Parents at Hillyfield Primary Academy say their special needs children lost their one-to-one teaching assistants “overnight” after a staffing review, reports Marco Marcelline

Parents at one of Walthamstow’s largest primary schools have slammed a decision to cut support staff for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) following a staffing review.

Families at Hillyfield Primary Academy, which operates two sites in Lloyd Park and Higham Hill, say some children lost their one-to-one teaching assistants “overnight”, disrupting their education and leaving them distressed.

On Friday 6th March, the school emailed parents at its Lloyd Park site, informing them of changes to learning support assistants following advice it received to cut agency staff spending by the Department for Education (DfE).

The Echo understands that some agency staff had turned up to school on Monday unaware of their jobs having been cut, and were in tears upon being told.

The email reads: “Following a thorough staffing review, we have been advised by a school resource management advisor, who has been commissioned by the DfE, to significantly reduce agency staff spend. This has been reviewed by senior leadership and the decision has been made to reduce agency staffing where possible.

“While we understand that staffing changes can be difficult for some pupils initially, we trust that having an allocated member of [non-agency] Hillyfield staff to support your child will help with this transition.”

A petition against the decision has already gathered more than 400 signatures.

The petition starter, Sangeetha Thurairatnam, told the Echo that her youngest daughter, who has autism, had been left bereft by the loss of her one-to-one support worker.

“She now has to share a different assistant with another child, and she has been crying. She doesn’t want to go to school anymore. This situation isn’t fair.”

Mother-of-two Michelle Niroula echoed those feelings, saying: “I feel betrayed. It’s heartbreaking for all of us. Up until last week there were four staff members in my daughter’s classroom – now there are three.

“My children’s education is going to be affected unless they reinstate the support workers and put in a proper plan on how to support kids with special needs.”

One parent who asked to stay anonymous said the move would impact all children on top of adding more stress and workload onto already overwhelmed staff.

They told the Echo: “This is having a huge impact on not only SEND children but neurotypical children who are having to learn in an environment where kids in their class are severely disregulated.

“Parents have complained to the senior leadership team as a class (with 25 signatures) but have yet to receive a response.”

In February, staff who were members of the National Education Union (NEU), went on strike for three days over pay, excessive workload, and management concerns.

Claire Bithell, a member of the campaign group Waltham Forest SEND Crisis, said families had been left shocked by the changes.

She told the Echo: “It is alarming to hear of rapid changes to the education support for children with special needs and disability in this school.

“These changes appear to have happened without any consultation with parents and carers, and despite the support being detailed in the children’s education health and care plans, which are legally binding documents.”

She added: “School is hard enough for children with additional needs, without essential support being removed unexpectedly and without warning.

“There is no justification for this behaviour, which is highly distressing for children and could harm their education and their health.”

Hillyfield Primary Academy is one of the largest primary schools in the borough and includes an autism resource provision and sensory room at its Lloyd Park site.

Parents are demanding that the school clarify how children’s interventions and daily support will continue, what measures will be taken to minimise disruption, and whether the changes will affect safeguarding or access to support.

In response to the concerns, a spokesperson for Hillyfield Primary Academy said the school remained committed to supporting pupils and engaging with families.

“We recognise that changes can raise understandable questions from families, and the school is engaging directly with parents and staff to provide reassurance and further information.

“The wellbeing, safety and support of our pupils remains our highest priority.”

The DfE was contacted for comment.

You can read the petition here

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