East Lothian mum removes son from nursery after he reportedly cut his lip with scissors; cites safety concerns.
Her older son is six. She had to fight hard to get him a place in a special needs school. She first tried mainstream schooling for him. Jodie thinks the staff at the nursery are overworked. She believes teachers do their best. They need more support from the council.
Jodie’s worries began in 2022. Her older son was alone in the garden once. He came home soaking wet another time and once, in first grade, he was covered in feces. Jodie felt no one understood the problem. She got him one-on-one support. This improved his experience greatly.
Her youngest son then started nursery. This happened after her older son got into SEN school. Her youngest son had “one thing after another.” He was found alone. Then came the scissors incident, the “final straw.”
Jodie said both sons suffered physically. The older son was left alone outside. He came home bruised with no explanation. She says he came home wet and without proper care. It felt like nobody understood the situation.
Jodie pushed for her older son’s support and he got it. His last months were much better because staff got the needed support, which she fought for. He could then join in class and take breaks when things were hard.
Jodie fought to get her older son into SEN school. He left Pinkie St Peter’s in November 2024. He is doing well in his new school now. Jodie is no longer constantly worried about safety.
Her youngest son started nursery on January 13. Jodie says things kept happening and he was left alone in a sensory area because staff thought he was getting changed. The place was busy. On February 12, he got scissors.
He climbed into the water tray and cut his mouth. Jodie thought this was the last straw and took him out. She felt he was not safe there. He only went in for a few hours each morning. She wondered about the danger he was in.
Jodie wants the council to fix staffing problems. She thinks the system is broken. She says it isn’t the staff’s fault because she knows these issues affect them too. She wonders how one person can watch eight kids with needs.
Jodie will now find a school for her youngest, either mainstream or SEN school. SEN placement can take a long time. She wants everyone to be safe. Staff are stretched and overworked, which is why problems happen.
She says kids’ needs are being ignored and quiet kids are being left behind. Many issues are hidden away. Jodie said this is for all kids, not just hers. They deserve better.
An inspection in February 2024 rated the nursery “adequate,” meaning a score of four. The inspectorate rated areas from one to six, where one is bad and six is excellent. Staff felt they were working their hardest.
East Lothian Council said safety is very important and their places meet staffing rules. Teams will talk to families about worries. They help kids have a good experience there.