A Scots mum has hit out at a West Lothian school after her disabled daughter lost two front teeth in an accident.
Amanda Martin claims an employee at Beatlie School Campus, Livingston, told her different versions of how primary four pupil Angel, who has Down's Syndrome, injured herself during an incident on her lunch break in August last year.
The non-verbal nine year old, from Bathgate, fell from a chair that she was not securely strapped to and banged her face against a table. She sustained heavy swelling and bruising inside her mouth and on her cheeks, as well as losing two adult teeth and damaging two others.
Single mum-of-five Amanda, 49, said a senior staff member initially told her Angel tripped while walking to the dinner hall, but after being informed by a dentist that the injuries sustained did not match that type of fall, Amanda investigated further.
Speaking to the Daily Record she said: "We had to rush her to the dentist because two of her teeth were knocked out and another two were damaged. When I told him what had caused it he said that couldn't be right and started to question me.
"At that point I started to defend what I had been told but then I realised the story had changed quite a few times and I became really worried. I was terrified because I wasn't sure if the dentist thought I was deliberately lying."
Amanda said she immediately questioned what had really happened to Angel with the school and believes the staff member lied about the incident.
She added: "The staff member in question had no intention of disclosing the truth, despite me challenging her and saying that Angel's injuries did not match the incident originally described.
"Despite this, the staff member continued to give me more false information. It wasn't until months later that I finally found out the truth and was hit with a very insincere apology.
"Even now I do not believe anyone has been held accountable for what happened. It's been brushed under the carpet."
Full-time carer Amanda said the incident made her lose trust in the senior member of staff and said she felt hugely let down and deeply disappointed with the way both she and her vulnerable daughter were treated.
She added: "Angel is non-verbal so she couldn't tell me what happened and I believe this is why the teacher thought they would get away with it. They didn't expect me to take it further.
"It now makes me wonder how many other accident reports do not match the injuries."
Amanda said she would like to thank several other staff at the school for supporting her and Angel over the last year.
She added: "The majority of the staff within Beatlie School are wonderful and amazing and it is really very sad that all of this happened.
"It's been an emotional, difficult year fighting this fight for Angel and I will not stop till I get the full truth.
"I fully understand accidents happen and I am not naive to that, but my issue is that I believe there were lies. We deserve to know what exactly goes on with our kids, especially when they are hurt."
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of all the children at Beatlie School Campus is the top priority for our dedicated staff team. The pupil concerned is a much-loved member of the school community, and we sincerely regret any hurt they experienced as a result of this accident.
“We have apologised to the parent concerned for any confusion over the cause of the accident on the day it took place.
"The teacher was not present at the incident and did not have the full facts initially. A full explanation was given once the true account of what took place was established.
“A full investigation was carried out following this unfortunate accident, and the occupational therapist has reviewed the pupil’s seating needs to see if any action could be taken to reduce the chances of further accidents in the future.”
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