North Yorkshire teachers "praying" for a break through in talks
The Government is negotiating with unions over pay and conditions this weekend
North Yorkshire's teachers say they're praying for of a breakthrough as the Government sit down with unions for a weekend of "intensive talks".
Strike action has been paused while negotiations take place over pay, workload and conditions
A joint statement from the Department for Education and unions said: "The government and the education trade unions... have agreed to move into a period of intensive talks.
"The talks will focus on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction.
"In order for talks to begin and, we hope, reach a successful conclusion, the NEU has confirmed it will create a period of calm for two weeks during which time they have said no further strike dates will be announced."
Meanwhile teachers in North Yorkshire say they are desperate for a fresh offer as they struggle to recruit staff. Kate Maxell is the Deputy Headteacher at the Cateau Community Primary School in Catterick.
She says poor wages has made it really hard to recruit - and it's the pupils who are suffering: "We've prided ourselves at the Cateau of really trying to meet the needs of struggling learners and stop them going to have to go into specialist provision, but we can't do it anymore. We don't have enough support systems to meet the number of high needs children in our school. For example one member of staff is supporting three high needs children, if we rewound just a few years ago she would have just been that for just one child and it's a really impossible job."
The Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has previously said the government has committed an extra £2bn in England, taking "real-terms spending on schools to its highest level in history".
The government offered most teachers a 3% pay rise in 2023/24 - which the NEU says is not enough.