Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of support staff shortages on the provision of SEND support in schools; and what steps she is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of (a) teaching assistants and (b) other support staff essential for SEND students.

School support staff play a vital role in children’s education. They are crucial to ensuring that we give children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the best possible life chances.

A departmental survey in 2023 into the use of teaching assistance in schools found that teaching assistants across all school settings most commonly support pupils with SEND, which includes those with education, health and care (EHC) plans. The survey also found that 75% of school leaders found it either 'fairly’ or ‘extremely’ difficult to recruit teaching assistants, and retention was difficult for 29% of leaders. Of those who found recruitment difficult (75% of leaders), four-in-five leaders (81%) found it difficult to recruit teaching assistants with SEND specialism.

The department values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce and will help to address recruitment and retention challenges by reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.

The body will be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and fair pay rates for support staff and advising on training and career progression routes. This reform will help ensure that state-funded schools can recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver high quality, inclusive education, and drive high and rising standards.