A MUM has accused a school of serious neglect after she climbed a gate and suffered a near-fatal neck injury... despite teachers being told she could not be left unattended.
Delilah-Rose Marler, who is a student at the Braiswick Primary School, in Colchester, is on a waiting list to be diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
On November 30, the four-year-old climbed to the top of a gate on school property and sliced her neck by 3cm, requiring a visit to A&E.
Delilah-Rose’s mum Kirsteen Marler said her daughter has “no awareness of danger", but she had never suffered injuries to a such an extent previously.
She added: “She’s quite a clumsy child, but I always keep an eye on her.
“If this would’ve happened at home, there would’ve been social services and police on my case.”
School staff collected Kirsteen to inform her of what had happened and to take her to her daughter.
While the pair were at A&E, Kirsteen was told any further damage could have severed Delilah-Rose’s artery and therefore would have ended her life.
Kirsteen added: “She’s traumatised by this. She had to be held down by me and staff to glue her neck back together.
“At the time, she was screaming “Mummy, I want to go home.”
Kirsteen said while Delilah-Rose does not have a 1-2-1 member of staff, as a risk assessment is required to be in place, there is now understood to be a push for one.
She added: “In my eyes, it’s too late. This is neglectful care of my child.
“A risk assessment is there to prevent things, not after they’ve happened.”
Kirsteen also shared her belief the school does not have “enough staff” to cater for children with special needs, in addition to Delilah-Rose.
She said while Delilah-Rose was not on an EHCP plan, she had a One Plan which provides support with speech, language and certain sensory issues.
Kirsteen added: "It's not enough – that’s more to do with education, not with keeping an eye on her.
"There's quite a lot of children with autism and ADHD, but not enough staff in general to cater to the children with special needs."
Braiswick Primary School was approached by The Gazette for comment, but declined to make a statement.
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