A MOTHER who withdrew her seven-year-old son from school following a "campaign" of racist abuse by fellow pupils is taking legal action.

Juliet Ryan, from Clacton, is seeking damages from the governing body of Holland Park Primary School, alleging her son suffered months of physical and verbal abuse.

She says the school did not do enough to tackle the problem, leaving her fearful for her child's safety.

Mrs Ryan cites numerous incidents involving her son, who she does not wish to name, throughout 2017.

In February 2018, a note written by the boy's GP said the youngster was "not medically fit" to attend school for two weeks due to anxiety.

She withdrew him from the school permanently in April this year.

Mrs Ryan said during one lunch break in February 2017, her son was called n***** more than ten times by a number of different students, pushed over and injured.

A few months later, the distraught mother took her son to Clacton Hospital after a fellow pupil slapped him in the face so hard it caused swelling.

She says when she discussed discrimination and safeguarding with school staff, she was accused of being "threatening."

The family are leaving Clacton as Mrs Ryan says she is fearful of entering her son into another school.

"He was living on a knife edge the whole time he was there," she said.

"I just felt like I couldn't protect him.

"It has impacted on my work as he has had to be home-schooled.

"There is just no way I could let him carry on at that school.

"I went to school in Essex and experienced similar abuse and it breaks by heart to see it happening to my children."

Mrs Ryan, who is chief executive of equalities charity Working Action Group, went to the police when her second son, 15, came home from Clacton County High School with racist comments scrawled on his shirt.

The teenager's shirt had racist slurs written among farewell messages.

Mrs Ryan is not alone in taking legal action, with fellow parent Saskia King also seeking damages from the governing body of Holland Park after alleging her son was racially abused and bullied.

Mrs King criticised the school for an alleged lack of action and investigation over the incidents.

She said her ten-year-old boy was assaulted by fellow pupils, but added the school "did not do nearly enough" to protect him and educate pupils about the harm of racism.

A spokesman for The Premier Learning Trust, the governing body of Holland Park Primary School, acknowledged that legal action is being taken by both parents.

"Given the fact that the legal proceedings are still active we are unable to comment further," he said.