Teacher SACKED For Carrying Boy Into School

A deputy head teacher has been sacked from her job after helping to CARRY a six-year-old boy back into school when he refused to leave the playground.

Debbie Ellis, a respected teacher of 20 years standing, was accused of 'physical and emotional abuse' following the incident.

Mrs Ellis reportedly lifted the boy by his armpits to take him back into the school building after he defied requests to go back inside. Other school staff had already phoned his mother for assistance, but as she was unable to attend the school immediately, Mrs Ellis - the wife of a policeman - made the decision to lift the boy up and carry him into school, with the help of a teaching assistant.

Mrs Ellis was in charge of the school on the day as the head teacher was away. She reported the events to him on his return, and the school's governors subsequently launched an investigation, despite the child's mother never making a complaint.

The police were also informed, but decided there were no grounds on which to prosecute.

Mrs Ellis has been sacked for 'gross misconduct by physical and emotional abuse', something her solicitor Tudor Williams says is 'incomprehensible':

'For acting in the best interests of the child she gets the sack. It's totally unfair and over the top. She's had a 20-year teaching career without a stain on her character, 10 years at this school,' he said.

Mr Williams added that CCTV footage of the incident showed she hadn't used excessive force to move the child.

'My client used the minimum of physical restraint to lift him up and carry him to the classroom. His mother came to the school and saw him, and made no complaint.'

Mr Williams also said that two weeks earlier a man had been spotted performing a sex act outside the school gates, which prompted Mrs Ellis to take action to ensure the child was not in the playground alone:

'Any teacher would be concerned about a pupil being outside in the playground on his own,' he added. 'Anything could have happened. Just imagine if he had been allowed to stay there and wandered off on to the main road, or a stranger came in and abused or abducted him. All these things weighed on my client's mind.'

Mrs Ellis is claiming unfair dismissal and breach of her human rights by allegedly not having a fair hearing.