Teaching Assistants at Horndale School joined others on strike over the County Council’s new pay structure which will leave many to  lose £1,000’s a year. They explain their jobs are essential and include speech therapy, emotional support, first aid, playground duty, breakfast club, trips, phonics etc. 37 of the county’s 243 schools – mainly nurseries and special schools – were closed during the walkout, with 76 informing parents that some classes would see some interruption. DCC say it is not fair that the vast majority of teaching assistants are paid for working 37 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, but actually work only 32.5 hours a week and only during the 39 weeks of term-time. This means other council staff can work up to almost six and a half weeks more, as well as more than half a day more every week, for the same money.