Editor's view

Education secretary Ruth Kelly attracted some positive attention last week when she declared that she was kindly disposed to considering the introduction of national pay scales for teaching assistants and school support staff (see News, page 4). Such a move could be beneficial in several ways. It would put an end to inconsistencies across the country, where rates of pay and conditions differ wildly, particularly in terms of whether support staff are paid for term-time only or 52 weeks a year.