I WOULD like to respond to your recent letter by a Mr Stacey in which you suggest that teaching assistants are not only a luxury but a complete waste of money.

Firstly, I would like to say that it is very clear from your letter that your experience of teaching is obviously from a time that bares no resemblance to the modern, inclusive and progressive education system of today.

I would indeed, like to see you stop teaching your class of 40 lads to empty a urine bag, take a disabled child to the toilet or regularly administer insulin and test the blood of a diabetic child.

"Au contraire" I hear you shout.

"I don't mean those children with special physical needs."

But in reality you do because the schools of old were not equipped or staffed to care for these children.

And without teaching assistants they wouldn’t be today.

The phrase "I don't feel right Miss," is one I hear as a teaching assistant up to five times a day.

But do you know what?

It doesn't bother me because I'm happy in the knowledge that children with special needs are getting not only a great education but an invaluable educational experience.

Basically what I am saying Mr Stacey is that teaching assistants, no matter how under valued and under paid we are, form a pivotal part in any progressive, inclusive education system.

We are invaluable to the children we love and care for.

So, if you are so set on saving money for this shambolic Tory government maybe you should look elsewhere because targeting those on minimum wage, for 38 weeks of the year is not going to make any great savings.

Especially when you consider what you get for the money.

One very hardworking teaching assistant, Bebington