Class assistant ‘lost baby after child kicked her in stomach’

A TEACHING assistant lost her unborn baby after a pupil kicked her in the stomach, says a trade union survey.

More than half of school support staff have suffered violence at work, with some threatened by parents, according to the poll of almost 4,800 staff members by the GMB.

Incidents reported included staff being stabbed, spat at, punched, bitten, scratched, having their hair cut off or having faeces thrown at them. Some attackers were as young as eight.

One teaching assistant said: “I was pregnant and a child kicked me really hard. After that incident I started bleeding and lost my baby.”

The woman said she fell into “deep depression” but got no support from her school. She later returned to work.

Another respondent said a child tried to stab them in the neck with scissors, and another said they were left concussed when “a large 19-year-old boy” punched them in the head.

More than 770 respondents said they were attacked every week. People on school crossing patrols reported having cars driven at them.

One teaching assistant said parents reported them to police after they used “positive handling” to stop a sevenyear-old, who had left the school, running into a busy car park.

Karen Leonard, GMB national officer, said: “These stories from the front line are truly disturbing. No one should be physically threatened at work. Violence from parents in particular is completely inexcusable.

“School support staff love their jobs and love the kids. All they ask is their school backs them up when it does happen – and takes the common-sense steps needed to protect them.”