DURHAM County Council has denied reports it could be set to reconsider controversial changes to teaching assistant contracts which mean they will be paid term-time only.

Councillors will be updated next month on the results of a consultation which followed a decision in May to dismiss 2,700 school teaching assistants and re-engage them on new terms from January next year.

However the authority said the scheduling of an extraordinary council meeting on September 14 did not increase the likelihood of a U-turn and the resolution from May remained firmly in place.

The Northern Echo has learnt that there has now been some involvement from Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) in the dispute in the form of a recent meeting between the respective parties.

Last month Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected by the move who he claimed could be “pushed into poverty”.

Unison has claimed some teaching assistants could face pay cuts of up to 23 per cent – although this has been disputed by the council – and in all cases at least ten per cent.

Education chiefs have attempted to soften the blow of moving teaching assistants from 52 to 39 week a year contracts by offering compensation in the first year, a lump sum varying between £2,500 to £5,000 depending on the individual loss.

But Helen Metcalf, a regional organiser with Unison, said the union wanted more and was pushing for a range of payment options rather than a “one size fits all” solution.

She said: “Nobody wants this to go ahead, but if it does we want to get a better deal for our members.

“We are still hoping for a positive outcome to the consultation and that our members’ views are taken on board and listened to.”

Meanwhile, Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods has also said great care should be taken to ensure the best possible deal and teaching assistants should know they are valued.

Reiterating the authority’s position, County Councillor Jane Brown, its cabinet member for corporate services, said: “All but one council regionally and many nationally have already changed to term-time pay for teaching assistants.

“Our proposals are aimed at providing fairness and parity across our workforce and ensuring that teaching assistants, like other council employees, are paid only for the hours they actually work.

“Looking ahead we will continue to talk with unions and to clearly communicate the consultation outcome and any next steps to all those affected.”

A spokeswoman for Acas added: “We held talks with the parties on July 27. We remain in contact and our services are available.”