A primary school in Leicester is facing serious questions after a seven-year-old pupil was allegedly pushed off a chair by a member of staff, an incident the child's parents say has been 'brushed under the carpet'.
Alleged Incident and Parental Outrage
The reported push is said to have happened in June at Stokes Wood Primary School in the Fosse Ward area of Leicester. According to the parents, the child was left with a bump on the head. They allege the staff member involved 'just walked off' without helping, leaving another pupil to assist their child.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, were alerted to the event by three other sets of parents whose children had witnessed it. Deeply concerned, they immediately raised serious safeguarding concerns and made the difficult decision to withdraw their child from the school entirely.
School Response and Investigation Timeline
Headteacher Liz Christensen apologised and assured the parents the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness. The school launched an investigation and informed the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
A detailed timeline of events followed:
- 16 June: Child informs parents. Parents contact school and keep child home.
- 17 June: Meeting with Headteacher Mrs Christensen.
- 23 June: Parents formally complain to the board of governors and withdraw their child.
- 30 June: Headteacher writes with investigation outcome, citing confidentiality on actions taken.
- 8 July: LADO Katherine Lockwood writes to parents, confirming concerns were 'substantiated but there was no intention to cause harm'.
- 11 July: Chair of governors defends school's 'strong safeguarding culture'.
- 29 September: Stage 2 complaint concludes school safeguarding processes were appropriately followed.
A Pattern of Concerns Emerges
This is the second such incident to raise alarm at Stokes Wood Primary in recent months. Previously, the parents of a disabled child criticised the school after finding their offspring 'crying in a locked room'. The father of the child allegedly pushed from the chair told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the school's response felt inadequate.
'They appeared like they were taking it very seriously at first, but since then it's all been excuses... it was very similar to the parent that found his child locked in the classroom,' he said. 'We trust these people. And as far as we're concerned, that trust has been broken.'
When pressed for details on any disciplinary action, Headteacher Mrs Christensen stated it would be 'inappropriate to comment on individual complaints'. Leicester City Council said the matters were for the school to address.
