Learning support staff hold day of action in Whanganui following last week's teachers strike

About a dozen learning support staff gathered for a day of action outside the Ministry of Education in Wanganui. Photo / Bevan Conley

Educators are continuing to strike and on Tuesday learning support staff gathered outside the Ministry of Education on Whanganui's Ingestre St for a day of action.

Learning support staff work with children who have high or additional learning needs, the numbers of which are increasing.

About a dozen educators showed up to take action, including two resource teachers for learning and behaviour (RTLB's).

Christine Stringer was one of the RTLB's who attended to support staff she works with closely.

"I think those who came were very brave," Stringer said.

"They have a contract and they are very much controlled by that contract, as employees of the ministry, they are not allowed to speak."

The Ministry of Education employs about 850 learning support specialists, those on strike are the 580 that are members of the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa.

Stringer said that learning support staff simply needed better resourcing.

"We are facing a far greater need from students, from early childhood through to secondary, who are presenting with learning and behaviour challenges.

"The Government has increased funding for those children to access support, but now needs to ensure the specialist staff are available."

Attendee's met with NZEI field officer Graeme Whitworth to discuss negotiations and work out a way forward on the day of action that started at 8am.

Stringer said the last pay increase offer that learning support staff received would do nothing to help them.

"After waiting months for the Ministry to come to the negotiating table, our members are insulted by the offer of 2 per cent pay increases.

"We need something more tangible."

Learning support staff include psychologists, speech language therapists, early intervention teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other professionals.

"It's concerning that children often have to wait many, many months before we can even assess them," Stringer said.

"Every day is crucial and the sooner we can see these children, the better the outcome for them."