SOUTHWELL primary school will be among the first to get back education assistants which were axed by the former Barnett government.

Fremantle Labor MP Simone McGurk announced Southwell will get one assistant from 2018, while Spearwood primary will get a part-timer from 2020.

Reinstating the education assistants was one of the major pledges of the McGowan government, with the former administration’s cutting of 400 positions proving highly unpopular.

Southwell’s assistants will work across kindergarten to year two and will focus on students most in need of additional support, Ms McGurk said.

• Fremantle Labor MP Simone McGurk reads to kids from Southwell primary school. Photo supplied

“This Labor government is delivering on our election commitments to local schools,” she said.

“We’re working to undo the damage caused by the previous government’s education cuts, prioritising the schools with greatest need like Southwell.”

Southwell’s principal Elizabeth Melville was relieved by the clawback.

“The school’s education assistants are a great support to teachers, in the school’s ongoing effort to provide the best education for its students,” Ms Melville said.

Labor will reinstall 100 assistants from next year, another 92 in 2019 and 95 in 2020.

by STEVE GRANT