THE jobs of ten teaching assistants at threat of compulsory redundancy have been saved.

The Argus understands West Hove Infant School in Portland Rd, Hove, has managed to balance its books without the lay-offs which many had warned were inevitable.

The GMB union has welcomed the news after four weeks of intensive negotiations.

The jobs were at risk under budget plans which would affect support staff and others at the school.

A proposed saving of £167,000 was proposed, which would include changes to terms and conditions and the potential of compulsory redundancies.

Following a series of meetings between the GMB, the school, and the council, the governing body has announced there is no longer any proposal to make support staff supplying care and education to children, including those with special needs, compulsorily redundant.

Mark Turner, GMB branch secretary, said: “This is welcome news that we received yesterday from the governing body and the local authority.

“The GMB has spent more than four weeks in extensive discussions and negotiations with the school and the council to attempt to prevent our members from being made compulsorily redundant and this has now been achieved.

“Unfortunately, this is not the end of the road for this school or indeed others in the city.

“We do appreciate there have still been large changes for staff that remain in the school including changes to roles, hours and pay.

“The whole process has been incredibly difficult for all but the red line for the GMB was always any threat of any compulsory redundancies, of which a large number were initially proposed.

“The Government rhetoric on more money in education is a fallacy, in fact a complete and utter lie as week on week we are facing support staff across the city at risk of either being made redundant or having their pay and conditions placed under attack by the failures of this government.

“With regard to West Hove it has been very difficult for our members and all involved.

“But we believe we have reached a satisfactory conclusion where no one has been forced out of their job against their will.

“We are currently in consultations with other schools in the city but all our members can be assured we will do everything to protect, wherever possible, their pay and conditions of employment.”