SCHOOL support staff have received £162,500 compensation for owed holiday leave following a Unison investigation.

The union discovered workers at 33 schools across Torfaen in south-east Wales had not received the full leave they were entitled to for more than five years during an employment tribunal case involving minimum holiday payments.

The term-time only teaching assistants, cooks and cleaners have now been paid compensation after Unison asked for a review of leave owed to all term-time staff and found some long-serving employees were being short-changed.

Unison Cymru head of schools Rosie Lewis said: “Thanks to the work done by union officials, that’s been put right.”

Katrina Farmer, higher level teaching assistant and Unison Torfaen branch chair,  added: “Support staff are only paid during term time, and then at a lower rate than teachers.

“So even a small increase in pay, or an overdue adjustment to our annual leave, makes such a difference.”