Teaching assistant accused of using 'more force than reasonable' and leaving red marks on young child's wrist

Wales Online

2 days ago

Teaching assistant accused of using 'more force than reasonable' and leaving red marks on young child's wrist
A police investigation was launched after the allegations were made at a Newport primary school
The teaching assistant worked at Monnow Primary School in Bettws, Newport
(Image: John Myers )
A police investigation was launched after it was alleged that a teaching assistant at a Newport primary school took hold of a young child's wrist, using more force than necessary, leaving marks.
A professional standards committee was told that Abigal Scrivens, who worked at Monnow Primary, Bettws, denied the charges and the police later dropped their investigation finding no case to answer. But the matter was then referred to the Education Workforce Council Wales. An EWC fitness to practise committee was held remotely on June 2.
It heard that Ms Scrivens took hold of the year one girl's wrist because she had not eaten her lunch. At the end of that school day the child, referred to as Pupil A to protect her identity, told her mother she had also been shouted and and was hurt and upset.
Her mother complained to the school and police were called in as part of the investigation which followed.
Headteacher Lisa Bowden told the EWC panel that the child's mother showed her a photo of red blotching on her daughter's arm which she claimed, and Mrs Bowden believed, was a result of the girl's wrist being grabbed by Ms Scrivens.
The panel was told that other members of staff and pupils witnessed and reported the incident. When questioned Ms Scrivens claimed she was using a "caring c", a technique where staff "cup" their hand on a child in a comforting, not a restraining, way. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Article continues below
Dr Francis Graydon, representing Ms Scrivens, questioned how the head teacher knew the photograph on the mother's phone was the child's wrist and that it had not been taken before the alleged incident.
Ms Bowden said she had not checked, but believed it to be a true photo of the child's wrist after Ms Scrivens took hold of it.
The headteacher told the hearing that the child had various food intolerances. She agreed that she had had a "genial" working relationship with Ms Scrivens who she described as "a strong character in the teaching assistant team" and someone well known in the local community outside school.
She added that Ms Scrivens , who had worked at the school since 2016, had left school safeguarding training early, without permission, and had not completed it.
She told the panel that the little girl was upset when she came out of school on the day of the alleged incident and that other pupils came out onto the yard claiming that Ms Scrivens had shouted at her.
Ms Bowden said she could not speak to Ms Scrivens immediately as the teaching assistant had gone home for the day.
When asked about it later Ms Bowden said that Ms Scrivens told her she had been "comforting Pupil A as she had not eaten her dinner" and had used the "caring C" technique.
Ms Scrivens was suspended while a police investigation was launched but the school's investigation could not start until after that concluded, the committee heard. The school moved Ms Scrivens to jobs in the school not involving children during the investigation.
The allegations in full:
Abigal Scrivens faces the following allegations that:
She is guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct' in that:
1. On November 9 2022 she took hold of Pupil A's wrist and/or arm:
On November 9 2022 she took hold of Pupil A's wrist and/or arm: a) When it was not reasonable and/or necessary to do so in the circumstances; and/or
When it was not reasonable and/or necessary to do so in the circumstances; and/or b) Used more force than was reasonable in the circumstances.
Used more force than was reasonable in the circumstances. 2. Having taken hold of Pupil A's wrist and/or arm on 9 November 2022, she did not report this at all, or until prompted to do so to a member of the school's senior leadership team.
Having taken hold of Pupil A's wrist and/or arm on 9 November 2022, she did not report this at all, or until prompted to do so to a member of the school's senior leadership team. 3. The facts of paragraphs 1 to 2 amount to unacceptable professional conduct when considered individually; and/or together.
Ms Scrivens denies all the allegations. The hearing continues.
Article continues below