Submission #2357

My first experience with pedagogical support staff came at a critical moment in my career.

I graduated in June 2022, expecting to begin as a toddler classroom assistant while gaining experience. Instead, by September, I was placed as the head and only educator in a preschool classroom. I was newly graduated and not yet ready to carry that responsibility alone.

Many days, I felt overwhelmed and unsure if I was making the right decisions while trying to meet every child’s needs. It often felt like being pulled in every direction without the time to pause, reflect, or plan.

Pedagogical support staff changed that.

In our centre, they provide educators with time outside the classroom for planning and documentation, and step in as extra support during busy moments like celebrations. More importantly, they offer relief. Knowing I would have that time or extra help allowed me to breathe and regain a sense of balance.

The cuts to this funding are deeply concerning. Our sector is already stretched thin, with educators managing increasing needs while feeling undervalued and overextended. Pedagogical support staff are not an extra, they are essential.

We do not need fewer supports. We need more.