Editor's view

After years of campaigning by school support staff and their unions, education secretary Alan Johnson has essentially put the stamp of approval on the creation of a national pay structure (see News, page 5). Nursery World has chronicled the messy and drawn-out history of the Single Status Agreement, still not in place in many local authorities and often seeming to work to the disadvantage of nursery nurses and teaching assistants. A process meant to ensure a fairer deal for council employees has left many on low pay rates for greater responsibility, or having to work more hours to maintain existing...