Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Helen McClenaghan said that following the talks on Friday it was her understanding that all the unions were satisfied with the fresh offer.

"I was surprised when I heard the strike was happening."

She also revealed that further discussions were due to take place this morning between management and the union, in which the boards would explain fully the package being offered and how the additional money would be distributed to classroom assistants.

Ms McClenaghan insisted that the offer was fair and explained: "It is only Nipsa members that continue to be in dispute.

"We gave them a very significant offer on Friday. Some classroom assistants will be entitled to back pay for 12 years.

"It was agreed in 1995 that classroom assistants would not be dealt with in the early stages of the job evaluation."

She added: "Under this new offer, management is recognising the historical significance of the 32 and a half hour week and classroom assistants will be compensated."

Ms McClenaghan also rejected Nipsa's argument that the level of care supplied to children will be reduced as a result of management proposals.

"There's no evidence for that. There are two points I would like to clarify and the first is that while the unions claim they need to continue to receive special allowances for higher qualifications, the whole nature of the job evaluation takes that into account and classroom assistants are paid accordingly.

"They cannot be paid double for qualifications.

"The second point is that while many classroom assistants possess an NVQ Level 3, it is not exclusively the case and we cannot in all fairness to prospective employees put in a requirement that circumstances don't need and excludes potential very able candidates from employment."

Earlier, Nipsa argued that the offer failed to address the key issues behind the dispute.

General secretary John Corey added: "Nipsa represents over 3,000 classroom assistants and our members have made very clear their determination to take strike action until the employers come up with proposals that address the key issues causing the dispute.

"They have the full backing of Nipsa."