Labour plans to restore the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) if it is elected next year.
The SSSNB was previously established under the last Labour government but was abolished by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition when it came into power in 2010.
Labour’s shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, plans to reinstate the group, which would be responsible for the terms and conditions for school staff - including teaching assistants, dinner staff and caretakers - covering annual leave and working days during the school year.
Unions covering support staff in the education sector will represent their members on the SSSNB.
The party has said that support staff are a key part of their education reforms.
Labour has also said it would set up an urgent review of curriculum and assessment, and bring in reforms to the main school performance measures.
School support staff ‘don’t get heard’
Ms Phillipson said: “School leaders, especially in our best schools, rightly tell me about the vital role of their support staff, and they will be crucial to delivering the high and rising standards Labour wants to see in all our schools.
“Teachers get their voice heard in the national conversation but too often support staff don’t. That’s why the last Labour government was right to create a negotiating body to look at their terms and conditions across our country, and that is why the next Labour government will do the same.
Ms Phillipson also said that Labour would “reset the relationship” between schools, families and the government.
“Labour will deliver high and rising standards in our schools, break down barriers to opportunity and ensure that each young person gets on in life,” she said,
Commenting on the plan, Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: “We believe it is important to restore the architecture for genuine social dialogue and partnership with the school workforce, to put right the deep recruitment and retention crisis that has been created over the last 13 years.
Mike Short, head of education at the union Unison, said: “School support staff play essential roles in supporting pupils in numerous ways. But all too often, they’re taken for granted and lack clear job progression.
“A dedicated pay and reward system would ensure they’re fairly paid for what they do, as well as provide a career structure and opportunities for professional development.”
