SCORES of classroom assistants across Cheshire could be entitled to new year windfalls up to an average of £5,000.

Up to 180 teaching assistants could be set for a massive bonus to their pay packets as part of a claim which dates back up to 20 years.

Cheshire County Council could be forced to fund the pay-outs from cash allocated to it to fund a statutory single status pay review which will harmonise pay and conditions.

Details of the windfall payments emerged during a meeting of the council's executive. The problem dates to the 1980s when a number of schools sought to employ teaching assistants on 27.5 hour contracts - covering 10 sessions (a session is a morning/afternoon) instead of the normal 32.5 hour contracts to cover 10 sessions (full-time).

The council conceded that staff employed for 10 sessions per week should be paid on a full-time basis.

In a report, county education and community policy manager Louise Rees said: 'After seeking further legal advice, the council has conceded the position. As a result, they agreed that employees should be awarded back pay and have their contracts of employment amended accordingly.'