SEND school support staff win extra pay dispute

Support staff at two schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been awarded extra payments after a long-running dispute, a union said.

Staff at Lift Columbus in Chelmsford and Lift Pioneer in Basildon staged a series of walkouts over a lack of pay allowance for the specialist skills they say they offered, and that teachers already received.

Unison said it was "fantastic they're finally getting the payment they deserve after fighting so hard for it".

Kevin Parish, the director of people at Lift Schools, said it would allow them "to move forward with stability and a renewed focus on supporting pupils, particularly those with the most complex needs".

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement that recognises the vital role of our support staff and provides a fair and sustainable way forward," he said.

"We know that the recent industrial action has been difficult for pupils and families, and we are grateful for their patience and understanding during this period."

Lift Schools said an allowance of £1,539 per year would apply to specific support staff working in special schools with profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD) provision and would be backdated to May 2025.

Support staff carried out eight days of strike action in January and February, but called off plans for further action in the spring term after a revised deal was offered by Lift during talks at conciliation service Acas.

Bea Bartilucci, a Unison area organiser, said: "It should never have taken strike action for Lift to admit people should be fairly paid for their work.

"Supporting SEN children requires so much more training and responsibilities – helping with oxygen tanks, using winches to safely transport children and administering medication frequently.

"Staff absolutely love their jobs and supporting these children. It's fantastic they're finally getting the payment they deserve after fighting so hard for it."

Lift Schools said its Columbus site in Chelmsford had recently been inspected by Ofsted where inspectors found "effective action across all areas, with safeguarding strengthened and a more ambitious offer for pupils now in place".

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