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Original poster

Child hurt in pool

43 replies

Nadiamohamed · 07/08/2019 23:30

Hi everyone, I wanted some advice. My daughter was hurt in a pool by her swimming teacher- she dug her fingers into her sides to straighten her, pushed her forward and was mean and generally derogatory. I have gone through all formal complaint procedures and they are refusing to tell me anything saying that she is protected by HR confidentiality. They have still kept her on as an employee, despite her having other written complaints on file. She is also a local councillor. I took a photo of a large scratch on my daughter's side and they at first didn't even take it into consideration and are now saying that they expect scratches as part of accidental marks made by a swim teacher. I do not know where to go next apart from a lengthy and expensive court case but I am so worried about other children. Does anyone have any experience with this? Many thanks.

OP posts:

MarthasGinYard · 08/08/2019 09:07

What are you expecting?

Do you want her sacked?

MarthasGinYard · 08/08/2019 09:09

I'm presuming the teacher is in the water with them?

Were you watching?

beargrass · 08/08/2019 09:09

I can't believe the responses on this thread. From what the OP says, this is not at all the way to handle a child. Who gets scratched when swimming?!

If there are other complaints then someone should be looking at those all together in order to rule in, or out, anything that should be taken further.

OP, have you tried finding your Local Authority Designated Officer? A quick search took me to the York page:

www.saferchildrenyork.org.uk/allegations-against-childcare-professionals-and-volunteers.htm

They may be able to help you. I hope your DD is feeling better soon.

KUGA · 08/08/2019 09:22

Take her elsewhere.
You clearly wont get any further with this.
And I wouldn't go down the legal road.

BenWillbondsPants · 08/08/2019 10:25

Why do some people seem so determined to even contemplate that some people who work with children, really shouldn't? That, yes, unfortunately these things do happen and that of course hurting a child is a safeguarding issue. I work with children myself and I would expect a complaint made about me or any of my colleagues to be thoroughly investigated - if only to clear my own name and reputation.

HeadintheiClouds · 08/08/2019 10:28

They are refusing to tell you anything as she’s protected by HR confidentiality, but they’ve told you that they’ve had numerous complaints about her?
That doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense.

BloomingHydrangea · 08/08/2019 10:34

She will have an enhanced DBS. Did they take advice from the LADO? Ask them. If they did then you need to drop it, if not then you need to ask why

www.saferchildrenyork.org.uk/allegations-against-childcare-professionals-and-volunteers.htm

BloomingHydrangea · 08/08/2019 10:35

Sorry- just realised someone posted the same page. I live in York!

Bookworm4 · 08/08/2019 10:55

@HeadintheiClouds
The numerous complaints is according to other parents, it’s not a fact.
OP has still not answered if she was there or this is based on a scratch and a 7 yr olds say so and gossipy parents.

BiggerBoat1 · 08/08/2019 10:59

Just get a new swimming teacher and move on!

HeadintheiClouds · 08/08/2019 11:28

I was told by the swimming school itself that she has had numerous complaints
Op has said this herself, Bookworm, I didn’t make it up for my own amusement.

Aiden2019 · 08/08/2019 16:01

Sorry I am new to Mumsnet so not too savvy with replying to each question/message. I will reply to as many as I can now, even though it is clear that most people didn't read my comments as they have said things or asked what I have already answered! Anyway- to let you all know that I am not a gold digger or after a financial pay out, what i want is some transparency and accountability as this is related to a young child. We have adults coming out of sports institutions across the country speaking about childhood abuse. The behaviour of this woman shows that it is not a one off- I cannot list and document absolutely every bit of research that I have done but her actions indicate that this is generally her attitude and behaviour towards children. She is demeaning, insulting and she is rough in her handling. To straighten a child when swimming you do not need to dig your fingers into their sides to the extent where you leave a clear mark that can be photographed. It does actually make sense that the swim school told me that she had complaints on her record because she is notorious for being rude and rough to young children and they know her reputation- therefore they knew that it would be fruitless to hide it from me. I was not told by just one source- and it is not gossip and conjecture- but worries and concerns that parents have raised who are trying to protect their children. This goes beyond being 'a bad teacher'. And yes I was present- watching behind a glass and I told the manager that I immediately noticed that my daughter looked unhappy and was not engaging as enthusiastically as she had with her previous teacher but I couldn't see what she was doing under the water. For the person who expected my 7 year old to start making a fuss in the middle of the lesson- no I don't think a frightened child would start to articulate to the person hurting her that they should stop. At the end of the lesson she came to me- a trusted and safe adult to cry and explain what had just happened and to show me where she had been hurt. Of course I removed my child immediately from the centre. My daughter is scarred by this incident to say the least- she is fearful of swimming and I worry if she will ever overcome that fear fully. The LADO made the decision that there was no need to investigate further without even looking at the photo. (But thank you to those of you who recommended speaking to them). I am more than a little concerned by how so many of you seem to think it is normal for a child to feel scared and hurt while undertaking a sport like swimming- which is do with life and death. That it is not a big deal to be manhandled and hurt by an adult- such that a mark can be seen. Other professionals who I have spoken to have been shocked and horrified- especially those who I have presented the evidence to. Please if your child is hurt- take it seriously- have some empathy and do something about it. I have not been hysterical once, but calm and rational and have presented evidence. This is not just about my daughter- other children could have been or could be hurt too. Please don't respond if you want to be insulting- I am sure that you must have better things to do!! Many thanks to those who have tried to give me pointers- I wish you well.

Passthecherrycoke · 08/08/2019 16:09

I also think you need to decide what you want to achieve and concentrate on that.

I know you probably want her sacked but that’s not something you can achieve because that decision rests with her employer, who have so far decided not to sack her.

Other options are social services or the police. They may well not doing anything but you would need to phone them to find that out. As a last case scenario you could pay for a solicitors visit to check whether there are any other options open. This is for the injury, no one will do anything about her being rude.

Or, you could just try and forget about it rather than drag it on

jellycatspyjamas · 08/08/2019 17:22

what i want is some transparency and accountability as this is related to a young child.
I think you need to decide what this would look like. You’ve complained and the swimming school have decided how they’re going to deal with it and intent to keep that confidential in line with the teacher’s employment rights. It was very wrong of them to tell you about other complaints, in doing so they breached her confidentiality along with potentially breaching the confidence of the parents raising complaints depending on the size of class, nature of what they told you. It’s one thing to know people will gossip about your staff and quite another thing to confirm the gossip to a member of the public.

The LADO says they have no cause to investigate- I can’t see social services taking it on if the LADO isn’t interested. You could go to the police and ask that they view it as assault and begin a criminal investigation, you could raise an FOI to see how many complaints have been raised about her and campaign to have her removed.

Or you could comfort your child, change swimming teacher and get on with your little fe.

jellycatspyjamas · 08/08/2019 17:22

life, get on with your life

HeadintheiClouds · 08/08/2019 17:30

What “other professionals” have you presented the evidence to?!

Tattybogle89 · 08/08/2019 22:29

Snappedandfarted2019 · 08/08/2019 22:43

I'm a swimming teacher OP and what she did was not ok, you reported it with the head of the swim school which is standard procedure, I would request she have a different teacher or alternately you can change swim schools if you lost faith in them which is understand Nd I'd this. The links other people have posted are worth looking at when reporting any rough handling.

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