Teachers continue city's 'longest school strike'

Teachers and support staff at a primary and nursery are set to strike again in what their union is calling the longest-ever industrial dispute at a school in Nottingham.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) at Forest Fields Primary first went on strike in June and have now taken action over 25 days.

David Miller, a teaching assistant at the nursery and one of the union's representatives at the school, said they had walked out over a lack of support staff in classrooms and frustration with the school's management.

Nottingham City Council, which manages the school, said it "remains committed to a resolution" and was regularly meeting both the school and union.

The strike has not been continuous, but staff were due to walk out over three days this week, and are set to go on strike again next week.

They took part in action on Tuesday and Wednesday this week and are due to strike again today.

They will have been on strike for a total of 32 days by Friday, the union said.

According to the NEU, the school has remained open throughout to all year groups except nursery.

Miller, 36, said: "Children's needs just aren't being met.

"Primarily that's around an issue to do with the shortage of staff, particularly support staff, which is leaving children undersupported in classrooms without getting the necessary interventions that they require.

"We're also striking around management practices, which have led to a lot of wellbeing issues amongst staff.

"We've been losing many valuable members of staff who have got years - and in some cases decades - of experience at that school.

"I think it's just become an incredibly upsetting place to be in many ways."

A spokesperson for the NEU said: "Numerous staff have reported being left in tears following conversations with management and feeling targeted as a result of raising concerns."

Miller said they recognised budgets were tight but felt the school could redeploy more staff redeployment to improve the situation.

Nottingham City Council said: "The council remains committed to the resolution of the dispute between NEU members and Forest Fields Primary and Nursery School.

"School colleagues have plans in place to keep school open for as many children and their families as possible during this period of industrial action.

"We continue to meet regularly with NEU and school colleagues as we continue to seek a resolution to the dispute."

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