Whether it is giving one-to-one tuition, running an after-school club or supporting less able pupils, classroom assistants are offering a valuable service to the education system. But is that service receiving the recognition it so richly deserves?

THEY are to be found in nearly every primary school classroom in Hampshire.

Whether it is calming down a disruptive child, helping with reading or arranging wall displays, they are there to help.

Classroom assistants, also known as teaching and learning support assistants, have come a long way from the mum's army of volunteers who sharpened pencils and cleaned paint pots.

For head teachers they are indispensable to everyday school-life, supporting both teachers and children.

They may focus on youngsters with special needs or, at the other end of the spectrum, those who are very academically gifted.

This frees up extra time for the teacher to teach the rest of the class.

No surprise then that when the Daily Echo published a letter from an anonymous disgruntled teacher complaining about having to "put up" with classroom assistants, many replied to object.

The teacher described them as " cheap labour" and "detrimental" to children's education.

Classroom assistants are fighting back.

With 11 years of experience, teaching assistant Rosalind Brown knows how valuable she is where she works at Townhill Infant School in Southampton.

"In the school where I work we have an excellent relationship with the teaching staff. We work together, which has undoubtedly enhanced the children's learning," she said. "We are there to support the teacher in the classroom and to assist in many other ways and, yes, we are underpaid."

She added that classroom assistants would never replace teachers but added that on the odd occasion some were more than capable of taking classes on their own by following detailed lesson plans.

Another classroom assistant working in a Southampton school, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "No assistant would expect to take the place of a teacher or to receive their salary either!

"But then most of us are valued as part of the school team."

Other classroom assistants have described running after-school clubs and providing one-to-one tuition for pupils. Susan Farmer of Millbrook, Southampton, has worked as a special needs assistant for the last 20 years.

In order to become a teaching assistant she has taken many courses including open university special needs courses.

"Surely having two competent adults in the classroom helps to greatly improve learning," she said.

"I am very fortunate to be working in a lovely, friendly school where all staff are valued and appreciated for the roles that they do.

"We work as a multi-talented team, which can only add to the diversity and enrichment of our children's learning."

She added that, in her experience, when school budgets were cut it was always the teaching assistants who lost their jobs first, not the teachers.

"In my opinion the government aren't responsible.

"Teachers will always teach and teaching assistants will always support."

Anthea Bastow, Hampshire County Council's recruitment and development adviser, said teaching assistants are an important part of school life.

"They are crucial players in a school's teaching and learning environment.

"They make a fantastic contribution to school-life and are going to be at the forefront of school life in the future.

"Most of our teachers work very well with learning support staff and do not have to 'put up' with them in any shape or form."

I feel we're worth our weight in gold

CLASSROOM assistant Lyn Lockyer has helped hundreds of children at Bitterne CofE Infant School during the past six years.

During her time at the school in Peartree Avenue she has worked with lower ability groups of children, often delivering one-to-one tuition. A typical day might involve spending a morning in the reception class looking after boys and girls aged from four to five.

Older pupils aged from five to seven also benefit from the help and support of the school's eight full- and part-time classroom assistants.

"I took voluntary redundancy at British Gas when I was 43. I thought I was going to be there for ever.

"Going into teaching did cross my mind but I thought I would be too old afterwards if I did a four-year teaching course. Instead I opted to do a two-year course for a nursery nurse diploma at Eastleigh College, which covered all aspects of working with children aged up to seven."

Mrs Lockyer began working in a nursery but after 15 months decided to work with older children - a decision she has not regretted.

"I am lucky to enjoy a good relationship with teachers and I am made to feel valued and part of the team, not just 'put up with'," she said. "I agree classroom assistants are cheap labour and I personally have no inclination to take a whole class, but I support my teacher and school in every way I can.

"We are worth our weight in gold and all this bad feeling about government directives does not help morale."

CLASSROOM ASSISTANT FACTS:

In Southampton the number of posts for support staff is: 12 classroom assistants, 16 early years assistants, 39 nursery nurses, 137 teaching assistants, 707 learning support assistants, 72 special needs assistants and 99 special school assistants.

There is no breakdown for Hampshire, although education chiefs say there are currently 29,000 support staff working as administrative assistants, classroom assistants, dinner ladies and caretakers.

There are no compulsory qualifications. Schools can decide on whether they want staff with nursery nurse diplomas. Classroom assistants can undergo a 20-week training and assessment programme to achieve higher-level teaching assistant status.

Schools decide what classroom assistants can and cannot do.

Full-time classroom assistants get paid £12,500 to £18,582 per year.

They can work a maximum of 37 hours per week.