Mum’s fury after five-year-old daughter is placed in isolation at school for having BEADS in her hair
Miah-Lee Walters was banished to spend the day without her classmates after teachers spotted the beads in her braided hair
A FURIOUS mother has slammed a primary school after they put her five-year-old daughter in isolation – for having BEADS in her hair.
Miah-Lee Walters was banished to spend the day without her classmates after teachers spotted the beads in her braided hair.
Her mum Andrena Walters, 25, had initially agreed to remove the beads when the school had phoned her that morning – but she was left fuming when her distraught daughter came home in floods of tears.
The mum-of-two, of Wolverhampton, West Mids, said: "Miah came and told me she had been isolated for an entire day, and made to do colouring.
"She had to stand outside with a teacher and watch all of the other kids play.
"She was really upset and distraught at not being allowed to be with her friends.
"How is her hairstyle affecting her learning? That's what I want somebody to explain. It is ridiculous."
Pheasey Park Farm Primary school in Birmingham said the beads are banned by health and safety regulations.
But Andrena, who is of Jamaican origin, has now risked criminal action by refusing to send Miah-Lee back to school – and said she will send her to a new school from September.
The dental nurse claims that since Monday, the school has "miraculously" changed its policy to ban the beads, despite not stating so before.
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She said: "How can you punish a child for having beads in her hair?
"It's our culture – it's what we grew up with. I went to school with beads in my hair.
"I think it's backwards now – kids aren't allowed to express themselves, it's not right.
"There is an underlying problem with this school. How can you put a little kid of five in isolation?
"The rules and regulations are ridiculous – it's disgusting.
"Miah-Lee will not be attending in September."
Headteacher Sally Lunni stood by the school's safety policy – which she admitted had been recently updated.
She said: "We will not compromise children's safety for fashion reasons.
"Our policy, which has been endorsed by Ofsted, clearly states fashion items or items which compromise safety are not permitted in children's hair.
"I can confirm that our policy was updated at the last governors' meeting on 23rd June – this was to make it more explicit to all parents what is and is not allowed."
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