A mum from West Lothian has spoken out after an 'emotional year' after her disabled daughter lost her two front teeth in an accident at school.
Amanda Martin hit out at her daughter's school in West Lothian after the incident. She claims an employee at Beatlie School Campus, Livingston, told her different versions of how her child Angel, who has Down's Syndrome, injured herself during an incident on her lunch break in August last year.
The nine-year-old, who is non-verbal, 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.
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Single mum-of-five Amanda, 49, from Bathgate, said a senior staff member initially told her Angel tripped while walking to the dinner hall. However after she rushed Angel to the dentist, the professional informed her that the injuries sustained did not match the story.
Amanda took it upon herself to investigate 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, who's in primary four, with the school and thinks the staff member lied about the incident.
"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," she said.
"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 she's been left feeling hugely disappointed with the way she and her daughter were treated. She also added that the incident made her lose trust in the senior member of staff.
She continued: "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.”
