A primary school in Suffolk is said to be planning to axe nearly half of its teaching assistants and midday supervisors, due to an "unforeseen" budget shortfall.

Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard, Sudbury, is planning to lay off up to 15 of its 36 classroom assistants and supervisors, UNISON has claimed.

The school is blaming the "unforeseen" budget shortfall of £75,000 and flagging student numbers.

Pot Kiln claims it has more teaching assistants per student than other schools.

The UK's largest union, UNISON, however, has said that the high number of teaching assistants is due to the above-average number of students with special educational needs (SEN).

The union has said that many of the threatened staff work one-to-one, full-time with SEN pupils so reductions in these numbers would seriously damage their education.

UNISON Eastern regional organiser Winston Dorsett said: "Pot Kiln seems to expect its loyal teaching assistants and midday supervisors to carry the can for the school's own financial failings.

"School leader couldn't get their sums right as they ran up this deficit and their figures don't add up now that they're trying to fire staff.

"Cutting these jobs will inevitably harm children's education, especially given how many of these roles are solely based on supporting pupils with special educational needs.

"We hope the head, governors, and whole Pot Kiln community will think again."

The school estimates that student numbers will fall by around 8% over the next four years, leading to a drop in income.

UNISON says reducing support staff members by around 40% is a massive overreaction that will be bound to disrupt students' learning.

This news comes days after there were mass teacher strikes around the country, with hundreds marching through Ipswich on February 1.

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: "Schools and their governing bodies are responsible for setting and managing their own budget.

"For maintained schools, such as Pot Kiln, governing bodies are required to share the budget plan each year with Suffolk County Council and we carry out a risk assessment.  

"Where a school is identified as requiring monitoring and intervention, officers will work with headteachers and governing bodies to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to identify where any savings can be made.

"We continue to work with the school and union to find the best way to manage its financial challenges."

Pot Kiln Primary School has been approached for comment, but none was received at time of print.