Independent Highland Councillors Move To Save Classroom Assistant Jobs

2nd June 2011

HIGHLAND Council's Independent Group held discussions aimed at removing the threat to classroom assistants. The main independent grouping are in coalition with the Lib Dems and Labour. The independents are calling for a £7 million underspend from the 2010/11 budget to be partly used to save the jobs of under-threat classroom assistants.

The local authority has managed to save £7 million on the projected budget despite controversial measures which cut jobs and services after it said it needed to save £17.5million over a two year period until 2012.

The council's surprise annoucement will be confirmed in a report to the Resources Committee on Wednesday which gives members a position on the revenue budget with the exact figure for 2010/11 presented to council on Thursday, June 23. But at a meeting on Thursday of the Independent group who make up the largest grouping in the administration and includes the education committee chairman Bill Fernie - councillors agreed to press for the money to be used to avoid threatened redundancies among class room assistants and also change the terms of the current review into their jobs to a more in-depth examination of support for pupils.

Independent councillor Audrey Sinclair, a member of the Working Group that has been looking into this issue, said: "It's not about stopping the review, but looking for a revised remit of the group that is not based on savings, but on the needs of our children.
"This means we are not being rushed into making decisions based on savings, when there is money around due to the under spend that can buy us extra time to continue look at this in a holistic way. We will be taking these proposals from the Independents to the meeting of the Working Group on Tuesday, 7th June."

Fellow Independent Councillor Jaci Douglas, also a member of the Working Group, added: "The current review came out of a budget line at February's council meeting. We have excellent, hardworking classroom assistants, much appreciated by parents and staff, and the Independent Group of councillors will support them.

"While I am not disputing that the current system of classroom support needs to be looked at, I have always been concerned that it had this budget saving hanging over it. Money from the under spend means that the task group can take more time with the review. As we move into the future with a new Curriculum for Excellence we must meet the support needs of all our children in the classroom, without being constrained by having to identify an immediate saving."

Independent Councillor Bill Fernie, chair of education committee, added "This proposal is about continuing with the much needed Review, but we need to take away the uncertainty that classroom assistants are feeling about their future. It will ensure time to modernise this essential role to achieve fair and equitable staffing for all our schools. Sometime ago in view of the coming budget pressures we asked our managers to begin as early as possible to start making savings ahead wherever possible so that we might achieve some flexibility and we now hope that there is a little that we can use in this instance."

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

Launch of New Transport Service for Renal Patients in Highland

NHS Highland and The Highland Council are pleased to announce the launch of a new bespoke year-round transport service for renal haemodialysis patients across Highland.   Funded through a grant from NHS Highland, the service marks the first phase of a new approach to patient transport delivery, designed to support the long-term development of a more sustainable, flexible and community-focused transport model for Highland.  

Today : Local Authority

Economy and Infrastructure Committee to consider next steps on proposed Short Term Let Control Areas

Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee will meet next Monday (28 September 2026) to consider whether to progress proposals for new Short Term Let Control Areas across parts of Highland.   At the special meeting, councillors will be asked to consider the findings of a public consultation on proposed control areas covering Inverness City and a wider Highland Rural area, before deciding whether the proposals should be submitted to Scottish Ministers for approval.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Scotland's Local Government Reform: More Local Power or Mainly a Search for Savings?

The Scottish Government is proposing a major reshaping of local government, with fewer regional authorities and many more community-level bodies making decisions closer to where people live.   The language is about local democracy, stronger communities and bringing decisions closer to people.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Local Government Set For Huge Changes

Initial proposals designed to deliver fundamental reform of local governance have been set out to help shape the debate on improving public services.   The possible changes, if implemented, could help achieve a better balance of decision-making powers across the public sector to ensure investment is focused on delivering improved services.  

21/9/2026 : Local Authority

Council Tax Reform: Just How Many Scots Took Part in the Debate?

Council tax is one of those bills that most households know only too well.   It arrives every month or in a series of instalments, and it helps pay for services ranging from rubbish collection and roads to schools, social care and other council services.  

19/9/2026 : Local Authority

Why Scotland Is Reorganising Public Services – And Why Highland Could Feel the Impact More Than Most

Something important is happening in Scotland's public services, and it goes considerably further than another round of annual budget cuts.   The Scottish Government is now talking about changing the way public services themselves are organised.  

18/9/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's £2.1 Billion Investment Plan: Could Higher Interest Rates Put the Squeeze on Future Budgets?

Highland Council is planning to spend around £2.1 billion over 20 years on schools, roads, housing, community facilities and other infrastructure.   It is an ambitious programme, and one which could bring considerable benefits across the Highlands.  

17/9/2026 : Local Authority

New Industry Connect Highland programme to strengthen links between schools and employers

Secondary schools and employers across the Highlands are coming together through a new partnership programme designed to connect classroom learning with future career opportunities and help develop the Highlands future workforce.   Industry Connect Highland, developed through My Highland Future and Workforce North, will run throughout the 2026/27 academic year with an initial focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  

15/9/2026 : Local Authority

Help Shape Highland's Future: Call for Ideas Extended Until November

Communities, businesses and residents are being given extra time to share ideas that will influence future development and land use across Highland.   The Highland Council has an open Call for Ideas survey, which is inviting people to share ideas on future development and long-term land use in Highland.  

12/9/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness This Week A Region Facing Big Decisions on Energy, Money and Its Future

Caithness has had a busy week, although the individual stories might not initially appear to have much in common.   Look a little more closely, however, and a pattern begins to emerge.