Children 'trapped' by Leicester special needs school strike

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The parents of a pupil at a special needs school have said children are being "trapped" by staff strikes. Support staff at Ash Field Academy in Leicester have taken 30 days of strike action during a six-month dispute over pay - and 29 further days are planned. Leon and Jenny Line, whose 16-year-old son attends the school, said parents often did not know if their children would be in on strike days. The couple said some children have had to stay at home as a result. The latest industrial action includes six days in October and all school days in November. A spokesperson for Ash Field Academy Trust trust said they were "disappointed" that workers had chosen to strike again. Unison claims the workers earn "significantly less" than equivalent staff at council-maintained schools, but the trust that runs the school said a new "competitive" pay deal had been offered. Jenny Line explains her frustration over the strike action to Ady Dayman.