Children’s education will suffer under plans to cut teaching assistant staff by more than a third, councillors warn.

Hellesdon parish councillors Ian Duckett and Andrew Lock have criticised Wensum Trust’s decision to scrap 27 jobs out of 75.

They said that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)  will be particularly affected.

Five of the schools facing cuts  - Kinsale, Firside, Heather Avenue, Hellesdon High and Hellesdon Sixth Form Centre - fall within the councillors’ parish.

Ian Duckett is a parish councillor in HellesdonIan Duckett is a parish councillor in Hellesdon (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Duckett said: "Quite apart from the impact on individual TAs, which is massive financially and emotionally, Wensum Trust has not been open about the impact on primary pupils and SEND pupils.

"This is quite apart from the wider issues around access to and provision of SEND support nationally.

"In the context of soaring levels of pupil absence in schools and concerns over literacy rates can we really accept proposals seemingly openly aimed at providing poorer educational outcomes for our children?"

Daniel Thrower, chief executive of the Wensum TrustDaniel Thrower, chief executive of the Wensum Trust (Image: Wensum Trust)

The move was announced by Daniel Thrower, chief executive of the Trust, back in May, and was instantly met with a backlash, with more than 1,000 people signing a petition to stop the cuts.

Mr Thrower has said that they need to "review our staffing structure" so they can "balance our budget", with TAs taking the brunt of the blow.

Under the plans, 75 TAs will be replaced by 48 new pastoral and learning support (PAL) roles.

Cllr Duckett, who has a background in teaching and as a school governor, is struggling to comprehend the huge consequences of the move.

"It is difficult to fully know the total impact that these cuts will have on children with SENDs," said Ian Duckett

"The provision is already stretched, so reducing the number of TAs will only have a bigger effect on their education. 

Hellesdon High School is one of the five schools in Hellesdon set to lose TAsHellesdon High School is one of the five schools in Hellesdon set to lose TAs (Image: Newsquest)

"There is a hidden loss here too - while many TAs are assigned to work with individual students, many go above and beyond and support several pupils in a class. 

"It is going to have a huge knock-on effect.

"We might get lucky, and some of the quality TAs - many with years of experience - might take on the new roles.

"To me, these cuts will make children hostages to fortune."

The Wesnum Trust was approached for comment.