Schools accused of operating secret 'punishment rooms' to deal with severely autistic children

Children's Minister has launched investigation following allegations

Teacher has told of students locked in a room for being disruptive

Ten-year-old girl puts her head and fist through glass panel in door after being locked away, it is alleged



Investigation: Children's Minister Edward Timpson (pictured) has ordered investigations into claims of autistic children being locked away in rooms for disruptive behaviour

Investigations have been ordered into allegations that schools have been locking severely autistic children away in rooms as a way of dealing with their behaviour.



Children's Minister Edward Timpson launched the investigation following a number of allegations of children being locked up in 'punishment rooms', for behaviour including being disruptive in class.



A former teacher at a school in Newham, east London, has told of students who were locked in a room for being disruptive during lessons, as well as a ten-year-old girl who put her head and fist through a glass-panelled door after being locked away.

He said another child was placed in a tent in the room after jostling others in the playground, the Sunday Express has reported.



Mr Timpson has now said: 'These allegations are deeply concerning. No child should be treated in this shocking way. I have asked officials to ensure that all appropriate investigations are taking place.



'Our immediate concern is with the welfare of the children. Anyone who believes that children may be at risk should immediately contact the police and the local children's social services department.'

According to the report, Newham Council has investigated the claims and denied the allegations.



The council said during the school's Ofsted inspection in May last year, the school was graded as 'outstanding' in respect of the behaviour and safety of pupils.

In a separate case, Aeddan Parry, now 16, has spoken of how he was pushed into a small dark room with padded walls.

The teenager, who was diagnosed with mild autism and sent to a special school in Neyland, South Wales, at the age of 12, said he would get angry and lash out at people, sometimes for no reason.

He said: 'I was left in there for a whole day once. They put food in for me through the door. They did it to most of the kids, it was something you had to get used to.'



CCTV footage of Aeddan being thrown into the room has prompted an apology from Pembrokeshire Council.



And in 2011 a family won a high court battle agaist charity Scope after their son repeatedly butted the room of a padded wall and tried to claw his way out after being put in the room several times a day. A judge ruled his human rights were breached by locking him away at Beech Tree School, Lancashire.

