A CHILD with additional support needs (ASN) was left covered in faeces at school as teachers would not help her, a mother has told the Scottish Education Secretary.
The woman, who gave her name as Marie, was taking part in a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in when she told John Swinney she is now home schooling her daughter after a series of incidents.
She said her daughter, who is unable to go to the toilet herself, was told by her class teacher to have her twin help her when the learning assistant was not there.
READ MORE: Campaign launched to take P1 pupils out of national testing
She said: "She had a learning assistant in place because she was diagnosed aged two, so before she even started nursery she had one-to-one support because she can't get dressed herself, she can't go to the toilet unaided.
"When there was no learning assistant about her class teacher asked her twin to take her to the toilet and clean her bum.
"So obviously at 10 years old she was left with poo up her back and down her leg and both of them very upset.
"She was left in the changing room, the teacher never got her changed, her twin had to do that, then got in trouble for taking too long.
"If she approached a supply teacher to ask for help they would say 'A child your age should be able to get dressed herself'.
"The list is endless of things that happened to her and then she became a school refuser and would attack us daily at the thought of having to go in there.
"I just feel, I don't what the hell is going on, but ASN children are really getting failed."
READ MORE: Swinney: I’m listening on tests for five-year-olds
Swinney said her experiences were "totally unacceptable" and pledged to look into the situation.
"Individual local authorities have got to make the assessment of how to fulfil the needs of individual children but what you've recounted to me there is very clearly not acceptable," he said.
"The needs of every child have got to be identified and met and I would want to make sure that's the case for Marie's child."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel