A HORRIFIED mum says her severely autistic son has been left "traumatised" and with bruises after being forcefully lifted into school by workers who reportedly joked he was "flying into school".
Bailey Evans, seven, was taken from his home in Maldon to Lexden Springs School, in Winstree Road, by a taxi service commissioned by Essex County Council.
However, upon arriving at the site the autistic and non-verbal child sat on the ground outside the school, refusing to go inside.
At this point, according to Bailey's mum, Leanne Evans, 39, the the taxi driver and chaperone carried him into the school by his wrists and ankles.
Specifically, Leanne says Bailey was lifted inside with his arms hyperextended behind him, so his full body weight was on his arms and shoulders.
In a school report seen by the Gazette, witness statements also detail how the youngster's legs were held up in the air behind him.
They also claim the transport workers joked to school staff that he was “flying into school today” as he was held up in the air.
Leanne was notified by the school of the incident when Bailey started getting upset.
She said: “Bailey is having difficulties now transitioning from the taxi to the classroom.
“He is now on different transport as I can’t trust their judgement on who they employ if these people are deemed appropriate to deal with children.
“I think he has been traumatised both physically and emotionally. He had bruising around both of his wrists, and he was wincing when he was getting dressed for about a week after.
“They had trained staff just ten feet away so they could have asked for assistance.
“There’s just no reason to carry a child like that and then make a joke of it when staff intervened. Where’s their training?
“The police wouldn’t even pick someone up who's detained like that.”
After the incident, Leanne reported it to the police and was shocked when it was not deemed to be an assault.
Officers believe the incident showed no intent to cause harm to Bailey.
A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to reports of an incident at a school in Winstree Road, Stanway, on Thursday, January 18.
“After investigating this report and following consultation with all parties involved, it was determined no criminal offences had taken place.”
A spokesman for Lexden Springs School and Essex County Council added: “We are aware of this report which was referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) as the lead authority for safeguarding.
“While we do not comment on individual cases, we can confirm the police have investigated and decided to take no further action."
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