cuts, will decide soon whether or not to cut up to ten of its teaching assistants.

Mark Turner, the union’s branch secretary, said: “We are talking about ten support staff.

“We are looking to see if they are making any further changes.

“We have asked them questions about the financial situation and asked about people being made redundant or losing money.

“We will see if the school takes them on board.

“The financial situation of the school is dire.

“The council are not giving the school licensed deficit, which would allow the school to go over budget for a period of time with a loan that is repayable.

“The wider political issue is there is no money from the Government. There are going to be losses.

“These are the people that are facing the cuts at schools.

“Are we in a position where we can walk away happily? No.”

The union is expecting a response from the school and the local education authority next week following yesterday’s meeting.

West Hove Infant School governors will be meeting next Thursday to discuss staffing levels, with a decision expected to be made over possible redundancies.

GMB Sussex also intends to attend the meeting to make representations on behalf of its members.

Concerns have been raised by parents of children at the school about funding levels and the negative effect of cutting resources and staff.

Campaigners met at Brighton Palace Pier and outside several schools last month to demonstrate how funding cuts are having a knock-on effect, with headteachers being forced to reduce staff numbers.

The protest, organised by Save Our Schools (SOS), saw teachers, parents and children holding placards to highlight the problem.

An SOS survey by the group’s Brighton and Hove branch found that 66 per cent of 50 schools in the area had resorted to cutting back on teaching assistants.

A council spokesman said: “West Hove Infant School is currently consulting with staff on proposals designed to avoid their budget being in deficit by the end of next year, which is neither in the interests of pupils or the school community as a whole. 

“The council is supporting the school in this process and will continue to support the school to mitigate impact on staff as far as possible.


“Through this process we and the school are continuing to engage with staff and Trade Unions as is our usual practice.

“As part of this process the GMB has raised some concerns. We are currently considering these and will respond to them in due course.”