Class struggle: classroom assistants

Are things getting better for classroom assistants? Asks Alison Mercer This year will see the recruitment of up to 15,000 new classroom assistants in England, as the Government seeks to expand what education and employment secretary David Blunkett has called 'this key group of people who really make a difference where it matters'. A total of £130m has been made available for this massive expansion, with £200m to follow in 2001/02. The Government clearly believes classroom assistants have a key role to play in helping it to reach literacy and...