TEACHING assistants at a primary school could walk out in protest of job cuts.

The under-threat staff have voted to ballot for strike action after SS Osmund and Andrew’s RC Primary in Breightmet put forward to axe 11 teaching assistant posts.

Andrea Egan, assistant branch secretary of the Bolton-branch of unison, said: “The staff at the school have voted to be balloted for strike action so deep is the feeling at such devastating cuts to their jobs and the impact to services and the affect the job losses will have on the children at the school.

“The Tories have put more money into schools but they have not put enough in to keep up with the increasing costs of running schools.

“Our members will now proceed to a full formal ballot.

“This sends out a strong message that enough is enough. There is a tipping point in how far you can cut.”

The next course of action was take after a “well-attended” meeting following the announcement the school was due to go ahead with the cutbacks to save money.

The action comes after parents started the “Supporting our TAs” campaign to stop the jobs from being cut saying it would have a negative impact on children’s education at the school.

Ms Egan said: “This is such a large number of teaching assistants to be cut and people are worried about what will happen.”

A public meeting was held after parents found out that the posts were to be cut last month. Parents told of their worries about how children’s individual needs would be met as a result if the school went ahead with the cuts.

A spokesman for the campaign said the fight to save the jobs would continue.

He said: “The school said the other options put forward were not viable and would not save the money needed.

“Other schools are looking at other options and not getting rid of so many teaching assistants. I am 100 per cent this action and I am sure other parents will be.

“There are 70 extra primary school places needed in Breightmet and I don’t know why the school is not asking them to take them on.”