VIDEO:Support staff at Drapers Pyrgo Primary school strike for three days following cuts in their hours and pay.

Support staff at Drapers Pyrgo Primary school in Settle Road Harold Hill have embarked in a three day strike action after being told their hours and pay is being cut.

The Havering Daily joined support staff out on the front line in Harold Hill as they let the community know the reasons behind their strike.

A letter has been sent by the support staff to parents detailing the reasons why they have chosen to strike. The letter states:

“Staff have been told that we will be losing hours.Our hours and pay grades are being cut and we will be expected to carry out extra duties. These proposals will have detrimental effects on your children’s studies because we will be stretched too thinly to give each child the attention and care they deserve and should expect from school. Pyrgo’s support staff do everything from medical care through to individual learning for students who need a little more help. This also includes taking care of the library, emotional and physical well being, during the the pandemic children suffered academically as well as mental health and anxiety issues and we were always on hand to help.”

Staff are now believed to be resigning as a result of this during a time when children need their help more than ever.

Support staff in schools are the vital back bone that is very much needed. They provide an incredible amount of work that never really gets noticed but is essential. Cut backs in their pay and hours would be extremely detrimental to the local children and our community.