{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765034.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":765034,"attributes":{"action":"Rename Teaching Assistants to Assistant Teachers to fully reflect their roles","background":"The government needs to change the perception of the contribution that Teaching Assistants actually provide to the education system, and better educate parents on the role they play.\r\n \r\n\r\n","additional_details":"We think the simplest way to do this is rename them to Assistant Teachers to better reflect the role they play in class.\r\n\r\nMy partner often comes home feeling undervalued after a hard day's work at school, only to hear hurtful comments like, \"you're just an assistant, you don't teach.\" This is not only misleading but sorely underestimates the vital role that teaching assistants play in the educational system. We feel we must change the perception of the pivotal role they play in our children's education.\r\n \r\nA study has found that the presence of teaching assistants can improve pupil progress.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":18,"created_at":"2026-03-22T10:14:33.317Z","updated_at":"2026-04-27T08:25:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-04-24T08:53:48.922Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-26T12:49:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"David Watson","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":18}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Aylesbury","ons_code":"E14001071","mp":"Laura Kyrke-Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bristol North East","ons_code":"E14001133","mp":"Damien Egan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon South","ons_code":"E14001187","mp":"Rt Hon Chris Philp MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dartford","ons_code":"E14001191","mp":"Jim Dickson MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Epping Forest","ons_code":"E14001226","mp":"Dr Neil Hudson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Faversham and Mid Kent","ons_code":"E14001235","mp":"Helen Whately MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gillingham and Rainham","ons_code":"E14001246","mp":"Naushabah Khan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gravesham","ons_code":"E14001254","mp":"Dr Lauren Sullivan MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Maidstone and Malling","ons_code":"E14001349","mp":"Helen Grant MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rayleigh and Wickford","ons_code":"E14001437","mp":"Rt Hon Mark Francois MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochester and Strood","ons_code":"E14001447","mp":"Lauren Edwards MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":2},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":11},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":3}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}