The move by Unison followed a letter sent last month by Lewisham LEA to the headteachers of all the south London borough's primary, special and nursery schools. The letter, which followed a decision by the LEA in the summer to abandon its borough-wide agreement, said 'the number, job content and grade of support staff is a matter for individual governing bodies'. It added, 'Schools will wish to consider the structure and duties in the light of specific needs of their school. They will also need to consider the budgetary implications of any changes.'
The Lewisham branch of Unison, which represents nursery nurses in around 70 schools and all the nursery nurses in the borough's two nursery schools, wrote to the headteachers and school governors last week. It said its members were 'very upset and disappointed' by the decision to end the current agreement, which meant Unison would have to negotiate with Lewisham's 70-plus schools individually.
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