Angry mum demands teacher prosecutions

Apr 10 2008 by Sian Watts, Rhymney Valley Express

A MOTHER is furious teachers have been allowed back to school after they allegedly forced her special-needs daughter to walk alone from Cardiff Bay to Penarth.

Nakita Williams, aged 13, of Cefn Hengoed, is thought to have been removed from a mini bus by teachers and told to make the trip back to the Headlands Special Needs School alone.

An investigation was launched in October.

Mother, Mandy Williams walked out of a recent meeting after being told she could not be informed about the disciplinary procedure because of confidentiality.

She now believes the teachers implicated have returned to the school following the Easter holiday.

She said: “I am not allowing my daughter back in that school until something is sorted out.

“Nakita is still traumatised. How can they expect her to go back with those people still there?”

“This is a school she loves and adores but why do they want to put her in that position?

“I have never even had a letter of apology. They owe me an explanation but I have had nothing. I want something done.”

Mandy Williams explained how she discovered a diary Nakita had been keeping to record her feelings.

In it was a letter entitled, “My reality”, which described the events of the day of the incident, complete with drawings showing how frightened she felt.

“That broke my heart,” she said. “Why should they be allowed to get away with it? I’m going all the way.”

Mrs Williams said she wants the people responsible to be prosecuted for neglect, in the way she feels she would’ve been if it was her who treated her daughter in a similar way.

The family worry a similar situation could arise with another special needs child who might not be as lucky as Nakita.

Lewis Williams, Nakita’s grandfather said: “I am really disgusted. Those teachers should never be allowed to teach again. I want everybody to know what kind of school it is.”

Dave Haswell, NCH Head of Schools, said: “Senior Managers at NCH have completed a thorough inquiry into the incident in question and this has resulted in a disciplinary process.

“From the outset, we have acknowledged that this was a regrettable incident and apologised unreservedly to the family.

“Although confidentiality procedures, designed to protect staff and pupils, limit what NCH can say publicly, the inquiry found that on the day in question, certain things could have been done differently. As an organisation, we are determined to learn from what happened.

“The inquiry outcomes have been discussed with the Williams family and we have ensured that they are fully aware of their options should they feel that their concerns have not been addressed.”