CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS

Early day motion 455, tabled 20 November 2001 by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour). Signed by 63 members.

That this House pays tribute to the invaluable work of the country's 186,000 hardworking classroom assistants; welcomes the Government's plans to increase the number of teaching assistants and learning mentors; supports plans to build on their expertise by enabling them to work more closely with pupils with reading and writing, supervising lunchtime activities and giving pastoral and other individual support to pupils; notes that this will free up the country's 425,000 teachers to do what they do best, teach; and expresses disappointment at recent comments in the press disparaging their work and status.

Signatures by party: Labour 56, Labour/Co-operative 6, UUP 1.