A SINGLE mother and her son’s primary school are locked in a feud after she was issued a trespass notice banning her from setting foot in the school grounds until November.

The woman, who wants to be known only as Alex, cannot take her son, 6, to class and has been forced to wait for him outside school gates each day.

She also could not attend the prep concert and the school sports day at Burwood Heights Primary.

Alex told the Herald Sun she was being victimised for objecting to the recital of a pledge at the state school that begins with “I love God”.

She also said the ban related to her raising objections to the way the school ran its special religious instruction program.

Alex — who doesn’t want her last name used in order to protect her son — said the order has had a “devastating” impact.

“He has cried and wants to see me at the school,” she said.

However, the trespass notice states Alex “has shown a constant disregard and disrespect for staff members at the school and school procedure”.

“The behaviour you have exhibited has been extremely intimidating and poses a threat to the health and safety of my staff,” the order said.

It details incidents involving Alex disrupting classes, talking to and hugging her son, and verbally abusing staff members.

The order was signed on November 12 by principal Esther Wood, who is Victorian Primary Teacher of the Year. Alex said she was assessing her legal options.

“It shocks me that principals can do this without conciliation. I have never had any issue with any teacher or other parent,” she said.

Lara Wood, CEO of the lobby group Fairness in Religion in Schools, said she “vehemently condemns the use of such extreme action to silence legitimate debate” about religion in state schools.

Principals say they are increasingly subjected to parents’ abuse and forced to invoke such powers.

Victorian Department of Education spokesman Stuart Teather said “all too often teachers and principals are exposed to unacceptable behaviour” from parents.

susie.obrien@news.com.au