Supply teacher physically hurt my child

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Putting it hear for traffic
I have a 9 year old dd who yesterday had a supply teacher in school & the teacher gripped my dd in the bottom back region & pinched her to stop her going into the computer room without even telling her first even she come home showed me & told me what had happened she was left with marks on her back so I took photos & had her write her account of the event went to the school this morning & seen head & was she said it had to be dealt with by Edcaution as teacher was from agency & took photos & statement from me Itold me supply teacher isn't there today & sent my dd into class i felt very unsatisfied by our discussion just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience & what advice you can give or if anyone knows more about this as to me its a very serious matter to her it seemed like a everyday thing very concerned by it all? Tia

Contact the police and report an assault?

Email the head and ask for a timeframe in which you can expect a response to the investigation?

I agree. If an adult colleague had grabbed you like that, you'd inform the police.

Well I would! Call the non emergency number and tell them.

I have never had a problem with the school before, I thought about contacting the police but im abit scarred to be honest of how it will effect my child she's very sensative & always liked school I don't want to cause any more upset for her but also don't want the teacher to get away with it, think best I can do is speak to head again & get my questions answered & if I'm still unsatisfied contact the police

Definitely the police. It's assault. If a stranger had harmed your child like this, you would report it wouldn't you?

I understand that you don't want your child dragged into a big drama that will upset her, but the police are used to dealing with sensitive issues and children, they know what they are doing.

If you're worried it will affect your relationship with the school, I can understand that too, but they are professionals and they should understand that a teacher physically assaulting a child can't be brushed under the carpet.

Even if the Head is brilliant about supporting you and your child and never having this teacher cover again, she will still be in other schools putting children at risk.

Police definitely

Why did she grab your child though? Perhaps to save her from harm or someone else?

I would just assume the head needs to hear the other side of the story first before she can say anything at all. She may well have taken it her seriously but can't say anything until all facts are present.

I think it is understandable to touch children if there is a physical risk to themselves or others?

Although I’m not defending an assault here just wondering about the build up

If this is a trained teacher, she should be able to retrain a child in immediate danger without leaving bruises. Unless OP's daughter was dangling out of an upstairs window, I think it's unlikely the level of force used was necessary.

restrain

Police!

The Head took the photos and a statement from your DD and is going to progress the matter with "Education" (not sure what that is, but presume Local Authority?)

Seems completely appropriate to me - an investigation will be done, and presumably what further action is taken will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

What did you want the Head to do?

I think this needs to go further than just the school. This teacher should not be working with children. Pinching is not restraint. It's assault.

I work in a school and that seems appropriate to me too. The Head said they would investigate - that's what you want isn't it? Both sides of the story need to be heard here. I do not see what the Police can do now, especially as the teacher concerned wont even be at school today. The only thing you could do is check that the school wont be using that supply teacher again?

I imagine that if investigation corroborates the child's story that the school will report the matter to the police (along with other extremely serious (and fully justified) consequences for the supply teacher such as no longer being able to teach etc).

However, at this moment in time, the Head has not yet conducted a full investigation, and has only one side of the story. She hasn't even talked to the supply teacher, let alone interviewed the other children/adults present etc -she simply doesn't yet have all the facts.

The first stage is gathering the information and investigating - the consequences/further actions can only happen at the end of the investigation when the full facts of the matter are known.

I'm a supply teacher.

A teacher that injures a child to the extent they have bruises should not be in the classroom. (Barring extreme situations such as the teacher grabbing the child to save them from being run over/falling out of a 2nd floor window, etc).

I would give the headteacher time to get back to you, and then ask him/her if they have informed the supply agency. At the very least the agency need to know that this happened so that they can stop sending this teacher into schools.

I questioned my dd afew times & it came out the same every time just to stop her going into a room with her friend who had permission to go in there & asked my dd to go with her, I totally understand there wasn't alot she can do but she never acknowledged my dd standing by the side of me to reassure her of school just quickly told me the process & then told my dd to go to class

You should go to the Police, they have trained officers, who speak to children. The school may not use that supply teacher again, but other schools will, and she needs to held accountable for her actions.
Do this for your daughter, and other potential victims.

The teacher in question needs to know how serious this is. I think you go back to the head or email, and ask for when you will have an update, and explain that you feel it would be responsible to report the teacher. See what the school say.

OP if any adult grabbed my child hard enough to bruise I would be calling the police, whatever their profession! A trained teacher should have the skills & training to handle children in a gentle manner.

I think you need to ring someone like social services or the education department and get familiar with the protocol on what should happen. Its essential this teacher does not hurt any other child - but I am also worried about your child. At the end of the day, what you want is for this teacher to stop teaching and being in contact with children - and if the protocol stops her doing this than job done. I'm worried that if you ring the police without knowing if this is part of the protocol - this might have a knock on effect on your poor daughter. She's already been assaulted - she doesn't need other child gossiping about her in class.

Email the head and ask for a timeframe in which you can expect a response to the investigation?

This. Keep everything written. "potential victims", "assault" ... ignore the hyperbole and give the Head time.

It may have been an accident. It may have been inappropriate. It may be entirely justified.

My guess is that the supply went to hold a shirt and got your daughter instead although there are ofcourse a million explanations.

Teachers have legal exemptions with regard to holding, grabbing, restraining etc. It doesn't sound like this is applicable but I think you should give this time.

I think in this case you need to take it further.Even ring non emergency and get some advice.And maybe go above Head teacher,just so theres a trail.