School memorial for boy

A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE school has paid tribute to its four-year-old pupil who died of Strep A last month, as the bacterial infection has resulted in nine fatalities in the UK this season.

Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, who was studying at Oakridge School and Nursery, died at his home in High Wycombe on November 14 after suffering cardiac arrest.

The school said it was working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to prevent the further spread of the infection, and its classrooms had been deep-cleaned.

The head teacher, Stuart Cook, described Ali as a “friendly” and “constantly smiling” boy who was always active and who had “lots of energy”.

Recalling how the “kind” child loved to help his friends, he said the school would “miss him terribly”.

“We have been touched by the response from the Oakridge School community who have shared their condolences and laid flowers,” Leicestershire Live quoted the head teacher as saying.

Crowdfunding platform JustGiving raised £4,513 as of Monday (5) evening to create a “lasting memorial” for the child at the school.

Cook said the memorial would make sure the boy “will always have a place here”.

“The children have had some lovely thoughts about how we can remember and celebrate Ibrahim’s time here at Oakridge,” he said, adding “we will miss him dearly.”

The school was working with UKSHA officials “who have done a thorough risk assessment of the school and we have been following their advice in order to keep everyone safe,” the head teacher said.

He said the school was advising parents to monitor their children for Strep A symptoms – sore throat, headache and fever along with pinkish or red body rash.