More than a dozen teachers picketed for two hours outside a city school this morning.
Uplands Junior School, in Highfields, Leicester, has been forced to shut today because of strike action by teachers belonging to the National Union of Teachers.
They are concerned over proposals by the governing body to axe eight teaching assistants by the end of the summer term.
NUT members clasping picket boards were outside the school from 7.30am, and were joined briefly by the teaching assistants who face redundancy. The assistants belong to the Unison and GMB unions, which are also balloting for strike action at a later date.
A spokesman for the striking teachers said: "We're reluctantly striking today because we want to provide the highest standard of education for youngsters here and take the school from good to outstanding. We don't think this aspiration would be possible if the redundancies go ahead because the teaching assistants here do a fantastic job and work incredibly hard.
"The consultation over redundancies failed to listen to our views and therefore we felt that we had to take action to ensure these were heard and taken seriously by the governing body."
Governors only announced their decision to close the school to parents yesterday.
Abid Matak, chair of governors, said he had hoped to avoid the action by entering into talks with the city council and union leaders.
In a statement, he said: "We feel the investigation should be allowed to take place and reach its conclusion before any decisions are made about further action to take."
Teaching and support staff at Uplands Junior lodged a formal grievance against head teacher Tim Luckcock and Mr Matak in March. They have called on education bosses at the city council to request their resignation following a number of issues, including the redundancies.
An independent officer is set to be appointed to look into the grievance and should be announced later this week.
However, Ian Leaver, assistant secretary for Leicester's branch of the NUT, who joined members on the picket line this morning, called for Mr Luckcock's suspension as head teacher until the conclusion of the investigation.
He said: "I can't see how any investigation can take place freely while the head teacher is still here. We would call for his suspension pending the outcome of the investigation."
Mr Leaver also said that the independent officer had to be agreed by the local authority, union leaders, and governors. He suggested that Acas, an advisory, conciliation and arbitration service, be appointed to conduct this.
A spokeswoman for Mr Luckcock said he had been advised by the governors and local authority not to comment at this time.
