Mum worried about loss of classroom assistants

Kerry's daughter was diagnosed with autism at two years old

A parent has said she is worried that cuts to school staff could lead to her daughter, who has autism, distracting other pupils in lessons.

Kerry said she was "angry" and sad about the impact that cuts to teaching support staff could have on her daughter's school in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich.

The Broad Horizons Educational Trust, which runs 17 schools in Norfolk, has said it needs to cut £1m from its budget.

The trust chief executive said there would be nine compulsory redundancies at the trust due to the "significant financial pressures".

'Amazing school'

When Ellie started at Dussindale Primary School, she did not speak and had one-to-one assistance in the classroom, her mother said.

She said the school had been "amazing" and had helped her with speech and language.

Ellie said she found some lessons in school "really hard" and was "happy" there were people in the room to help her.

Removing the teaching assistant from her class would be "very scary", Ellie added.

Her mother continued: "She is now going to be in that classroom maybe distracting it, because she needs that extra time with that support worker."

Ellie said her favourite subject at school was art, as she "gets to do drawing and cool stuff"

Dussindale Primary School is one of 17 schools run by the Broad Horizons Education Trust

The nine compulsory redundancies across the trust are due to be made in time for the summer term.

Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form and Sewell Park Academy - both in Norwich - are also run by the trust.

Trust chief executive Owen Jenkins highlighted rising costs - and funding constraints around special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - as primary reasons for the financial pressures.

"We recognise that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff, parents, and pupils," said Mr Jenkins in a statement.

"A significant proportion of our budget is spent on staffing, and unfortunately, this has meant we have had to restructure teams across some of our schools.

"We remain committed to delivering the best possible education for every child."

He said there would be a "smooth transition" to support pupils and families through the changes at the various schools.

Last year, five academy trusts signed a joint letter protesting against a cut in SEND funding from Norfolk County Council.