EAST Lancashire teachers have joined forces to slam proposals by the government on teacher workloads.

The National Union of Teacher representatives chose not to sign the Department for Education and Skills proposals.

It is a stance against the position of non-teaching assistants being left to to charge of entire classes.

Commenting after the recent workload conference, Simon Jones, Blackburn with Darwen secretary for the NUT, said a shortfall in funding for the coming financial year, meant that teaching posts were being wiped out.

He added: "The NUT will not sign the agreement because it allows non-qualified people to take whole classes without the presence of a qualified teacher. That is a matter of principle.

"The Union did not exclude itself from the talks. It never refuses to talk to government. It was excluded by the government.

"The Government's desire to allow non-qualified people to take over whole class teaching is in the interests of neither

"Classroom assistants and other support staff provide enormous help to teachers and pupils.

"Like teachers, however, in many schools round the country, their jobs are being wiped out or are under threat because of the shortfall in funding this year."

Schools are already under severe strain and that position will not improve unless the Treasury acts."