Teaching assistants at a school in East Yorkshire have walked out amid a dispute with the council over pay and conditions.
National Education Union (NEU) members at St Anne's School and Sixth Form College in Hessle are taking part in 12 days of strike action.
The staff, who support children with special educational needs and disabilities, are unhappy about a new pay structure introduced by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in April, which applies to all council-maintained schools in the area.
The NEU said the change meant teaching assistants were taking on extra duties, including medical responsibilities and regularly covering for teachers, that were not reflected in their banding.
NEU regional organiser Steve Scott said the new structure should be amended, with ‘clear lines drawn’, to recognise the hard work of staff.
The union has also requested for a market supplement to be applied for some staff at St Anne's, but the council said this would create an uneven pay structure between schools in the area.
The local authority's executive director of children’s services, Merlin Joseph, said: ‘The wellbeing of staff and children is our priority and we have strongly requested the NEU reconsiders strike action.
‘The school and local authority is looking at how it can remain open on strike days, whilst ensuring safety of pupils.’
