A FIVE-YEAR-OLD autistic boy has been branded a "sex offender" for hugging a classmate and kissing another on the cheek.

Nathan's devastated family say a teacher accused him of "sexual activities" at East Ridge Elementary in Tennessee.

5 Five-year-old Nathan, who has autism, was reported to child services for hugging and kissing a classmate

5 His school said it had had to speak with him about boundaries before

They claim they were told Nathan has been "labelled a sex predator" and will have it on his record forever.

His guardian, Summery Putnam, said she received a call from the school near the start of September that made her "sick to her stomach".

She told ABC7:"First of all, I didn't understand... He's a five-year-old, he's a child.

"The teacher called me. She said, 'You need to have a talk with Nathan about boundaries.'"

Ms Putnam said the teacher also accused her son of "sexual activities".

'RECORD FOR LIFE'

"If you don't understand how autism works, you'd think he's acting out or being defiant, but that's not the situation," Putnam said.

"I talked to him. I said, 'You can't hug children.'

"He said: 'Why?'

"I said, 'Because, Nathan, it's not allowed.'"

"To bring something like this against a child, a special needs child, that really doesn't understand what he's done wrong."

Nathan's grandmother Debi Amick pleaded for help on Facebook.

She wrote: "What do you do when a 5 year child is being labelled a sexual predator and accused of sexual harassment by the school system?

"It was disclosed that it will go in his record for the rest of his life that he is a sex offender.

"This child is [autistic], he comprehends and functions very different than your typical 5 year.

"Who do you turn to for help when the school will not even listen to the child’s doctor when he explains the child’s difficulties in his comprehension of simple things such as boundaries.

"If anyone can offer advice or help please do."

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She said the school claimed to have had to speak with Nathan on several previous occasions.

Tim Hensley of the Hamilton County Department of Education said: "School personnel are required to [raise] concerns regarding children to the Department of Child Services.

"It's up to DCS to determine if those reports are acted on by DCS and what form those actions may take."

Ms Putnam confirmed that Nathan had now been moved to a different class with a different teacher, and that he is receiving special educational services.

5 Nathan's grandmother criticised the decision on Facebook

5 Nathan's guardian, Summery Putnam, said his teachers needed to better understand the nature of autism

5 Nathan has now been moved to a different class and is receiving extra support

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