Teachers and special needs assistants are calling for more support after almost 400 teachers took assault leave in 2024.

A report in the Irish Examiner found that 396 school staff took assault leave last year after being injured by a student in the classroom.

The maximum leave for teachers and SNAs who are injured in schools is three months.

Any absence following that period must be dealt with through sick leave structures.

Teacher Sophie Cole told Lunchtime Live that classrooms in Ireland are "not safe".

"I suffered an assault in the classroom in November 2022," Ms Cole said.

"To this day, I'd never blame the children - the children are definitely under-supported, our classrooms are under-staffed and that is why we’re seeing such a high rate of assaults in our classrooms."

Ms Cole said her life was "changed in an instant" after suffering from nerve-damage and long-term pain as a result of her injury.

"I scream and cry daily with pain - I’ve undergone 8 surgeries so far," she said.

"I’ve lost my independence, I’ve lost my ability to drive, I’ve lost my social life and, realistically, my career and my income."

A table in a classroom covered with toys, Alamy

FORSA Trade Union representative Linda O'Sullivan is calling on the incoming Government to better support teachers and SNAs.

"It's never the fault of the child but post-COVID we are dealing with more needs than ever before and schools have been suffering with a lack of support for these children," Ms O'Sullivan said.

Ms O'Sullivan said some teachers who are injured in the classroom are reluctant to take assault leave.

"We're inundated with SNAs who are assaulted at work who don't take assault leave because they don't know they're entitled to it or they're afraid to take it because the blame will be placed on the child," she said.

"We deal with people who are assaulted in school who have exhausted all their sick leave and they're left with no alternative."

Ms O'Sullivan said addressing the under-resourcing of teachers, SNAs and classrooms will help entice more people into the profession.

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Feature image: Students in a classroom, Alamy